West, Samuel 1966–

(Sam West)

PERSONAL

Full name, Samuel Alexander Joseph West; born June 19, 1966, in London, England; son of Timothy West (an actor) and Prunella Scales (an actress). Education: Oxford University, B.A., English literature (with honors), 1988. Avocational Interests: Cooking, gardening, poker, soccer, traveling, photography, cricket, juggling, unicycle riding, collecting stamps, comic books, and board games.

Addresses: Agent—Peters Fraser & Dunlop, Drury House, 34-43 Russell St., London WC2B 5HA, England.

Career: Actor. Sheffield Theatres Trust (consists of the Crucible Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, and Studio Theatre), Sheffield, England, artistic director. Haymarket Theatre Royal, London, instructor of master class for young artists. Former president of an experimental theatre club at Oxford University.

Awards, Honors: Film Award nomination, best actor in a supporting role, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 1993, for Howards End; Talkie Gold Award (with others), c. 1995, for Birdsong; Talkie Gold Award (with others), c. 1998, for Charlotte Grey; Genie nomination, best performance by an actor in a leading role, Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, 1999, for Rupert's Land; Audie Award (with others), 2000, for Realms of Gold: The Letters and Poems of John Keats; John and Wendy Trewin Award, best Shakespearian performance, London Critics Circle Theatre awards, 2001, for Hamlet.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

Les Parents Terribles, Orange Tree, London, 1988.

A Life in the Theatre, Haymarket Theatre Royal, London, 1989.

Hidden Laughter, Vaudeville Theatre, London, 1990.

The Sea, Royal National Theatre, 1991.

Valentine, Arcadia, Royal National Theatre, Lyttelton Theatre, London, 1993.

Octavius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Royal National Theatre, 1998.

Journey's End, King's Head, London, 1998.

Title role, Richard II, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and The Pit, London, both 2000.

Whistler, Richard, and masquer, Thomas of Woodstock (reading), Royal Shakespeare Company, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, 2000.

Title role, Hamlet, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and Theatre Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, and Barbican Theatre, London, all 2001.

Henry V, 2002, and with performances with various symphonies.

The Way of the World, Wilton's Music Hall, London, 2003.

Title role, Doctor Faustus, Chichester Festival Theatre, Minerva Theatre, Chichester, England, 2004.

The master, The Master and Margarita, Chichester Festival Theatre, 2004.

Benedick, Much Ado about Nothing, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England, 2005.

Kerry Max Cook, The Exonerated, Riverside Studios, London, 2006.

A Number, Studio Theatre, Sheffield, England, 2006.

Appeared as Algernon Moncrieff, The Importance of Being Earnest, Royal Exchange Theatre; in The Breadwinner, Theatre Royal, Windsor, England; in The Browning Version, Birmingham Repertory; and in other productions, including American Buffalo and Death of a Salesman, both at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland. Reciter for performances of various works, including Carnival of the Animals, Egmont, Facade, Jason and the Argonauts, Kaddish, Ode to Napoleon, Oedipus, and Walton's Facade; performed with various musical groups, such as symphonies, ensembles, and quartets.

Major Tours:

Prince Hal, Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, English cities, c. 1996–97.

Stage Director:

Hamlet, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, 2000.

The Lady's Not for Burning, Chichester Festival Theatre, Minerva Theatre, Chichester, England, 2002.

(As Sam West) Cosi fan tutte (opera), English National Opera, Barbican Theatre, London, 2003.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Royal, Bristol, England, 2003.

Three Women and a Piano Tuner, Chichester Festival Theatre, Minerva Theatre, 2004.

Insignificance, Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield, England, 2005.

As You Like It, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England, and Royal Shakespeare Company Complete Works Festival, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, both 2007.

Film Appearances:

Count Konradin von Lohenburg, Reunion (also known as Der Wiedergefundene Freund and L'ami retrouve), Les Films Ariane, 1989, Castle Hill Productions, 1991.

Alan Stewart, Archipel, 1992.

Leonard Bast, Howards End, Mayfair/Sony Pictures Classics, 1992.

(As Sam West) Chef, A Feast at Midnight, LIVE Entertainment, 1994.

Gerald Brenan, Carrington, Gramercy Pictures, 1995.

Mr. Elliot, Persuasion, Sony Pictures Classics, 1995.

St. John Rivers, Jane Eyre (also known as Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre"), Miramax, 1996.

Edward Ivory, Stiff Upper Lips (also known as Period!), Cowboy Booking International, 1998.

Lieutenant Davis, The Dance of Shiva (short film), Epiphany Productions, 1998.

Rupert McKay, Rupert's Land, Solstice Films, 1998.

(As Sam West) Anna's costar, Notting Hill (also known as The Notting Hill Project), Universal, 1999.

Pork, Runt (short film), National Film and Television School, 1999.

Neil, Complicity (also known as Retribution), Entertainment Film Distributors, 2000.

(Uncredited) Samuel West (party guest), Bread and Roses (also known as Pan y rosas), Lions Gate Films, 2000.

Stagestruck: Gay Theatre in the 20th Century (documentary), 2000.

Robert Southey, Pandemonium, Moonstone Entertainment, 2000, USA Films, 2001.

(As Sam West) Young Maurice, Iris (also known as Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch), Miramax, 2001.

George, Shrink (short film), Tricky Film Productions, 2002.

Voice of Pongo, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (animated; also known as 101 Dalmatians II: The Animated Sequel), Walt Disney Home Video, 2003.

Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Van Helsing, Universal, 2004.

Television Appearances; Series:

Prince Albert Victor Edward (Eddy) at the age of five, Edward the Seventh (also known as Edward VII, Queen Victoria and Edward VII, and The Royal Victorians), Associated Television, 1975, broadcast as Edward the King, syndicated, 1979.

Narrator, The Planets, BBC and Arts and Entertainment, 1999.

Narrator, Battles of the Sexes: In the Animal World, BBC, beginning 1999.

Various voices, A History of Britain, BBC and History Channel, beginning c. 2000.

Narrator, Timewatch (also known as BBC History: Timewatch), BBC-2, c. 2001–2002.

Narrator, Private Life of a Masterpiece, BBC-2, beginning c. 2001.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

King Caspian, "Voyage of the Dawn Treader," The Chronicles of Narnia (also known as The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader), BBC, 1988, PBS, 1989.

Stephan Duke, Stanley and the Women, Independent Television, 1991.

Narrator, The Nazis: A Warning from History (documentary), BBC, 1997, History Channel, 1998.

Himself, Funny Women, BBC, 1998.

Narrator, Tales from the Tower, The Learning Channel and British television, c. 1998.

Nevil Maskelyne, Longitude, Channel 4 (England) and Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

Anthony Blunt, Cambridge Spies, BBC, 2003.

King Gunther, Ring of the Nibelungs (also known as Curse of the Ring, Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King, The Sword of Xanten, Die Nibelungen, Die Nibelugnen-Der Fluch des Drachen, and La saga dei Nibelunghi), Sat. 1 (Germany), 2004, Channel 4, 2005, Sci-Fi Channel, 2006.

Narrator, Auschwitz: The Nazis and the "Final Solution" (also known as Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State), [Great Britain], 2005.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Johnnie Mallett, Frankie and Johnnie, BBC, 1985.

Mark, "Voices in the Garden," Screen Two (also known as Screen Two: Voices in the Garden and Des voix dans le jardin), BBC and Antenne-2, 1992.

(As Sam West) Cyrian, Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time, BBC, 1993.

Lieutenant Charles Thoroughgood, A Breed of Heroes, BBC and BBC Northern Ireland, 1994.

Steven Waldorf, Open Fire, [Great Britain], 1994.

(As Sam West) Nicolai, Zoya (also known as Danielle Steel's "Zoya"), NBC, 1995.

Victor, The Vacillations of Poppy Carew, BBC, 1995.

Monty Bodkin, Heavy Weather (also known as P. G. Wodehouse's "Heavy Weather"), BBC, 1995, broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre (also known as ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, 1996.

Archie Bunting, Over Here, BBC, 1996.

Prince Albert Victor Edward (Eddy), The Ripper, Starz!, 1997.

Lord Edrington, Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters (also known as Horatio Hornblower: The Wrong War), Independent Televison and Arts and Entertainment, 1999.

Colin Trafford, Random Quest, BBC-4, c. 2006.

Appeared in Young Man in a Hurry, London Weekend Television.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Jack Maitland, "The Maitlands," Playhouse (also known as Playhouse: The Maitlands), BBC, 1993.

Narrator, Icemen, History Channel, 1999.

I Hate Christmas Too, BBC, 1999.

Narrator, War of the Century, BBC, 1999, History Channel, 2000, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2001.

Narrator, Grey Owl: The Great White Hoax, History Channel, 2000.

Narrator, The Real John Betjeman, Channel 4 (England), 2000.

Narrator for British version, Horror in the East, BBC and History Channel, 2001.

Narrator, Making a Killing, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2001.

Narrator, Akhenaten and Nefertiti, BBC and History Channel, 2002.

Van Helsing: The Man and the Monsters, Sci-Fi Channel, 2004.

(As Sam West) Humphry Davy, E=mc2, Channel 4, 2005.

Narrator, The First Emperor (also known as The First Emperor: The Man Who Made China), Channel 4, The Discovery Channel UK, and The Discovery Channel, 2006.

Appeared in other programs, including narration for documentaries, including All in the Genes; The Guccis; In Excess, Channel 4; and Neighbours at War.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

(As Sam West) The Evening Standard British Film Awards, Independent Television 3, 2005.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

James Lamerton, "Goats and Tigers," Nanny, BBC, 1981.

Donald Potter, "Death in a White Tie," The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries (also known as Inspector Alleyn and Ngaio Marsh's "Alleyn Mysteries"), BBC, 1993, broadcast on Mystery!, PBS, c. 1995.

(As Sam West) Terry, "We'll Always Have Paris," As Time Goes By, BBC and PBS, 1994.

Simon, "Costumes," Strangers, HBO, 1996.

Narrator, "Against Nature," Equinox, Channel 4 (England), 1997.

Narrator, "Tales from the Oklahoma Land Runs," Timewatch (also known as BBC History: Timewatch), BBC-2, 1999.

Narrator, "Tales of the Eiffel Tower," Timewatch (also known as BBC History: Timewatch), BBC-2, 1999.

Narrator, Horizons, BBC, 2000.

Narrator, "Anne Frank: The Life of a Young Girl," Biography (also known as A & E Biography: Anne Frank), Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Thomas Rice, "Life Sentence," Waking the Dead, BBC, 2002.

George Wightwick, "Entertaining Mr. Soane," Imagine, BBC, 2003.

Himself, "Heat Two," Celebrity Poker Club, Challenge TV, 2003.

Himself, "Semi-Final," Celebrity Poker Club, Challenge TV, 2003.

Narrator and presenter, "The Duke of Monmouth," Historians of Genius: Lord Macaulay (also known as Historians of Genius and Historians of Genius (In Their Own Words)), BBC-2, 2004.

Lieutenant colonel James Wintringham, "The French Drop," Foyle's War, Independent Television, 2004, broadcast on Mystery!, PBS, c. 2005.

Himself, "Actors vs. Writers," University Challenge, BBC, 2006.

Tony Wainwright, "The Chinese Walls," The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (also known as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries: The Chinese Walls), BBC, 2006.

Some sources cite appearances in other programs, including Midsomer Murders, Independent Television and Arts and Entertainment.

Radio Appearances:

Bomber (special), BBC Radio 4, 1995.

(As Sam West) Lysander, The Merchant of Venice (special), BBC Radio 4, 1996.

Dombey and Son (special), BBC Radio 4, c. 1996.

Armstrong and Miller (episodic), BBC Radio 4, 1998.

Title role, Richard II (special), BBC Radio 3, c. 2000.

Coriolanus (special), BBC Radio, c. 2002.

Narrator, the soldier, and the devil, A Soldier's Tale (special), BBC Radio 3, 2005.

Reader, Poetry Please (episodic), BBC Radio 4, various episodes, including 2006.

Appeared as little Rawdon in Vanity Fair (series); in "Enigma," Book at Bedtime (episodic), BBC Radio 4; and in Home of the Gentry (special), BBC Radio 4. Appeared in various radio productions, including Hero and Leander, High Table Low Orders, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and Switch on the Night.

RECORDINGS

Audiobooks:

Robert Goddard, Closed Circle, HarperCollins, 1994.

Robert Goddard, In Pale Battalions, HarperCollins, 1994.

Thomas Hardy, Jude the Obscure, Penguin Audiobooks, 1994.

Barbara Vine, No Night Is Too Long, Chivers Audio Books, 1994.

J. G. Ballard, Empire of the Sun, HarperCollins, 1995.

Sebastian Faulks, Birdsong, Random House Audiobooks, 1995.

Alistair MacLean, The Way to Dusty Death, Chivers Audio Books, 1995.

Michael Ridpath, Free to Trade, Random House Audiobooks, 1995.

Mary Wesley, An Imaginative Experience, Chivers Audio Books, 1995.

J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan, Naxos Audiobooks, 1996.

Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Penguin Audiobooks, 1996.

Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, BBC Audiobooks, 1996.

Jostein Gaarder, The Solitaire Mystery, HarperCollins, 1996.

James Herbert, Fluke, Chivers Audio Books, 1996.

George Orwell, Homage to Catalonia, Penguin Audiobooks, 1996.

Various authors, Great Narrative Poems of the Romantic Age, Naxos Audiobooks, 1996.

Various authors, Great Speeches in History, Naxos Audiobooks, 1996.

John Wyndham, The Day of the Triffids, Chivers Press, 1996.

Sharon Penman, The Queen's Man, Penguin Audiobooks, 1997.

William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Penguin Audiobooks, 1997.

Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan, Naxos Audiobooks, 1997.

Sebastian Faulks, Charlotte Gray, Random House Audiobooks, 1998.

Thomas Hardy, The Woodlanders, Chivers Audio Books, 1998.

Michael Ridpath, The Marketmaker, edited by Martin Franks, Penguin Audiobooks, 1998.

Mary Wesley, Part of the Furniture, Chivers Audio Books, 1998.

Hodder English Gold 1, 2, 3, Hodder & Stoughton, 1998.

Wilkie Collins, The Two Destinies, Chivers Audio Books, 1999.

Elizabeth Gaskell and Peter Leigh, Livewire Classics: The Half-Brothers, Hodder & Stoughton, 1999.

Elizabeth Gaskell and Peter Leigh, Livewire Classics: The Well at Pen-Morfa, Hodder & Stoughton, 1999.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Peter Leigh, Livewire Classics: The Yellow Wallpaper, Hodder & Stoughton, 1999.

John Keats, Realms of Gold: The Letters and Poems of John Keats (also known as Realms of Gold), Naxos Audiobooks, 1999.

Gene Kemp, The Hairy Hands, Chivers Children's Audio Books, 1999.

Edgar Allan Poe and Peter Leigh, Livewire Classics: The Tell-Tale Heart, Hodder & Stoughton, 1999.

William Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing, Penguin Audiobooks, 1999.

Rose Tremain, The Way I Found Her, Chivers Audio Books, 1999.

Kevin Crossley-Holland, The Seeing Stone, Orion, 2000.

Diana Wynne Jones, The Lives of Christopher Chant, Collins, 2000.

William Shakespeare, Henry V (also known as King Henry V), Naxos Audiobooks, 2000.

William Shakespeare, Richard II, BBC Audiobooks, 2000.

Kevin Crossley-Holland, At the Crossing-Places, Orion, 2001.

Michael Ridpath, Final Venture, Penguin Audiobooks, 2001.

Sebastian Faulks, The Girl at the Lion d'Or, Random House Audiobooks, 2002.

Iris Murdoch, Under the Net, Chivers Audio Books, 2002.

Kevin Crossley-Holland, The King of the Middle March, Orion, 2003.

William Nicholson, Slaves of Mastery, Chivers Children's Audio Books, 2003.

William Nicholson, The Wind Singer (The Wind on Fire), Chivers Children's Audio Books, 2003.

Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist: A Fable about Following Your Dream, Thorsons, 2004.

William Nicholson, Firesong, BBC Audiobooks, 2004.

Alain de Botton, How Proust Can Change Your Life, CSA Word, 2005.

William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well, Arkangel Shakespeare, The Audio Partners, 2005.

John Betjeman, John Betjeman: A First Class Collection, BBC Audiobooks, 2006.

Appeared in other recordings, including Blue Remembered Hills, by Dennis Potter.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

People Weekly, November 27, 1995, pp. 135-36. Seventeen, July, 1992, p. 88.