Samuel Barnett (born 25 April 1980) is an English actor. He has performed on stage, film, television and radio and achieved recognition for his work on the stage and film versions of The History Boys by Alan Bennett. His television performances include roles in the BBC comedy Twenty Twelve and in the Showtime drama Penny Dreadful. He played the lead role of Dirk Gently in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, the 2016 BBC America adaptation of the book series by Douglas Adams.

Early life Barnett was born in Whitby, North Yorkshire, on 25 April 1980. He has four siblings. His mother comes from a Quaker background while his father was descended from Polish Jews. He started performing at an early age before moving to London to study acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Career Barnett appeared in the original London stage production of Alan Bennett's 2004 play The History Boys, as well as in the New York, Sydney, Wellington and Hong Kong productions and radio and film versions of the play. He had been involved in The History Boys from its very first reading.

In 2009 Barnett played John Everett Millais in the BBC series Desperate Romantics and Joseph Severn in the film Bright Star. He appeared at the National Theatre in Women Beware Women by Thomas Middleton, which ran from 20 April to 4 July 2010. From July 2012 he appeared in an all-male-cast as Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare's Richard III at Shakespeare's Globe in London alongside Mark Rylance in the title role, also playing the role of Sebastian in Twelfth Night. The production transferred to the Apollo Theatre in the West End, opening on 2 November 2012 and running for a limited engagement. Both Twelfth Night and Richard III transferred to Broadway in 2013 and played at the Belasco Theatre until February 2014. In the Broadway productions Barnett reprised his role as Elizabeth Woodville in Richard III and took on the role of Viola (previously played by Johnny Flynn in London) in Twelfth Night. In July 2018 Barnett reunited with History Boys playwright Alan Bennett and co-star Sacha Dhawan for Bennett's new play, Allelujah!, at the Bridge Theatre.

In 2022 at the Edinburgh Fringe, Barnett performed a one-man show Feeling Afraid as If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen written by Marcelo dos Santos. In late 2023, Barnett performed this at the Bush Theatre in London.

Accolades and honours Barnett was nominated for the Evening Standard Theatre Award as Most Promising Newcomer for his role in The Marriage of Figaro in 2002. He won Best Newcomer and Best Supporting Actor in a play at the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Choice Awards for his work on the original production of The History Boys. He was nominated for the 2005 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role. He won a Drama Desk Award and was nominated for a Tony Award for his work on the Broadway production.

Barnett was nominated for the 2006 British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer (On Screen) for his work on the film version of The History Boys.

In 2014 Barnett received a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his work in Twelfth Night.

In 2022 Barnett received the Stage Edinburgh Award for excellence in acting for his role in the solo-show Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen.

Personal life Barnett is gay and in a relationship with theatre director Adam Penford. In 2020 his father died from COVID-19.

Acting credits Theatre Year Title Role Venue2002 The Accrington Pals Reggie Minerva Theatre, Chichester The Marriage of Figaro Cherubino Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester 2003–2004 His Dark Materials Pantalaimon Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank 2004–2006 The History Boys Posner Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank (2004–2005)Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (2006)St. James Theatre, Wellington (2006)Sydney Theatre, Sydney (2006)Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway (2006) 2005 When You Cure Me Peter Bush Theatre, London 2007–2008 Dealer's Choice Carl Menier Chocolate Factory and Trafalgar Studios, London2010 The Whisky Taster Barney Bush Theatre, London The Man Man Finborough Theatre, London Women Beware Women Leantio Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank2011 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Rosencrantz Chichester Festival Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket 66 Books St. Paul Bush Theatre, London2012 The Way of the World Witwoud Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Richard III Elizabeth Woodville Shakespeare's Globe and Apollo Theatre, London Twelfth Night Sebastian Shakespeare's Globe and Apollo Theatre, London2013–2014 Richard III Elizabeth Woodville Belasco Theatre, Broadway Twelfth Night Viola Belasco Theatre, Broadway 2015 The Beaux' Stratagem Aimwell Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank2018 Allelujah! Colin Bridge Theatre, Kiss of the Spider Woman Molina Menier Chocolate Factory, London 2021 Medium: A Magical Reckoning2022 Straight Line Crazy Ariel Porter Bridge Theatre Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen The Comedian Roundabout Theatre @ Summerhall, Edinburgh Festival 2023 Rock Follies (adaptation of the TV series) Harry Chichester Festival Theatre Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen The Comedian Bush Theatre 2024 Ben and Imo Ben Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 2025 The Last Stand of Mrs. Mary Whitehouse Various Nottingham Playhouse 2026 Pride Jonathan National Theatre

Television Year Title Role NetworkNotes 2001 Coupling Sex Shop Assistant BBC Episode: "My Dinner in Hell" 2002 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Brian Byrne BBC Episode: "Well-Schooled in Murder" 2002–2003 Strange Doddington BBC 2003 Doctors Charlie Ambrose BBC Episode: "All an Illusion" The Royal Joe Steeples ITV Episode: "Poison" 2006 American Experience Philip Hamilton's schoolmate PBS Episode: "Alexander Hamilton"2007 Wilfred Owen: A Remembrance Tale Wilfred Owen BBC John Adams Thomas Boylston Adams HBO 2008 Beautiful People Adult Simon Doonan / Narrator BBC Crooked House Billy BBC 2009 Desperate Romantics John Millais BBC Beautiful People: Series 2 Adult Simon Doonan / Narrator BBC Agatha Christie's Marple Sergeant Tiddler ITV Episode: "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side"2011 Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Leonard BBC Shakespeare in Italy Romeo Montague BBC 2012 Twenty Twelve Danny BBC 2015 Vicious Young Stuart ITV Not Safe for Work Nathanial Channel 4 2016 Endeavour Anthony Donn ITV Penny Dreadful Renfield Showtime 7 episodes 2016–2017 Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Dirk Gently BBC America Main role 2021 Four Lives Ryan Edwards BBC 2022 Murder in Provence Didier Laurent ITV Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Delamain AI (voice) Netflix

Film Year Title Role 2005 Mrs Henderson Presents Paul 2006 The History Boys Posner 2009 Bright Star Joseph Severn 2012 Love Tomorrow Cal2015 Jupiter Ascending Advocate Bob The Lady in the Van Out of work actor 2020 The Act Matthews 2023 Lee Cecil Beaton

Radio Year Title Role StationNotes 2004 Fighting for Words Thomas Moynihan BBC Radio 42005 The History Boys Posner BBC Radio 3 When You Cure Me Peter BBC Radio 3 2007 Down and Out in Paris and London George Orwell BBC Radio 4 2008 The Babington Plot Thomas Salisbury BBC Radio 42009 The Quest Mordred BBC Radio 4 Joan of Arc, and How She Became a Saint Dauphin of France BBC Radio 4 Turing's Test Alan Turing Made in Manchester2010 Spitfire Tony BBC Radio 4 Translations Yolland BBC Radio 4 I, Claudius Caligula BBC Radio 4 A Tiny Bit Marvellous Oscar BBC Radio 42011 Wuthering Heights Edgar Linton / Linton Heathcliff BBC Radio 3 My Week with Marilyn Colin Clark (narrator) BBC Radio 42012 Dickens' London Charles Dickens BBC Radio 4 The Voysey Inheritance Edward Voysey BBC Radio 32013 Tosca's Kiss Rospo BBC Radio 3 Jill John Kemp BBC Radio 4 Denmark Hill Charles BBC Radio 4 Sometimes into the Arms of God Cecil Beaton BBC Radio 4 2018 The Case of Charles Dexter Ward Charles Dexter Ward BBC Radio 4 2024 Dickensian: Little Dorrit Arthur Clennam BBC Radio 4 3 episodes

Audio drama Year Title Role Company2009Doctor Who: The Beast of OrlokHansBig Finish2016Doctor Who: NightshadeRobin YeadonThe Confessions of Dorian GrayStaurt Knight2016–TorchwoodNorton Folgate2017HamletLaertes2017–2018CiceroCicero2019Doctor Who: TartarusCicero

Soundtrack Year Title Notes 2006 The History Boys Performer: "L'Accordéoniste", "Bewitched", "Bye Bye Blackbird"

Video games Year Title Role Notes2020 Amnesia: Rebirth Richard Fairchild Voice Cyberpunk 2077 Delamain AI Voice Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Gael'gar Voice 2022 Elden Ring Brother Corhyn Voice

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