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Nancy who can do anything
Amar Singh30 May 2008
As these pictures show, Samantha Barks will do almost anything to become Britain's next star of stage and screen.
The multi-talented 17-year-old is one of three contestants in tomorrow's final of I'd Do Anything on BBC1. They will fight it out for a chance to play Nancy in a forthcoming West End revival of Oliver!
Samantha, who lives in Chiswick and studies at the Arts Educational School in Turnham Green, hopes to follow the examples of its famous alumnae Darcey Bussell, Sarah Brightman and Julie Andrews.
Versatility is her strength. After taking up ballet, tap and modern dance at three, Samantha showed early promise in theatre, appearing as Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, the Cheshire Cat in Alice In Wonderland, Rizzo in Grease and The Scarecrow in The Wizard Of Oz.
By 16, she had won a TV singing competition in Malta and released a debut album, Looking In Your Eyes. It shifted a modest 600 copies but Samantha was determined to forge ahead. She left her family home on the Isle of Man last year to go it alone in London.
Her sister, Kim, 22, a teacher, said: "We are all so proud of Sam for reaching the final. Since the age of three, she has been dancing and singing at every opportunity. She has had to work really hard and make the most of every opportunity, so she really deserves this."
I'd Do Anything is on TV at 6pm tomorrow. Samantha will compete for the public vote against Jodie Prenger, 28, from Blackpool, and Jessie Buckley, 18, from Kerry in the Republic of Ireland. The results and reaction can be seen on BBC1 at 8.45pm.
Kim said: "Some people have suggested Samantha may be too young, but Dickens wrote Nancy as a 17-year-old. Judges also said they were looking for someone with an Amy Winehouse-style edginess and Samantha has that - but without the bad behaviour."
Samantha has won praise from judge Lord Lloyd-Webber who told her: "I just know you've got this huge career ahead of you."
