Sam Retford
{{Short description|British actor (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sam Retford
| image = Sam Retford 2019.jpg
| imagesize = 180px
| caption = Retford in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|06|22|df=y}}{{cn|date=January 2025}}
| birth_place = Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
| education = {{Plainlist|
- Brine Leas High School
- The Lowry Actors Company
}}
| occupation = Actor
| television = Ackley Bridge
Coronation Street
| years_active = 2014–present
}}
Sam Retford (born 22 June 1999) is an Australian-English actor, known for portraying the role of Cory Wilson on the Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge (2017–2019). As well as starring in various stage productions, he has also made appearances in television series such as Casualty (2019) and Death in Paradise (2021). In 2021, he joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Curtis Delamere.
Early life
Retford was born on 22 June 1999 in Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. His family then relocated to Crewe, England.{{cite web|url=https://www.northernsoul.me.uk/sam-retford-closets-the-musical-hope-mill-theatre/|title=Sam Retford talks to Northern Soul about time travel, typecasting and telly|date=27 August 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018|archive-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606140603/https://www.northernsoul.me.uk/sam-retford-closets-the-musical-hope-mill-theatre/|url-status=live}} He attended Brine Leas High School,{{Cite journal|date=2017|title=Brine Leas Bulletin Winter Edition 2017|url=http://brineleas.cheshire.sch.uk/Docs/NewsLetters/WinterBullet.pdf|journal=School Bulletin|access-date=17 January 2019|archive-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107233038/http://brineleas.cheshire.sch.uk/Docs/NewsLetters/WinterBullet.pdf|url-status=live}} and later studied acting at The Lowry Actors Company. Before he began acting professionally, Retford aspired to be a marine biologist.{{Cite web|url=https://tresamagazine.com/2019/06/06/sam-retford/|title=Sam Retford|date=6 June 2019|website=TresA|language=en|access-date=6 June 2019|archive-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606132557/https://tresamagazine.com/2019/06/06/sam-retford/|url-status=live}}
Career
Retford began acting in fringe productions around the Manchester theatre scene, such as Lord of the Flies and The Newspaper Boy. He made his television debut in Hollyoaks: Tom's Life, a Hollyoaks spinoff series. The series premiered in 2014 on All 4, and Retford portrayed the role of Nate for four episodes.
From 2017 to 2019, he portrayed the role of Cory Wilson in the Channel 4 school drama Ackley Bridge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/news/ackley-bridge-star-paul-nicholls-i-still-feel-like-a-16-year-old-kid-539792/|title=Ex EastEnders actor and Ackley Bridge star Paul Nicholls: 'I still feel like a 16-year-old kid!'|date=26 June 2018|website=What's on TV|language=en|access-date=29 January 2019|archive-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129201729/https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/news/ackley-bridge-star-paul-nicholls-i-still-feel-like-a-16-year-old-kid-539792/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-08-24/ackley-bridge-gets-a-third-series-on-channel-4/|title=Ackley Bridge gets a third series on Channel 4|website=Radio Times|language=en|access-date=29 January 2019|archive-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122131922/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-08-24/ackley-bridge-gets-a-third-series-on-channel-4/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a864503/ackley-bridge-series-2-finale-episode-series-3-channel-4/|title=Channel 4 confirms series three of Ackley Bridge|last=Houghton|first=Rianne|date=21 August 2019|website=Digital Spy|language=en|access-date=29 January 2019|archive-date=30 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130053329/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a864503/ackley-bridge-series-2-finale-episode-series-3-channel-4/|url-status=live}} His storylines in the series revolved around the subject of domestic abuse, coming to terms with his sexuality, and engaging in an illicit relationship with a teacher.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a28413049/ackley-bridge-cory-sian-student-teacher-affair-storyline/|title=Ackley Bridge fans are not happy with student/teacher affair story|last=Joe Anderton|date=16 July 2019|website=Digital Spy|language=en|access-date=27 July 2019|archive-date=27 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727114417/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a28413049/ackley-bridge-cory-sian-student-teacher-affair-storyline/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/973394/Ackley-Bridge-Spoilers-Cory-Wilson-Jordan-Dad-Beating-Domestic-Violence-Channel-4-Sam|title=Ackley Bridge spoilers: Viewers in tears at brutal domestic abuse scene|last=O'Connor|first=Rory|date=12 June 2018|website=Daily Express|language=en|access-date=29 January 2019|archive-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181655/https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/973394/Ackley-Bridge-Spoilers-Cory-Wilson-Jordan-Dad-Beating-Domestic-Violence-Channel-4-Sam|url-status=live}}
In August 2018, he co-starred in the musical Closets alongside Lloyd Daniels.{{Cite web|url=https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/closets-the-musical/|title=Closets the Musical|website=Hope Mill Theatre|language=en|access-date=17 January 2019|archive-date=19 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121332/https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/closets-the-musical/|url-status=live}} In February 2019, Retford made his London theatre debut when he starred in Kings of Idle Land as Michael, at Vaults festival.{{Cite web|url=https://vaultfestival.com/whats-on/kings-of-idle-land/|title=Kings of Idle Land|language=en|access-date=20 April 2019|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420201743/https://vaultfestival.com/whats-on/kings-of-idle-land/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2019/kings-idle-land-review-vaults-london/|title=Kings of Idle Land review at Vaults, London – 'delicate performances'|last=Morgan|first=Fergus|website=The Stage|language=en|access-date=20 April 2019|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420201747/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2019/kings-idle-land-review-vaults-london/|url-status=live}} Later that year, Retford appeared at Diana Award anti-bullying events in Blackpool and London.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/education/celebrities-will-poulter-cel-spellman-and-sam-retford-to-appear-at-anti-bullying-event-in-blackpool-1-10096320|title=Celebrities, Will Poulter, Cel Spellman and Sam Retford to appear at anti-bullying event in Blackpool|last=Gavell|first=Tom|date=11 November 2019|website=Blackpool Gazette|language=en|access-date=13 November 2019|archive-date=11 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111194708/https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/education/celebrities-will-poulter-cel-spellman-and-sam-retford-to-appear-at-anti-bullying-event-in-blackpool-1-10096320|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.londonlive.co.uk/news/2019-11-11/diana-awards-celebrates-anti-bullying-week|title=Diana Awards celebrates anti-bullying week|date=11 November 2019|website=London Live|language=en|access-date=13 November 2019}} In December 2019, he portrayed the role of Tyler Begbie in an episode of the BBC medical drama Casualty.{{cite episode|title=Episode 17|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ct5x|series=Casualty|series-link=Casualty (TV series)|credits=Writer: Dana Fainaru; Director: Jordan Hogg; Producer: Dafydd Llewelyn|network=BBC|station=BBC One|airdate=28 December 2019|access-date=28 December 2019|archive-date=8 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208203717/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ct5x|url-status=live}}
In 2020, Retford starred in the short film S.A.M.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/131394/hollyoaks-star-david-tag-cast-in-upcoming-lgbtq-film/|title=Hollyoaks star David Tag cast in upcoming LGBTQ film|last=Damshenas|first=Sam|work=Gay Times Magazine|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-date=15 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115171201/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/131394/hollyoaks-star-david-tag-cast-in-upcoming-lgbtq-film/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/teenage-leeds-actor-stars-new-british-lgbtq-film-1364841?amp|title=Teenage Leeds actor stars in new British LGBTQ film|work=Yorkshire Evening Post|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-date=23 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123124837/https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/teenage-leeds-actor-stars-new-british-lgbtq-film-1364841?amp|url-status=live}} Later that year, it was announced that he would appear in the tenth series of Death in Paradise.{{Cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1358131/Death-in-Paradise-season-10-guest-cast-Who-will-star-in-Death-in-Paradise-series-10-evg/amp|title=Death in Paradise season 10 guest cast: Who will appear in Death in Paradise series 10?|work=Daily Express|date=11 November 2020|access-date=11 November 2020|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111035300/https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1358131/Death-in-Paradise-season-10-guest-cast-Who-will-star-in-Death-in-Paradise-series-10-evg/amp|url-status=live}}
In May 2021, Retford joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Curtis Delamere.{{cite news |last=Kitson |first=Calli |title=Coronation Street spoilers: Emma Brooker's dashing new love interest revealed – but Steve McDonald recognises him |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/05/18/coronation-street-spoilers-emmas-love-interest-recognised-by-steve-14513137/amp/ |access-date=18 May 2021 |work=Metro |publisher=DMG Media |date=18 May 2021}} Later that year, he was cast in the musical film White Wedding as Hunter.{{cite news |last=Seddon |first=Dan |title=Coronation Street's Sam Retford and Hollyoaks' David Tag team up for a new project |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a37146956/sam-retford-david-tag-movie-white-wedding/ |access-date=27 July 2021 |work=Digital Spy |publisher=Hearst Magazines UK |date=27 July 2021}}
In February 2024, it was announced that Retford had been cast as Dougal MacKenzie in the Outlander prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood.{{cite news|last=Otterson|first=Joe|title='Outlander' Prequel Series 'Blood of My Blood' Adds Four to Cast as Younger Versions of Key Characters |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/outlander-prequel-series-blood-of-my-blood-cast-1235922568/|work=Variety|date=26 February 2024}}
Filmography
Stage
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Venue ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| rowspan="2"|2014
| The Wardrobe | George |
| At Night
| Jake |
| 2015
| Ralph |
| 2016
| Henry V | Bardolph | Open Air Theatre |
| rowspan="2"|2018
| The Newspaper Boy | Max | 53Two |
| Closets
| Henry | Hope Mill Theatre |
| 2019
|Kings of Idle Land | Michael | The Vault Theatre |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Sam Retford}}
- {{IMDb name|8725162}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Retford, Sam}}
Category:21st-century Australian male actors
Category:21st-century British male actors
Category:Australian emigrants to England
Category:Australian expatriates in England
Category:Australian male child actors
Category:Australian male film actors
Category:Australian male stage actors
Category:Australian male soap opera actors
Category:Australian male television actors
Category:English male child actors
Category:British male film actors
Category:British male soap opera actors
Category:British male stage actors