Interviews

Amélie Star Samantha Barks Harks Back to Childhood Fantasies to Build a Brand-New Musical

The big-screen veteran of ”Les Misérables” is developing the whimsical French film’s stage adaptation at Berkeley Repertory Theatre before a potential Broadway run.

An auspicious 2012 big-screen debut in the film adaptation of Les Misérables made a then 22-year-old Samantha Barks the iconic Éponine of this generation's musical-theater aficionados. With her sky-rocketing career, Barks, a native of the Isle of Man (population approximately 86,000), may make her debut on the Great White Way as early as this spring in Amélie, A New Musical, based on the acclaimed 2001 French film. She currently stars in Berkeley Repertory Theatre's world-premiere production as the romantic title character, known for her tendency toward isolation, flair for imagination, and talent for bringing joy to other people's lives.

Amélie's signature bob cut did not make it into the current stage adaptation, which is directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon with a score by Daniel Messé and Nathan Tysen. According to Barks, however, a live homage to the film's stunning cinematography and wistful yearning for human connection is once again opening audiences' hearts and minds to the off-kilter world of Amélie.

Samantha Barks stars in the world premiere of Amélie, A New Musical, directed by Pam MacKinnon, at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
Samantha Barks stars in the world premiere of Amélie, A New Musical, directed by Pam MacKinnon, at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
(© Alex Lee Johnson)

How does it feel to be back onstage, and originating a role?
It's always been a massive dream of mine. Since I did Les Mis, I've been mostly approached [for] movies, so getting to do theater again has been such an amazing feeling. You don't realize how much you miss it until you get back onstage and feel that buzz. [Amélie] has always been a film I've loved. I was so excited to hear how they would create this magical world in the film. I heard the music a long time ago and just fell in love with it.

How does the music convey the spirit of the film?
It's everything I wanted it to be in my head and more. It's kind of folkie and whimsical but yet sort of fantasy at points. Daniel Messé and Nathan Tysen are just geniuses. It really reflects what's going on inside [Amélie's] head. You have those beautiful romantic moments and then obviously the big crazy numbers involving gnomes and goldfish .

Do you feel like the Les Mis film has increased your recognition in the U.S.?
Yeah, it's been really lovely. Maybe [Les Mis] was the first musical film that they've seen. I love being a part of that because I remember being that age. When I first saw [the film] Chicago I hadn't seen a lot of live musicals because…I grew up on such a small island, and professional theater seemed so far away. I never ever thought I'd get so lucky to be appearing in movies. I'm always having pinch-me moments…so it's really fun being a part of somebody's introduction to musicals.

You've worked on a number of classic musicals, but is developing a new musical a new process for you?
It's a very new process. It's really exciting and of course nerve-racking when you're stepping out for the first time doing things that people have never seen. The very first curtain call, my eyes just welled up with tears because it's such an overwhelming feeling when you're showing something so new. It's so thrilling seeing when it works.

Pam MacKinnon is well known in the Broadway community for directing classic plays. What has it been like working with her on a musical?
She's so smart. And there's just such a massive respect for her in the room. I think every room Pam MacKinnon's in she's massively respected. She's got such an amazing presence [and] she's so incredibly intelligent. She always manages to keep calm and that spreads throughout the energy of the room. It makes it feel like a safe place to experiment and to be creative.

Barks (right) and the world-premiere Berkeley Rep cast of Amélie.
Barks (right) and the world-premiere cast of Amélie.
(© Kevin Berne)

What kind of world has she created for Amélie onstage?
She's created a very vivid, colorful world. It's definitely quirky. The world is just on a slight angle, which is kind of how Amélie lives her life. The minute you come onto that stage, you're in Amélie's head. You see her growing up from child to adult, and although you're living her real story, which is the main storyline, you also go off on these tangents. She imagines her childhood goldfish is her best friend and is dancing around the stage with him or she's singing to a gnome …It's so much fun to go off on these little journeys with her. I feel like a kid again.

Did you share Amélie's vivid imagination as a kid?
Oh yeah, massively! I'd have these whole massive plots, and I would cast every single doll in whatever show that I was doing in my head. I remember this old leather wallet that had been thrown into our garden accidentally and I had magical stories that Esmeralda and her gang had all been past and left it for me as part of a mission. I think we all have some of that in us. Mine was particularly strange [laughs] but I think it's such a nice thing to not lose that as you get older — not lose that inner kid where you go, "but that would be cool if." Amélie very much hasn't lost that, and you get to experience that with her in her head.

Why do you think Amélie has become such a beloved and iconic character?
I think lots of people can identify with her. At her age I definitely am feeling a lot of the things she's going through. She's somebody who lives an isolated life, and she doesn't particularly do social interactions. But now she's [in her] mid-twenties and going, "I don't really have any real connections around me." It's actually very difficult when you're trying to reach out to people — trying to connect and find your own voice in the world, because when you step out into the world when you're around that age, the world is huge. I think when you're eighteen, you feel like you can do anything, but suddenly you get to [your] mid-twenties and it's like, "Whoa, the world is crazy and I need to find my place." It's a lovely feeling to have been on that journey with everybody because I think you do feel like you've grown up with her after seeing the show.

Amélie, A New Musical runs through October 11 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
Amélie, A New Musical runs through October 11 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
(© Kevin Berne)