Xavier Samuel

{{Infobox person

|name = Xavier Samuel

|image = Xavier Samuel 2.jpg

|caption = Samuel in 2012

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1983|12|10}}

|birth_place = Hamilton, Victoria, Australia

|occupation = Actor

|yearsactive = 2003–present

|relatives = Benedict Samuel (brother)

}}

Xavier Samuel (born 10 December 1983) is an Australian film and theatre actor. He has appeared in leading roles in the feature films Adore, September,{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/film-reviews/september/2007/11/29/1196037047757.html|newspaper=The Age|title=September (Film reviews)|access-date=21 August 2009|date=29 November 2007|first=Jim|last=Schembri}} Further We Search,[http://www.subcultureentertainment.com/FilmDRAMA/FILM%20Further%20We%20Search.htm Further We Search] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823155828/http://www.subcultureentertainment.com/FilmDRAMA/FILM%20Further%20We%20Search.htm |date=23 August 2010 }}, subcultureentertainment.com; accessed 15 June 2015. Newcastle,{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/stay-in-touch/aussie-actor-may-suffer-luke-perry-syndrome/2008/04/13/1208024984257.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=21 August 2009|date=14 April 2008|first=Emily|last=Dunn|author2=Josephine Tovey|title=Baby face surfs into Big Apple}} The Loved Ones,{{cite web|title=Xavier Samuel|url=http://xaviernews.com/xavier/biography|work=xaviernews.com|access-date=18 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218230957/http://xaviernews.com/xavier/biography|archive-date=18 December 2013}} Frankenstein, A Few Best Men, and played Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and Billy in Spin Out. He also starred as Cass Chaplin in Blonde.

Early life and education

Samuel was born in Hamilton, Victoria, the son of Maree and Clifford Samuel.[http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/who/article/-/7458950/aussie-eclipse-star-xavier-samuel Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927074646/http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/who/article/-/7458950/aussie-eclipse-star-xavier-samuel|date=27 September 2011}}, au.lifestyle.yahoo.com; accessed 15 June 2015. He grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, and graduated from Rostrevor College in 2001 where he boarded.{{Cite web|last=James|first=HANNAH|date=20 August 2016|title=Interview: Spin Out with Xavier Samuel|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/the-interview-xavier-samuel-talks-about-filming-his-new-aussie-romcom-spin-out/news-story/c21f201a81f35fb4a4cf1276caef5419|access-date=9 July 2021|website=dailytelegraph|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Debelle|first=Penelope|date=14 February 2014|title=Acting is in Xavier Samuel's blood|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/sa-lifestyle/after-twilight-xavier-samuel-jumped-at-the-chance-to-work-on-a-hometown-production-of-the-seagull/news-story/1160c56c845c9c25ae3a98a66a79492b|access-date=9 July 2021|website=adelaidenow|language=en}} When Samuel was 13, his family spent a year in Darwin due to his parents' teaching jobs.{{Cite web|date=7 August 2016|title=DATE WITH KATE: XAVIER SAMUEL|url=https://katewaterhouse.com/date-kate-xavier-samuel/|access-date=9 July 2021|website=Kate Waterhouse|language=en-US}}

He has a younger brother, Benedict, a writer, producer and actor,{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/benedict-hammers-home-talent-in-summer-bay/story-e6frf96x-1226105611997|title=Benedict hammers home talent in Summer Bay|date=1 August 2011|work=Herald Sun|location=Australia|publisher=The Herald and Weekly Times|access-date=1 August 2011}} as well as an older sister, Bridget, a stage manager.

Despite completing his senior secondary years at Rostrevor College, Samuel undertook final year drama at Christian Brothers College, where he played the part of Tom Snout (the wall) in Rostrevor College's production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream as well as playing Belvile in CBC's production of Aphra Behn's The Rover (The Banished Cavaliers).

Samuel later attended Flinders University Drama Centre and graduated in 2006.{{Cite web|last=admin|date=9 May 2014|title=Twilight star shares thoughts|url=https://blogs.flinders.edu.au/encounter/2014/05/09/twilight-star-shares-thoughts/|access-date=9 July 2021|website=e.NCOUNTER - Alumni News|language=en-AU}}

Career

Samuel made his debut on the Australian TV show McLeod's Daughters in 2003. He starred in the Australian horror movie Road Train as Marcus, and also acted in the Australian movie Drowning with Elephant Princess star Miles Szanto, directed by Craig Boreham.[http://www.twilightconvention.com/cal/twilight_dallas.htm Twilight Convention in Dallas, Texas], twilightconvention.com; accessed 29 May 2017.

Alongside Mia Wasikowska, Samuel was in the 2007 Australian film September, set in 1968 where two young boys who share a passion for boxing are friends.{{Cite web|last=Spirits|first=Jens Korff, Creative|date=21 December 2018|title=September (Film)|url=https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/september|access-date=9 July 2021|website=Creative Spirits|language=en-au}}

In 2008, Samuel starred in the Australian surfing movie Newcastle, opposite Reshad Strik.

In 2009, Samuel was cast as Brent in the Australian horror/thriller movie The Loved Ones in the lead role opposite Robin McLeavy.

In early 2010, Samuel was cast as Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. The film was Samuel's first high-profile film. Samuel was nominated for, and won, his first film award at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. In an interview with GQ Australia in November 2010, Samuel described the process of his Twilight casting. "I sent off the audition tape from Sydney, which landed in a big pile on someone's desk. So then to actually hear something back was kind of unusual. I guess I was a bit of a gamble, but it's bizarre and wonderful."[https://www.gq.com.au/life/people/twilights+xavier+samuel,6465 Twilight's Xavier Samuel], gq.com.au; accessed 29 May 2017.

Samuel appeared as Henry Wriothesley in the 2011 film Anonymous.

In 2012 Samuel played a lead role in A Few Best Men with other notable stars, Rebel Wilson and Olivia Newton-John. The film is about a wedding.{{Cite web|last=Ryan|first=Tom|date=28 January 2012|title=A Few Best Men|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/a-few-best-men-20120126-1qitc.html|access-date=9 July 2021|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}} He reprised his role in the 2017 sequel, A Few Less Men.

Eventually forming a relationship with co-star Phoebe Tonkin, Samuel was cast in 3D feature Bait, released in September 2012.{{Cite web|title=Bait (2012) starring Richard Brancatisano, Xavier Samuel, Chris Betts, Sharni Vinson directed by Kimble Rendall Movie Review|url=https://www.themoviescene.co.uk/reviews/bait-2012/bait-2012.html|access-date=9 July 2021|website=www.themoviescene.co.uk}}{{Cite web|title=Dancing With The Stars's Jessica Gomes once dated this Twilight star|url=https://www.who.com.au/jessica-gomes-relationships|access-date=9 July 2021|website=Who|date=5 April 2021 |language=en-us}}

In 2013 he played Ian in Adore beside Robin Wright and Naomi Watts, which is based on Doris Lessing's book and directed by Anne Fontaine.{{Cite web |first=Rebecca|last=Murray |title=Xavier Samuel Discusses "Adore"|url=https://www.liveabout.com/xavier-samuel-discusses-adore-2425244|access-date=9 July 2021|website=LiveAbout|language=en}} The film is about two middle-aged mothers who become the lovers of each other's sons. Anne Fontaine coached Samuel through rehearsals of the love scenes in a hotel room using a paid actress who stood in for Wright. The film was shot in Seal Rocks in New South Wales and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival under its original name of Two Mothers.{{Cite web|date=25 June 2013|title=The Most Scandalous Movie Of The Year?|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/adore-trailer_n_3495741|access-date=9 July 2021|website=HuffPost|language=en}}

Alongside Hugo Weaving and an owl, Samuel was cast in the movie Healing in 2014. The film is about a prison program where the inmates rehabilitate birds. When speaking about Doris the owl, Samuel stated that he grew rather fond of her as she was easy to play with and was a real diva.

File:Xavier Samuel.jpg

In 2014, Samuel was cast alongside Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf in the $80 million blockbuster Fury, about a group of Americans in Nazi Germany at the end of World War II.

In 2016, Samuel played the titular character in The Death and Life of Otto Bloom, with Rachel Ward and her daughter, Matilda Brown.{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Jake|date=15 March 2017|title=The Death and Life of Otto Bloom review: Tale of charismatic time traveller just a tiresome fantasy|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/the-death-and-life-of-otto-bloom-review-tale-of-charismatic-time-traveller-just-a-tiresome-fantasy-20170315-guy8s9.html|access-date=9 July 2021|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

In the same year, Samuel performed alongside Kate Beckinsale, Chloe Sevigny, Stephen Fry, and James Fleet in the critically-acclaimed film Love and Friendship, adapted from Jane Austen novel Lady Susan.

Starring alongside Hugo Weaving yet again, Samuel played the role of Simon Heywood in the Australian TV series, Seven Types of Ambiguity in 2017. The series was based on Seven Types of Ambiguity, a 2003 novel by Australian writer Elliot Perlman.{{Cite web|date=10 April 2017|title=Seven Types of Ambiguity review – Hugo Weaving conjures dark magic amid a powerful cast|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/10/seven-types-of-ambiguity-review-hugo-weaving-elliot-perlman-cast|access-date=9 July 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

Samuel played Kit Parker in the Amazon thriller series Tell Me Your Secrets in 2021.{{Cite web|date=27 January 2021|title=Tell Me Your Secrets' Haunting First Look Will Make You Eager For Answers|url=https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1231759/tell-me-your-secrets-haunting-first-look-will-make-you-eager-for-answers|access-date=9 July 2021|website=E! Online}}

In 2022, he starred in the Marilyn Monroe bio-pic Blonde, written and directed by Andrew Dominik and adapted from the 2000 novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates. It stars Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe and premiered on Netflix in September 2022.

Personal life

As a child, Samuel wanted to be an Australian rules football star like his hero Tony Modra, and is a supporter of the Adelaide Football Club.

Samuel regularly moves between America and Australia to take on roles.

From 2010 to 2011, Samuel dated Iranian-German model Shermine Shahrivar. In 2012, Samuel dated his Bait 3D co-star, Phoebe Tonkin. From 2012 to 2015, Samuel dated his Plush co-star Emily Browning.{{Cite web|last=Osenlund|first=R. Kurt|date=10 October 2013|title=Catherine Hardwicke On Her Kinky, Twisted Thriller 'Plush' and Why She Considers 'Twilight' an Indie|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/10/catherine-hardwicke-on-her-kinky-twisted-thriller-plush-and-why-she-considers-twilight-an-indie-34087/|access-date=9 July 2021|website=IndieWire|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Khera|first=Japleen|date=10 January 2021|title=Is Emily Browning Dating or Married? Who is Emily Browning's Boyfriend?|url=https://thecinemaholic.com/is-emily-browning-dating-anyone-who-is-her-boyfriend/|access-date=9 July 2021|website=The Cinemaholic|language=en-US}} Starting in 2016, he was in a relationship with model Jessica Gomes for two years.{{Cite web|title=Jessica Gomes reveals she broke up with long-term partner|url=https://www.who.com.au/model-jessica-gomes-reveals-she-broke-up-with-long-term-partner-xavier-samuel-as-she-walks-in-australian-fashion-week|access-date=9 July 2021|website=Who|date=16 May 2018 |language=en-us}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Key

| style="background:#ffc;"| {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}}

| Denotes films that have not yet been released

Year ! Film Title ! Role ! Notes
class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
rowspan="2" \| 2006	2:37	Theo
Angela's Decision	Will Turner
2007	September	Ed Anderson
2008	Newcastle	Fergus
rowspan="3" \| 2009	Drowning	Dan	Short film
The Loved Ones	Brent
Further We Search	Age
rowspan="2"\|2010 \|The Twilight Saga: Eclipse \|Riley Biers \|
Road Train \|Marcus \|
rowspan="2" \|2011	Anonymous	Henry Wriothesley
A Few Best Men	David
2012	Bait 3D	Josh
rowspan="3" \|2013	Adore	Ian Weston
Drift	Jimmy Kelly
Plush	Enzo
rowspan="2" \|2014	Healing	Paul
Fury	Lt. Parker
rowspan="1" \|2015	Frankenstein	Monster/Adam
rowspan="4" \|2016	Love & Friendship	Reginald DeCourcy
Mr. Church	Owen
Spin Out	Billy
The Death and Life of Otto Bloom	Otto Bloom
rowspan="2" \|2017	Bad Blood	Vincent
A Few Less Men	David
rowspan="2" \|2018 \|Riot \|Jim Walker \|
Della Mortika \|Lt Pasha Dimitrikov \|Short film
rowspan="2" \|2022 \| Elvis \| Scotty Moore \|
Blonde \| Cass Chaplin \|
{{TableTBA}} \|The Great Departure {{dagger\|alt=Films that have not yet been released}} \|Marc \|Post-production
{{TableTBA}} \|Champagne Problems {{dagger\|alt=Films that have not yet been released}} \|Ryan Garner \|In production
{{TableTBA}} \|The Tuna Goddess {{dagger\|alt=Films that have not yet been released}} \|Pete \|In development

=Television=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
Year ! Film Title ! Role ! Notes
2017 \|Seven Types of Ambiguity \|Simon Heywood \|6 episodes
2021 \|Tell Me Your Secrets \|Kit Parker \|8 episodes
rowspan="2"\|2023 \| The Clearing \|Colin Garrison \|7 episodes
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart \|Moss \|1 episode
rowspan="3"\|2025 \|Apple Cider Vinegar \|Erik \|3 episodes
The Last Anniversary \|Zeke \|3 episodes
The Stolen Girl \|Marcus Turner \|4 episodes

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

Year

! Film Title

! Role

! Notes

2017

|Seven Types of Ambiguity

|Simon Heywood

|6 episodes

2021

|Tell Me Your Secrets

|Kit Parker

|8 episodes

rowspan="2"|2023

| The Clearing

|Colin Garrison

|7 episodes

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

|Moss

|1 episode

rowspan="3"|2025

|Apple Cider Vinegar

|Erik

|3 episodes

The Last Anniversary

|Zeke

|3 episodes

The Stolen Girl

|Marcus Turner

|4 episodes

Theatre

Year ! Play ! Role ! Notes
class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
rowspan="2" \| 2006	Two Weeks with the Queen	Colin	Windmill Performing Arts
Osama the Hero	Unknown	The Old Fitzroy Theatre
2007	Mercury Fur	Unknown	Griffin Theatre
2014	The Seagull	Konstantin	South Australian State Theatre

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
2010	Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite movie actor	rowspan="4" \| The Twilight Saga: Eclipse	{{nom}}
2010	Scream Awards	Best Breakthrough Performance Male	{{nom}}
2011	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Movie Breakout: Male	{{nom}}
rowspan="2" \|2011 \| rowspan="2" \|MTV Movie Awards \| "Best Breakout Star" \|{{nom}}
"Best Fight" \| The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (with Robert Pattinson and Bryce Dallas Howard) \|{{won}}
2015 \|Louisiana International Film Festival \|Best Actor \|Frankenstein \|{{Won}}
rowspan="2" \|2018 \|Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards \|Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama \|Riot \|{{Nom}}
rowspan="2" \|Equity Ensemble Awards \| rowspan="2" \|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Mini-series or Telemovie \|Seven Types of Ambiguity \|{{Won}}
2019 \|Riot \|{{Won}}
2023 \|Golden Raspberry Awards \|Worst Supporting Actor \|Blonde \|{{Nom}}

References

External links

{{IMDb name|1882152}}

{{Navboxes

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Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:Australian expatriate male actors in the United States

Category:Australian male film actors

Category:Australian male television actors

Category:Male actors from Victoria (state)

Category:People educated at Rostrevor College

Category:People from Hamilton, Victoria

Category:Male actors from Adelaide