Samuel Alexander Joseph West(born 19 June 1966) is an English actor, theatre director and narrator. He has directed on stage and radio, and worked as an actor in theatre, film, television, and radio.[2]He was nominated for theBAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Rolefor his portrayal of Leonard Bast in theMerchant Ivoryfilm adaptationofE. M. Forster's novelHowards End(1992), and was later nominated for theGenie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Rolefor his portrayal of the title role inRupert's Land(1998). In 2010, he was nominated for theLaurence Olivier Award for Best Actorfor his portrayal ofJeffrey SkillinginLucy Prebble'sEnron.He has appeared as reciter with orchestras and performed at theLast Night of the Promsin 2002.[3]He has narrated several documentary series, including five for the BBC about theSecond World War.
Samuel West | |
---|---|
Born | Samuel Alexander Joseph West 19 June 1966 |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1975–present |
Partner | Laura Wade |
Children | 2 |
Parent(s) | Timothy West Prunella Scales |
Relatives | Lockwood West(grandfather) |
He currently stars asSiegfried Farnonin theChannel 5remake of the veterinary drama seriesAll Creatures Great and Small.
Early life and education
editWest was born on 19 June 1966[4][5]inHammersmith,London,the elder son of the actressPrunella Scalesand the actorTimothy West,and the grandson of the actorLockwood West.[6][7]He has one brother, Joe.
He was educated atAlleyn's School[8]andLady Margaret Hall, Oxford,where he studied English literature[9][7]and was president of theExperimental Theatre Club.[10]West originally intended to attendWebber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art,but chose instead to focus on his career after he was cast asKing Caspianin the BBC's 1989 seriesThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader.[11]
Career
editStage
editWest made his London stage debut in February 1989 at theOrange Tree Theatre,playing Michael in Cocteau'sLes Parents Terribles,[12]of which criticJohn Thaxterwrote: "He invests the role with a warmth and validity that silences sniggers that could so easily greet a lesser performance of this difficult role, and he lets us share the tumbling emotions of a juvenile torn between romantic first love and filial duty."[13]Since then, West has appeared frequently on stage; he played Valentine in the first production ofTom Stoppard'sArcadiaat theNational Theatrein 1993,[14]and later spent two seasons with theRoyal Shakespeare Companyplaying the title roles inRichard IIandHamlet,both directed bySteven Pimlott.[15][16]
In 2002, West made his stage directorial debut withThe Lady's Not for Burningat theMinerva Theatre, Chichester.[17]He succeededMichael Grandageas artistic director ofSheffield Theatresfrom 2005 to 2007.[17][18]During his time as artistic director, West revived the controversialThe Romans in Britain,[19]and also directedAs You Like Itas part of theRSC'sComplete Works Festival.[20][21]West leftSheffieldwhen the theatre closed for refurbishment in 2007, and made hisWest Enddirectorial debut with the first major revival ofDealer's Choicefollowing its transferral to theTrafalgar Studios.[22]He also continued his acting career: in 2007 he appeared alongsideToby StephensandDervla KirwaninBetrayalat theDonmar Warehouse.[23]
In 2008, he played Harry in the Donmar revival ofT. S. Eliot'sFamily Reunion,[24]and in 2009 he starred as Jeffrey Skilling inEnronbyLucy Prebble.[25]His 2008 production ofWasteat theAlmeida Theatrewas chosen byThe Timesas one of its "Productions of the Decade".[26]From November 2012 to January 2013, he appeared as Astrov in a production ofUncle Vanyaat theVaudeville Theatre.[27]He played Ivanov and Trigorin in theChichester Festival Theatre's Young Chekhov Season from September 2015, alongsideNina Sosanya,Anna Chancellor,andJames McArdle.[28][29]
Film
editWest appeared in the filmReunion(1989) withJason RobardsandChristien Anholtas an aristocratic boy who befriends the son of a Jewish doctor in 1930s Germany. West played the lower-middle-class clerk Leonard Bast in theMerchant Ivoryfilm adaptationofE. M. Forster's novelHowards End(1992), featuringEmma Thompson,Helena Bonham Carter,andAnthony Hopkins.For this role, he was nominated for best supporting actor at the 1993BAFTAFilm Awards.[30]West appeared with Thompson again in the filmCarrington(1995).[citation needed]
Invoice-over,he provided the voice of Pongo in101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure,replacingRod Taylor.
His film career has continued with roles in films such asFranco Zeffirelli'sJane Eyre,Notting Hill,Iris,Van HelsingandDarkest Hour.In 2004, he appeared in the year's highest rated mini-series on German television,Die Nibelungen,which was released in the United States in 2006 asDark Kingdom: The Dragon King.In 2012, he playedKing George VIinHyde Park on Hudson.[citation needed]
Television
editWest has appeared in many long-running series:Midsomer Murders,Waking the DeadandPoirot,as well as one-off dramas. He playedAnthony BluntinCambridge Spies,aBBCproduction about the four British spies, starring alongsideToby Stephens(Philby),Tom Hollander(Burgess) andRupert Penry-Jones(Maclean). He reprised his role as Blunt in "Olding", the premiere episode of the third season ofThe Crownreleased in 2019.[31]
In 2006, West took the lead role in aBBCproduction ofRandom Questadapted from the short story byJohn Wyndhamand the next year playedEdward HeathinMargaret Thatcher – The Long Walk to Finchley,also for the BBC. In 2010 he played Peter Scabius in the televised adaptation ofWilliam Boyd's novelAny Human Heart,while in 2011 he starred as Zak Gist in the ITV seriesEternal Law.In addition, he appeared in the BBC sitcomAs Time Goes By,as Terry in the episode "We'll Always Have Paris" (1994).[citation needed]
He played Frank Edwards in the ITV dramaMr Selfridge,and Sir Walter Pole in the 2015BBCadaptation ofJonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.[citation needed]
He stars in theChannel Fiveseries (broadcast in September 2020)All Creatures Great and SmallasSiegfried Farnon.A second six-episode series and Christmas special was broadcast in 2021, followed by a third season airing in late 2022.[citation needed]
Radio
editWest is regularly heard on radio as a reader or reciter and has performed in many radio dramas, includingOtherkinbyLaura Wade,Present LaughterbyNoël Coward,[32]Len Deighton'sBomber,Life and FatebyVasily Grossman,Michael Frayn'sHere,The Meaning of ZongbyGiles TereraandThe Homecomingas Lenny toHarold Pinter's Max.[33] In 2011, he made his radio directing debut with a production ofMoney[34]byEdward Bulwer-LyttononBBC Radio 3.[citation needed]
Personal life
editWest has appeared alongside his actor parents on several occasions: with his motherPrunella ScalesinHowards EndandStiff Upper Lips,and with his fatherTimothy Weston stage inA Number,Henry IV, Part 1andPart 2.In two films (Irisin 2001 and the 1996 television filmOver Here), Sam and his father played the same character at different ages.
InEdward the Seventh(1975), he and his brother Joseph played young sons of the title character, who was played by their father.[35]In 2002, all three family members performed inStravinsky'sThe Soldiers Taleat theSt Magnus FestivalonOrkney,[36]and in 2006 they gave a rehearsed reading of theHarold PinterplayFamily Voicesas part of theSheffield TheatresPinter season.[37]
West became the patron ofSheffield Philharmonic Chorusin February 2008, having been the narrator for a concert of theirs in February 2002.[38]He is also a patron of London children's charity Scene & Heard,[39]Eastside Educational Trust and Mousetrap Theatre Projects.
While at university, West was a member of theSocialist Workers Party,[7]and later briefly the Socialist Alliance.[4]West was an outspoken critic of theNew Labourgovernment ofTony Blairand their involvement in theIraq War.[40]On 26 March 2011, he spoke at theTUCMarch for the Alternative.[41]
West has written essays onRichard IIfor theCambridge University PressseriesPlayers of Shakespeare,[42]onHamletfor Michael Dobson's CUP studyPerforming Shakespeare's Tragedies Today[43]and on Shakespeare and Love[44]and Voice and Radio[45]forBBC Radio 3.
He has also published articles onHarold Pinter,[46][47]Caryl Churchill[48]and theShipping Forecast.[49]He frequently writes and speaks in public about arts funding.[50]West has collected stamps since childhood and owns more than 200 Two Shilling Blues.[7]
In 2013, he was one of the judges for theForward Prizes for Poetry.In December 2014, he appeared on two programmes forChristmas University Challenge,[51]as part of a team of alumni fromLady Margaret Hall, Oxford.
West is an Associate Artist of theRoyal Shakespeare Company[52]and a trustee and previous Chair of theCampaign for the Arts.[7]He was a member of the council of the British Actors' UnionEquityfrom 1996 to 2000 and 2008–2014.[53]He is a keenbirdwatcher,[54]and an Ambassador for theRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds.[55]
In 2007, West began living with playwrightLaura Wade,[1]but in 2011 the couple temporarily split up.[6][56]In 2013, West was cast in a minor role inThe Riot Club,the film version of Wade's successful play,Posh,and in 2014 the couple had a daughter.[57][7]In August 2017, the couple had a second daughter.[58]
West is a supporter ofAFC Wimbledon.[59]
West is a patron of theWilfred OwenAssociation which commemorates Wilfred's life and poetry.[60]
Filmography
editFilm
editYear | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Reunion | Count Konradin von Lohenburg | |
1992 | Howards End | Leonard Bast | Nominated forBAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor |
1993 | Archipel | Alan Stewart | In French |
1994 | Open Fire | Steven Waldorf | |
1995 | A Feast at Midnight | Chef | |
The Vacillations of Poppy Carew | Victor | TV film | |
Carrington | Gerald Brenan | ||
Persuasion | Mr. Elliot | ||
Zoya | Nicolai | TV film | |
Heavy Weather | 'Monty' Bodkin | TV film | |
1996 | Jane Eyre | St. John Rivers | |
1997 | The Ripper | Prince Albert Victor Edward | TV film |
1998 | Stiff Upper Lips | Edward | |
Rupert's Land | Rupert McKay | Nominated forGenie Award for Best Actor | |
The Dance of Shiva | Lt. Davis | Short film | |
1999 | Notting Hill | Anna's Co-Star | |
Runt | Pork | Short film | |
2000 | Bread and Roses | as himself (cameo) | |
Complicity | Neil | ||
Bring Me Your Love | Doctor Jensen | Short film | |
Pandaemonium | Robert Southey | ||
2001 | Iris | Young Maurice | |
2002 | Shrink | George | Short film |
2003 | 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure | Pongo | Voice only |
2004 | Van Helsing | Dr. Victor Frankenstein | |
Curse of the Ring | King Gunther | TV film | |
2006 | Random Quest | Colin Trafford | TV film |
2008 | The Long Walk to Finchley | Ted Heath | TV film |
2009 | Albert Schweitzer | Phil Figgis | |
2010 | Dark Relic | Friar George | TV film |
2012 | Hyde Park on Hudson | King George VI | |
2014 | The Riot Club | Tutor | |
2015 | Suffragette | Benedict | |
The Eichmann Show | Narrator | TV film | |
2017 | On Chesil Beach | Geoffrey Ponting | |
2017 | Darkest Hour | Sir Anthony Eden | |
2019 | The Gentlemen | Lord Pressfield |
Television
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Edward the Seventh | Albert Victor 'Eddy' – Aged 5 | Episode 6: "The Invisible Queen" |
1981 | Nanny | James Lamerton | Series 1, Episode 6: "Goats and Tigers" |
1985 | Screen Two | Johnnie Mallett | Series 2, Episode 4: "Frankie and Johnnie" |
1989 | The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | King Caspian | |
1991 | Stanley and the Women | Stephen Duke | |
1993 | Screen Two | Mark | Series 9, Episode 8: "Voices in the Garden" |
The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries | Donald Potter | Series 1, Episode 5: "Death in a White Tie" | |
Performance | Jack Maitland | Series 3, Episode 2: "The Maitlands" | |
Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time | Cyrian | ||
1994 | As Time Goes By | Terry | Series 3, Episode 1: "We'll Always Have Paris" |
Screen One | Lt. Charles Thoroughgood | Series 6, Episode 2: "A Breed of Heroes" | |
1996 | Strangers | Simon | Series 1, Episode 10: "Costumes" |
Over Here | Archie Bunting | ||
1997 | The Nazis: A Warning from History | Narrator | |
1999 | Hornblower | Major Edrington | Series 1, Episode 4: "The Frogs and the Lobsters" |
The Planets | Narrator | ||
Living Britain | Narrator | ||
War of the Century: When Hitler Fought Stalin | Narrator | ||
2000 | Longitude | Nevil Maskelyne | |
2001 | Horror in the East | Narrator | |
2001–2002 | Timewatch | Narrator | |
2002 | Waking the Dead | Thomas Rice | Series 1, Episodes 1–2: "Life Sentence" |
2002–2006 | The Private Life of a Masterpiece | Narrator | |
2003 | Cambridge Spies | Anthony Blunt | |
Imagine | Wightwick | Series 2, Episode 3: "Entertaining Mr. Soane" | |
2004 | Foyle's War | Lt. Col. James Wintringham | Series 3, Episode 1: "The French Drop" |
2005 | Nova | Humphry Davy | Series 33, Episode 3: "E=mc²: Einstein's Big Idea" |
Auschwitz: The Nazis and 'The Final Solution' | Narrator | ||
2006 | The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Tony Wainwright | Series 5, Episode 3: "Chinese Walls" |
2007 | Midsomer Murders | Jeremy Thacker | Series 10, Episode 2: "The Animal Within" |
2008 | World War II Behind Closed Doors: Stalin, the Nazis and the West | Narrator | |
2009 | New Tricks | David Fleeting | Series 6, Episode 3: "Fresh Starts" |
Desperate Romantics | Lord Rosterley | Series 1, Episode 4 | |
2010 | Garrow's Law | Thomas Erskine | Series 2, Episode 4 |
Any Human Heart | Peter Scabius | Series 1, Episodes 1–4 | |
Agatha Christie's Poirot | Dr Constantine | Series 12, Episode 3: "Murder on the Orient Express" | |
2011 | Law & Order: UK | Lucas Boyd | Series 5, Episode 5: "Intent" |
2012 | Eternal Law | Zak Gist | |
2012–15 | Mr Selfridge | Frank Edwards | Character based on journalist and publisherFrank Harris |
2014 | Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond | Admiral John Godfrey | Character wasIan Fleming's model for"M" |
The Crimson Field | Elliot Vincent | Series 1, Episode 4 | |
2015 | W1A | Richard Cartwright | Series 2, Episode 1 |
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell | Sir Walter Pole | ||
2016 | The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses | Bishop of Winchester | Henry VI Part 1 |
2017 | Midsomer Murders | James Oswood | Episode: "Death by Persuasion" |
2019 | The Crown | Anthony Blunt | Season 3,episode 1 "Olding" |
2020 | Death in Paradise | Donald McCormack | Series 9, Episode 1 |
2020– | All Creatures Great and Small | Siegfried Farnon | |
2022 | Slow Horses | Peter Judd | Recurring cast |
2022 | The Midwich Cuckoos | Bernard Westcott | Series 1, Episodes 2, 4-7 |
West narrated theYorkshire TelevisiondocumentaryThe SS in Britainfor director Julian Hendy in 1999,[61]and considering his role in the ITV drama seriesMr Selfridge,he was the voiceover forSecrets of Selfridges(PBS) in 2014.
Theatre
editActing
edit- The Browning Version:Taplow (1985) – directed byClive Perry,(Birmingham Repertory Theatre)
- Les Parents terribles:Michael (February 1989) – directed byDerek Goldby,(Orange Tree Theatre)
- The Bread-Winner(1989) – directed byKevin Billington,(Theatre Royal, Windsorand touring)
- A Life in the Theatre(October 1989 – February 1990) – directed byBill Bryden,(Theatre Royal Haymarket,transferred toStrand Theatre)
- Hidden Laughter:Nigel (June 1990) – directed bySimon Gray,(Vaudeville Theatre)
- The Sea:Willy Carson (1991) – directed bySam Mendes,(Royal National Theatre)
- Cain(1992) – directed byEdward Hall(Minerva Theatre)
- Mr. CindersA Musical Comedy: Jim Lancaster (December 1992 – February 1993) – directed byMartin Connor(King's Head Theatre)
- Arcadia:Valentine (April–November 1993) – directed byTrevor Nunn,(Royal National Theatre)
- The Importance of Being Earnest:Algernon – directed byJames Maxwell,(Royal Exchange Theatre)
- Henry IV Part 1andPart 2:Hal (1996–1997) – directed byStephen Unwin(English Touring Theatre)
- Journey's End:Captain Stanhope (January–February 1998) – directed by David Evans-Rees (King's Head Theatre)
- Antony and Cleopatra:Octavius Caesar (1998) – directed bySean Mathias,(Royal National Theatre)
- Richard II:Richard II (2000) – directed bySteven Pimlott,(RSC)
- Hamlet:Hamlet (2001) – directed bySteven Pimlott,(RSC)
- The Master and Margarita:The Master (2004) – directed bySteven Pimlott,(Chichester Festival Theatre)
- Doctor Faustus:Faustus (2004) – directed bySteven Pimlott,Martin DuncanandEdward Kemp,(Minerva Theatre)
- Much Ado About Nothing:Benedick (2005) – directed byJosie Rourke,(Crucible Theatre)
- The Exonerated:Kerry Max Cook (2006) – directed byBob Balaban,(Riverside Studios)
- A Number:B1/B2/Michael Black (2006) – directed by Jonathan Munby, (Studio Theatre (Sheffield)andMinerva Theatre)
- Betrayal:Robert (2007) – directed byRoger Michell,(Donmar Warehouse)
- Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?:Guy (2008) – directed by James McDonald, (Public Theater, New York)
- The Family Reunion:Harry (2008) – directed byJeremy Herrin,(Donmar Warehouse)
- ENRON:Jeffrey Skilling (2009) – directed byRupert Goold,(Minerva Theatre,Royal Court Theatre,Noël Coward Theatre)
- A Number(revival): B1/B2/Michael Black (2010) – directed by Jonathan Munby, (Menier Chocolate Factory)
- Kreutzer vs. Kreutzer:Man (2010) – directed by Sarah Giles, (Australian Chamber Orchestra– on tour and at theSydney Opera House)
- A Number(revival): B1/B2/Michael Black (2011) – directed by Jonathan Munby, (Fugard Theatre,Cape Town)
- Uncle Vanya:Astrov (2012) – directed byLindsay Posner,(Vaudeville Theatre)
- Young Chekhov:Ivanov inIvanovand Trigorin inThe Seagull(2015) – directed byJonathan Kent,(Chichester Festival Theatre)
- Julius Caesar:Brutus (2017) – directed by Robert Hastie, (Crucible Theatre)
- The WriterbyElla Hickson,directed by Blanche McIntyre, at theAlmeida Theatre,London (April 2018)[62]
Directing
edit- The Lady's Not for Burning(2002),Minerva Theatre
- Les Liaisons Dangereuses(2003),Bristol Old Vic
- Cosi Fan Tutte(2003),English National OperaatBarbican Theatre
- Three Women and a Piano Tuner(2004),Minerva TheatreandHampstead Theatre(2005)
- Insignificance(2005),Lyceum Theatre (Sheffield)[63]
- The Romans in Britain(2006),Crucible Theatre
- The Clean House(2006),Studio Theatre (Sheffield)
- As You Like It(2007),Crucible TheatreandSwan Theatre (Stratford)
- Dealer's Choice(2007),Menier Chocolate FactoryandTrafalgar Studios
- Waste(2008),Almeida Theatre
- Close the Coalhouse Door(2012),Northern Stage
- After Electra(2015),Theatre Royal, PlymouthandTricycle Theatre
- The Watsons(2018 Minerva Theatre, Chichester)[64]
Radio
editDirecting
edit- Money(2011), BBC Radio 3
- Close the Coalhouse Door(2012), BBC Radio 4
Audiobooks, reciting and work with musicians
editWest has recorded over one hundredaudiobooks,among which are theShakespeareplaysAll's Well That Ends Well,Coriolanus,Henry V,The Merchant of Venice,A Midsummer Night's Dream,Much Ado About Nothing,Richard IIandMacbeth(directed bySteven Berkoff), the completeInspector Morsenovels byColin Dexter,theWind on Firetrilogy byWilliam Nicholson(The Wind Singer,Slaves of the MasteryandFiresong), the Arthur trilogy byKevin Crossley-Holland(The Seeing Stone,At the Crossing PlacesandKing of the Middle March), five books bySebastian Faulks(Charlotte Gray,Birdsong,The Girl at the Lion d'Or,Human TracesandA Possible Life), four byMichael Ridpath(Trading Reality,Final Venture,Free to Trade,andThe Marketmaker), two byGeorge Orwell(Nineteen Eighty-FourandHomage to Catalonia), two byMary Wesley(An Imaginative ExperienceandPart of the Furniture), two byRobert Goddard(Closed CircleandIn Pale Battalions) and several compilations of poetry(Realms of Gold: Letters and Poems ofJohn Keats,Bright Star,The Collected Works ofShelley,Seven Ages,Great Narrative Poems of the Romantic AgeandA Shropshire Lad).AlsoFaust,Bomber,Doctor Who:The Vengeance of Morbius,Empire of the Sun,Brighton Rock,Fair Stood the Wind for France,Fluke,Great Speeches in History,How Proust Can Change Your Life,Lady Windermere's Fan,Peter Pan,The Alchemist,The Day of the Triffids,The Hairy Hands,The Lives of Christopher Chant,The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous,The Queen's Man,The Solitaire Mystery,The Swimming Pool Library,The Two Destinies,The Velveteen Rabbit,The Way I Found Her,The Way to Dusty Death,The Woodlanders,Under the Net,Wuthering HeightsandPhilip Pullman'sGrimm Tales for Young and Old.
In June 2012, West recorded an English narration ofThe Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little MybyTove Janssonfor an interactive audiobook developed by Spinfy and published bySort of Books.
In May 2015, West's reading ofBrighton Rockwas chosen as one of "The 20 best audiobooks of all time" by Carole Mansur of theDaily Telegraph.[65]
As a reciter West has worked with all the major British orchestras, as well as theStrasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra,Dallas Symphony Orchestraand theNational Symphony Orchestrain Washington, D.C. Works include Stravinsky'sOedipus RexandThe Soldier's Tale,Prokofiev'sEugene Onegin,Beethoven'sEgmont,Schoenburg'sOde To Napoleon,Strauss'Enoch Arden,Saint-Saëns'Carnival of the Animals,Bernstein'sKaddish,Walton'sFaçadeandHenry V,Night MailandThe Way to the Seaby Britten and Auden, the world premieres ofConcretebyJudith Weirat the Barbican andHoward Goodall'sJason and the Argonautsat theRoyal Albert Halland the UK premiere ofJonathan Harvey's final pieceWeltethosat the Symphony Hall, Birmingham.[66]In 2007 West made his New York recital debut in the first performance ofLittle Red ViolinbyAnne DudleyandSteven Isserlis.In November 2010, West performed a new English translation ofGrieg'scomplete incidental music toIbsen'splayPeer Gyntwith theSouthampton Philharmonic Choirat Southampton Guildhall.[67]He has performed at the Proms six times,[68]including the suite version ofHenry Vat the 2002Last Night of the Proms.
He has also appeared with theNash Ensemble,theRaphael Ensemble,The Hebrides Ensemble,Ensemble 360and theLindsay,Dante andEndellion Quartetsat theWigmore Hall,London. Recordings include Prokofief'sEugene Oneginwith Sinfonia 21 and Edward Downes,[69]Salad Daysand Walton'sHenry Vwith theBBC Symphony OrchestraandLeonard Slatkin.[70]
As a choral singer, West has participated in three Choir of London tours toPalestine:in May 2006, when he also gave poetry readings as part of the concert programme; in April 2007 when he directedThe Magic Flute.[71]and in September 2013 (see below).
In 2013, the centenary year ofBenjamin Britten,West narrated the Britten/Audenfilm scoreNight Mailwith theNash Ensembleat the Wigmore Hall and later addedCoal Face, God's Chillun, The Peace of Britain,The Way to the SeaandThe King's Stampwith theAurora Orchestraat the Queen Elizabeth and Fairfield Halls.[72]In June he played God in Britten'sNoye's Fluddein Harrogate.[73]In July he appeared in a Proms Plus broadcast discussing Britten's setting of poetry. In September he toured Palestine with the Choir of London as staff director of a new opera based on Britten'sHymn to St Ceciliaand sang in Britten'sSt Nicolas.[74]In October, he narrated the concert world premiere ofBritten in Americafor theHalléorchestra, which was released on CD[75]together with West's recordings of speeches to Britten's incidental music for Auden andIsherwood's playThe Ascent of F6(the disc,Britten to America,was later nominated for a 2014Grammy Awardfor Best Classical Compendium).[76]He also toured a program of Britten cabaret songs and Auden poems across the UK with Ruthie Culver and the UtterJazz Quartet.[77]
In June 2013 he appeared in the video forHandyman BluesbyBilly Bragg,directed byJohnny Vegas.[78]
On 14 July 2017, one month after theGrenfell Tower fire,BBC'sNewshourprogramme invited West to read out an excerpt from a letter written by an anonymous firefighter giving a personal account of the fire scene and his inner thoughts on duty that night.
In 2020, West appeared on the albumFrom The Ground Up:an ensemble led byHugo Ticciatiimprovised overHenry Purcellchaconnebass lines while West readShakespeareand rapperBaba Israelimprovised. The album won the 2020Gramophone Awardfor Best Concept Album.
Awards and nominations
editAs actor
- 1993 – NominatedBAFTA Award for Best Supporting ActorforHowards End
- 1999 – NominatedGenie Award for Best ActorforRupert's Land
- 2001 – WonLondon Critics' Circle Theatre Awardfor Best Shakespearean Performance forHamlet
- 2001 – Won WhatsonstageTheatregoers' Choice AwardBest Actor forHamlet
- 2008 – Nominated WhatsonstageTheatregoers' Choice Awardfor Best Ensemble Performance forBetrayal
- 2009 – NominatedTMA Awardfor Best Performance in a Play forENRON
- 2009 – NominatedEvening Standard AwardBest Actor forENRON
- 2010 – Nominated WhatsonstageTheatregoers' Choice Awardfor Best Actor forENRON
- 2010 – NominatedOlivier AwardBest Actor forENRON
As reader
- 1999 – Won Talkie award forCharlotte GraybySebastian Faulks
- 2000 – Won Audie award forRealms of Gold: Letters and Poems of John Keats
- 2001 – Won Spoken Word award (Silver) forThe Seeing StonebyKevin Crossley-Holland
- 2001 – Won Spoken Word award (Gold) forBirdsongbySebastian Faulks
Samuel West has received nineAudioFileEarphones Awards for his narration:The Day of the TriffidsbyJohn Wyndham(1996),Peter PanbyJ.M.Barrie(1997),Charlotte GraybySebastian Faulks(1999),The Way I Found HerbyRose Tremain(2000),The Swimming Pool LibrarybyAlan Hollinghurst(2007),FaustbyGoethe(2011),A Shropshire LadbyA. E. Housman(2011),A Possible LifebySebastian Faulks(2012) andPhilip Pullman'sGrimm Tales for Young and Old(2013)[79]
As director
- 2004 – NominatedOlivier Awardfor Best Opera Revival forCosi Fan Tutte
- 2008 – NominatedOlivier Awardfor Best Revival forDealer's Choice
- 2009 – NominatedTheatregoers' Choice Awardfor Best Director forWasteandDealer's Choice
References
edit- ^abCooke, Rachel(25 November 2007)."Best of the West: Rachel Cooke interviews actor Sam West".The Observer.UK.Retrieved6 June2015.
- ^"Samuel West, United Agents".United Agents. 2015.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^"Prom 73 – Last Night of the Proms 2002".BBC.2002.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^abBillington, Michael(16 September 2005)."The Guardian profile: Sam West".The Guardian.UK.Retrieved17 June2015.
- ^"20 Questions With...Samuel West".What's On Stage. 10 December 2001. Archived fromthe originalon 1 July 2015.Retrieved17 June2015.
- ^abPaton, Maureen (10 December 2011)."Sam West: My family values".The Guardian.UK.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^abcdefTaylor, Jeremy (3 March 2017)."FT Masterclass: Stamp collecting with Samuel West".Financial Times.Archivedfrom the original on 10 December 2022.Retrieved2 January2018.
- ^Morrison, Nick (26 June 2009)."My best teacher – Sam West".TES.UK.Retrieved2 July2015.
- ^"Prominent LMH Alumni".Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.2015.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^Who's Who 2013(165th ed.). A & C Black Publishers Ltd. 1 February 2013. p. 2420.ISBN978-14081-549-1-5.
- ^"Talking Beasts: The Narnia Podcast".Two Caspians. Narnia Web. 16 October 2021.
- ^"History, Orange Tree Theatre".Orange Tree Theatre.Retrieved2 July2015.
- ^Thaxter, John(10 February 1989). "????".Richmond & Twickenham Times.
- ^Coveney, Michael(18 April 1993)."Arcadia: Michael Coveney's review".The Observer.UK.Retrieved3 July2015.
- ^Coveney, Michael;Hytner, Nicholas(16 February 2007)."Obituary: Steven Pimlott".The Guardian.UK.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^Billington, Michael(4 May 2001)."Review: Hamlet".The Guardian.London.Retrieved3 July2015.
- ^ab"Samuel West Resigns as Sheffield Artistic Director".What's on Stage. 21 December 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 10 August 2015.Retrieved3 July2015.
- ^"The Crucible Theatre at Sheffield Theatres".Sheffield Theatres.Archived fromthe originalon 10 June 2015.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^Walker, Lynne(26 January 2006)."'The Romans in Britain': a controversial revival ".The Independent.UK. Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2015.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^Spencer, Charles(9 February 2007)."As Shakespeare wouldn't like it".The Telegraph.UK.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved3 July2015.
- ^"RSC Hails Success of Year-long Complete Works".What's on Stage. 5 April 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 10 August 2015.Retrieved3 July2015.
- ^Wolf, Matt (9 October 2007)."Two directors, Howard Davies and Samuel West, show a deft and delicate touch".The New York Times.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^Billington, Michael(6 June 2007)."Theatre review: Betrayal / Donmar Warehouse, London".The Guardian.UK.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^Costa, Maddy (27 November 2008)."Theatre review: The Family Reunion / Donmar, London".The Guardian.UK.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^Spencer, Charles(23 July 2009)."Enron, at Minerva Theatre in Chichester – review".The Telegraph.UK. Archived fromthe originalon 29 October 2014.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^"The best theatre of the decade".The Sunday Times.UK. 13 December 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 4 July 2015.Retrieved3 July2015.
- ^Hitchings, Henry(5 November 2012)."Uncle Vanya, Vaudeville, WC2 – review".London Evening Standard.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^Snow, Georgia (2 July 2015)."Nina Sosanya and Olivia Vinall to join cast of Chekhov trilogy at Chichester".The Stage.UK.Retrieved3 July2015.
- ^Taylor, Paul (19 October 2015)."Young Chekhov: The Birth of a Genius, Chichester Festival Theatre review: A 12-hour triumph".The Independent.
- ^"1993 Film Actor in a Supporting Role".BAFTA.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^Miller, Julie (17 November 2019)."The Crown: Queen Elizabeth's Real-Life Betrayal Inside Buckingham Palace".Vanity Fair.web.Retrieved17 November2019.
- ^"BBC Radio 4 – Saturday Drama, Present Laughter".BBC.2015.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^West, Samuel(17 March 2007)."Fathers and sons".The Guardian.UK.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^"BBC Radio 3 – Drama on 3, Money".BBC.2012.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^""Edward the Seventh" The Invisible Queen (TV Episode 1975) – Full Cast & Crew ".IMDb.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^Walton, Kenneth (25 June 2002)."Stepping out with St Magnus".The Scotsman.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^"West & Son, GoodmanFiddler,Harman Hit Sheffield ".What's on Stage. 17 May 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 10 June 2015.Retrieved10 June2015.
- ^"Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus patron: Samuel West".Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus.6 February 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 1 September 2015.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"Patrons, Scene & Heard".Scene & Heard.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"CND protest to call on Chilcot to find Blair guilty of waging 'war of aggression'".Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.28 January 2010.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"Sam West speaks at the March for the Alternative on Vimeo".Trades Union Congress.26 March 2011.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"Players of Shakespeare 6, British Theatre, Cambridge University Press".Cambridge University Press.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"Performing Shakespeare's Tragedies Today, British Theatre, Cambridge University Press".Cambridge University Press.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"BBC Radio 3 – The Essay, Shakespeare and Love, Samuel West".BBC.25 April 2012.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"BBC Radio 3 – The Essay, Shaping the Air – Writers and Radio, Samuel West".BBC.24 November 2014.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^West, Sam (February 2009)."Harold Pinter: 1930–2008".Socialist Review.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^West, Samuel (17 March 2007)."Fathers and sons, Books".The Guardian.UK.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^West, Samuel (23 April 2015)."Caryl Churchill: the David Bowie of contemporary theatre".The Daily Telegraph.UK.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^West, Samuel (16 February 2012)."Malin, Dogger, North Utsire? Bliss".The Daily Telegraph.UK.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"Samuel West's Page".artsfunding.ning.com.Archived fromthe originalon 10 February 2011.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"BBC Two – University Challenge, Christmas 2014, Episode 1".BBC.20 December 2014.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"RSC Associate Artists".Royal Shakespeare Company.Archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2015.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"Council – Equity".Equity.Archived fromthe originalon 30 May 2014.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"BBC Radio 4 – Ramblings, Series 22, Samuel West at Rainham Marshes in Essex".BBC.11 October 2012.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^"RSPB President and Ambassadors".www.rspb.org.uk.Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.Retrieved30 May2024.
- ^Lockyer, Daphne (1 January 2012)."Samuel West: 'Good actors do get the roles – and recognition – they deserve'".The Daily Telegraph.UK.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^Thorpe, Vanessa (7 September 2014)."Laura Wade: her play Posh put a spotlight on the spoilt".The Guardian.UK.Retrieved30 June2015.
- ^Samuel West [@exitthelemming] (20 August 2017)."Number Two yesterday. Oh, and our second daughter was born"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
- ^"Making the right noise for a return to Plough Lane".11 February 2020.Retrieved3 March2021.
- ^"Sam West our new patron".11 February 2024.Retrieved3 March2021.
- ^The SS in Ukraine Part 4 of 4.onYouTube
- ^Taylor, Paul (25 April 2018)."The Writer, review: Unflaggingly provocative".The Independent.Retrieved20 May2018.
- ^Billington, Michael(2 March 2005)."Insignificance Lyceum, Sheffield".The Guardian.UK.Retrieved1 June2013.
- ^Billington, Michael(9 November 2018)."The Watsons review – Austen heroine brought stunningly back to life".The Guardian.p. 21.
- ^Mansur, Carole (8 May 2015)."20 best audiobooks of all time".The Telegraph.UK.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^Tommasini, Anthony(22 June 2012)."Jonathan Harvey's 'Weltethos' in England".The New York Times.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Grieg – Peer Gynt, with Narrator, Samuel West".Southampton Philharmonic Choir.24 November 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 2 July 2015.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"BBC Proms – Performances – Samuel West".BBC.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Prokofiev: Eugene Onegin / Downes, West, Sinfonia 21".ArkivMusic.25 August 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 2 July 2015.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"William Walton: Henry V – Leonard Slatkin, Samuel West".AllMusic.2002.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Choir of London – PMF – Magic Flute".Choir of London. 2007.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"West takes on impossible job without pausing for breath".Inside Croydon.7 November 2013.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Harrogate Grammar School present Benjamin Britten's opera, Noye's Fludde".Harrogate Informer.10 June 2013.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^West, Samuel (3 October 2013)."Samuel West London choir on West Bank".Sinfini Music.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Samuel West Narrates World Premiere".The Hallé.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees".Grammy.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Britten/Look Stranger".Ruthie Culver.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Billy Bragg – Handyman Blues".YouTube.3 June 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 11 December 2021.Retrieved1 July2015.
- ^"Search Audiobook Reviews – Samuel West".AudioFile.Retrieved1 July2015.
External links
edit- Samuel WestatAllMovie
- Samuel Westdiscography atDiscogs
- Samuel WestatIMDb
- Samuel Westat theInternet Off-Broadway Database