This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/feb/01/scarlett-johansson-les-miserables-samantha-barks

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Virtual unknown beats Scarlett Johansson to Les Misérables role Virtual unknown beats Scarlett Johansson to Les Misérables role
(about 4 hours later)
When Les Misérables hits cinemas in December, the cast list will groan with big names – with one exception. On Tuesday night, Samantha Barks was taking her curtain call after playing Nancy in Oliver! at Manchester's Palace Theatre when she was surprised onstage by Cameron Mackintosh.When Les Misérables hits cinemas in December, the cast list will groan with big names – with one exception. On Tuesday night, Samantha Barks was taking her curtain call after playing Nancy in Oliver! at Manchester's Palace Theatre when she was surprised onstage by Cameron Mackintosh.
To audience cheers, the producer told her she had won the role of Éponine alongside Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in director Tom Hooper's version of the long-running musical.To audience cheers, the producer told her she had won the role of Éponine alongside Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in director Tom Hooper's version of the long-running musical.
"He told me that I'd got the part and my heart started pounding," said Barks on Wednesday."He told me that I'd got the part and my heart started pounding," said Barks on Wednesday.
Barks was previously best known for coming third in I'd Do Anything, the BBC talent show in which contestants vied for the role of Nancy in Oliver!'s West End production. The actor, who had little previous film experience, had spent 15 weeks auditioning and screen testing for the Les Misérables film, Hooper's follow-up to The King's Speech, beating rivals including Scarlett Johansson, Lea Michele, Taylor Swift and Evan Rachel Wood. Barks was previously best known for coming third in I'd Do Anything, the BBC talent show in which contestants vied for the role of Nancy in Oliver!'s West End production.
Though they had fame on their side, Banks had experience: she had played the role in the West End for a year, as well as at the musical's 25th anniversary performance at the O2 arena. The actor, who had little previous film experience, had spent 15 weeks auditioning and screen testing for the Les Misérables film, Tom Hooper's follow-up to The King's Speech, beating rivals including Scarlett Johansson, Lea Michele, Taylor Swift and Evan Rachel Wood.
Though they had fame on their side, Barks had experience: she had played the role in the West End for a year, as well as at the musical's 25th anniversary performance at the O2 arena.
"I've had so many experiences with the part that it's something very close to me," said Barks. "She's got one ray of light in this dark life: Marius, this young student she adores, but he loves somebody else. Everyone can relate to that unrequited love, so to explore that on film is absolutely thrilling.""I've had so many experiences with the part that it's something very close to me," said Barks. "She's got one ray of light in this dark life: Marius, this young student she adores, but he loves somebody else. Everyone can relate to that unrequited love, so to explore that on film is absolutely thrilling."
Marius will be played by Eddie Redmayne, who last week told the Guardian that he was preparing for the role with "a brilliant, very expensive singing teacher". The cast list also includes Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen, who play the villainous Thénardiers. Frances Ruffelle, who played Éponine in the original production, will play a character Mackintosh described as "the most fabulous whore".Marius will be played by Eddie Redmayne, who last week told the Guardian that he was preparing for the role with "a brilliant, very expensive singing teacher". The cast list also includes Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen, who play the villainous Thénardiers. Frances Ruffelle, who played Éponine in the original production, will play a character Mackintosh described as "the most fabulous whore".
The film starts shooting next month. "It's going to be epic," said Barks. The musical was first staged by Cameron Mackintosh in 1985, and has played to 55 million people in 41 countries. Last month, its original cast sought legal advice after being informed that they would no longer be paid royalties for the soundtrack album they made, as the 25-year contract had elapsed.The film starts shooting next month. "It's going to be epic," said Barks. The musical was first staged by Cameron Mackintosh in 1985, and has played to 55 million people in 41 countries. Last month, its original cast sought legal advice after being informed that they would no longer be paid royalties for the soundtrack album they made, as the 25-year contract had elapsed.
Hooper's previous film, The King's Speech, has made a transition in the opposite direction to Les Misérables. A stage production starring Charles Edwards opens on stage in Guildford on Wednesday night.Hooper's previous film, The King's Speech, has made a transition in the opposite direction to Les Misérables. A stage production starring Charles Edwards opens on stage in Guildford on Wednesday night.