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Stage Star Samantha Barks, Not Taylor Swift, Cast in 'Les Miserables'
by Ethan Anderton
January 31, 2012
Source: Variety
The beginning of the year originally brought us news that both Taylor Swift and Amanda Seyfried had been offered roles in The King's Speech director Tom Hooper's new adaptation of Les Miserables. However, Seyfried is the only one out of the duo who has gotten the role as Variety reports stage star Samantha Banks, who played the role of Éponine in a 2010 London production of the Victor Hugo classic, has snagged the same role for the feature film adaptation. She joins a cast that includes Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Redmayne and Sacha Baron Cohen. More below!
There seemed to be some backlash when Swift was even considered for the role, but I would've liked to see her try it out with this cast. I think Swift has some genuine talent on the acting front, and obviously she can sing pretty well. Lea Michele of "Glee" was also up for the part and would've been another interesting choice, but of course, it's just as well that someone who has real musical experience is taking the role since we've heard about the actual singing that's supposed to take place on set as opposed to just the normal lip syncing. The musical adaptation is slated to this theaters on December 7th this year.
14 Comments
1
Wow this is literally the best news I've heard lately!!!! I'm so excited now! If you go back to the very first article saying that Les Miz was going to be a movie, I totally commented saying that Samantha should play Eponine.
Txsrangerfan08 on Jan 31, 2012
3
Thank the gods!
Anonymous on Jan 31, 2012
4
Samantha "Barks"? She ain't that bad lookin...
norm on Feb 1, 2012
5
I have nothing against Barks, and am happy for her. Even so, I am getting annoyed at all the la de dah purists (Hey. It's only a movie for crying out loud!) who hounded Taylor Swift out of the cast. I love Taylor Swift.
gardenerman on Feb 1, 2012
6
Can someone tell me how to pronounce Eponine?
gardenerman on Feb 1, 2012
7
Eh-po-neen
Sdsd on Feb 1, 2012
8
Emphasis on the "eh" because of the accent mark. EH-po-neen.
Yllo on Feb 1, 2012
9
Thank you
Larry on Feb 1, 2012
10
epo- ninne
Mazocal on Mar 19, 2012
11
Totally agree with the choice, although to be fair, Mr. Anderton, the "interesting" choice of Lea Michele wouldn't have been too weird....Before Glee, she'd been on Broadway a few times, and was originally supposed to play Eponine in the last Broadway revival, but turned it down to play Wendla in Spring Awakening, also on Broadway.
Guest on Feb 1, 2012
12
In fact, she's already played the young Cosette on Broadway. http://tinyurl.com/6lou69m The woman can sing.
Epres on May 31, 2012
13
For those who don't know this woman came from a BBC talent show called I'd Do Anything which was Andrew Lloyd Webber's search for his Nancy for a stage production of Oliver Twist. After seeing her on that series this woman has potential.
Spike on Feb 4, 2012
14
Not to dock on Samantha Banks but Lea Michele has a lot of stage experience (she's been on broadway since she was young). The kids on Glee is surprisingly very accomplished "Around the same time that the show (Spring Awakening) was set to go to Broadway, she was offered the role of Eponine in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables." From wikipedia. Fyi, not really a fan of Lea (kind of annoying).. just thought people should know her accomplishments.
Guest WHo on Jun 5, 2012
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