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Samantha Baines
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Comedian, actress, author and podcaster
AwardsWhat the Frock! Best Newcomer 2015, Best Actress Award in 24 Hour Film Race, Coventry Inspiration Award 2021, International Women's Podcast Awards 2022
Websitewww.samanthabaines.com

Samantha Louise Baines (born 1987 in Southwark, London) is an English actress, author and comedian. She is best known for her appearances in Magic Mike Live London, The Crown (Netflix), Lee Nelson's Well Funny People (BBC Three), Hank Zipzer (CBBC) and A Royal Night Out.[1]

Early life

Baines grew up in Bromley,[2] where she attended Newstead Wood School for Girls. She was a member of the National Youth Theatre.[3] She studied drama at Exeter University and trained in acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama.[4]

Personal life

Baines was briefly married and divorced in 2020. She set up her own podcast about divorce to help others going through it called The Divorce Social (previously The Divorce Club).[5] Famous podcast guests include Rose McGowan, Sarah Millican, Karen Hauer, Helen Lederer, Carl Donnelly, Shappi Khorsandi and Kerry Howard.

Comedy career

From 2010 to 2014, Baines has been a member of all female sketch group Vinegar (formerly known as Vinegar Knickers), alongside Harriet Fisher and Katie Burnetts. Vinegar were finalists in the NATYS 2014.[6] Vinegar took two comedy sketch shows to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2011 and 2012, and received four and five star reviews.[7]

In 2011, Baines played Clarissa Ankle in the online gaming sensation Behind the Bytes, a sitcom based on the world of video games.[8] The character of Clarissa Ankle proved so popular that she had her own spin-off series, Bytes Breaks.[9]

In 2013, Baines played posh chav Steph, in Lee Nelson's Well Funny People (BBC Three) (for which she also voiced Sexy Woman), and receptionist Susan in Hank Zipzer (CBBC).

Baines took the lead role of Kate in the play Blueprint (by Corinne Furness) in 2013, which she reprised in 2014 at the BikeShed Theatre. The role was an emotional look at the life of a woman dying of Leukaemia, for which Baines received positive reviews. Belinda Dillon of Exeunt Magazine stated that the role was "superbly played",[10] and the festival publication Wildfire said, "Samantha Baines takes the lead, giving a performance of amazing honesty and courage, which compels the audience to take her to their hearts".[11]

She performed her first spot at The Comedy Store in London in 2015.

In 2015, Baines starred as Mary in UK cinema release A Royal Night Out, directed by Julian Jarrold for Lionsgate and Ecosse Films.[12] Baines plays Mary in The Crown also directed by Julian Jarrold.

Baines writes comedy posts for the Huffington Post Comedy.[13] and Time Out. She also creates her own comic poetry which she posts via her personal blog and which she published as a book, Poentry: silly po-faced entries.[14]

Baines took the role of the Female MC in Magic Mike Live London at the Hippodrome Casino in London's West End in 2018 until 2020, originating the role for the London show and collaborating with Channing Tatum on the script.[15] Magic Mike Live London is a show based on the Magic Mike film franchise and is directed by Channing Tatum, it is featured in the film Magic Mike's Last Dance. WhatsOnStage stated Baines was "out and out hilarious",[16] whilst The Independent commented on her "winning stage presence"[17] in the role.

Books

Harriet Versus the Galaxy

In October 2019 her debut children's novel Harriet Versus the Galaxy was published by Knights Of, a book about a girl who wears a hearing aid (as does Baines).[18] The book was reviewed in The Independent: "with a hilarious heroine, this is a rip-roaring riot" and named one of the 'Best Children's Books of the year' by the paper.[19] It was also selected as a BookTrust 'Book of the Month'[20] and a Teachers pick on Amazon.[21] Harriet Versus the Galaxy is also available on Audible also voiced by Baines.[22]

The Night the Moon Went Out

Her second children's book The Night the Moon Went Out was published by Bloomsbury Publishing and is a short chapter book to encourage children to read independently.[23] It was shortlisted for The People's Book Prize[24] and longlisted for The Adrien Prize.[25]

Living with Hearing Loss and Deafness: A guide to owning it and loving it

Her debut non-fiction title Living with Hearing Loss and Deafness: a guide to owning it and loving it was published by Headline in April 2023.[26] It was an amazon bestseller and Adam Kay called it "highly informative, told with warmth and humour".[27]

Radio/podcasts

In 2014, Baines co-hosted the show Ladies What Brunch on Hoxton Radio, with comedian Helen Sorren.[28] Baines and Sorren starred in the "Busy Battle" sketch by production company Rubber Public,[29] which went viral.[30] From 2014 to 2015 Baines also hosted her own solo show on Wandsworth Radio as well as the popular Week on the Web segment for Soho Radio. From 2015 onwards she appeared on various radio shows reporting the alternative news, doing the paper review and offering her opinions – shows include Woman's Hour on Radio 4,[31] XFM , BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Ulster, Absolute Radio and BBC London 94.9. Baines hosted her own show Baines Plus One on Hoxton Radio which was also available as a podcast on iTunes. Baines' started a new podcast in 2018 called Periods: Amazing Women in History.

Baines began presenting on BBC Radio London in 2017[32] and BBC Radio Kent in 2018.[33]

After her own divorce, Baines created and began hosting a new podcast: The Divorce Social (previously The Divorce Club).[5] Guests include Sarah Millican, Rose McGowan, Karen Hauer, Jacqui Smith and the podcast has been featured on Loose Women and chosen as The Times' Podcast of the Week.[34] The podcast has also won two awards.

Recognitions

As host and creator of The Divorce Social podcast (previously The Divorce Club) Samantha won the 'Moment of Touching Honesty' Award at the International Women's Podcast Awards 2022[35] and the bronze award for 'Best Relationships Podcast' at the British Podcast Awards 2022.[36] The podcast was also shortlisted for both awards in 2021.

Samantha's debut children's novel Harriet Versus the Galaxy won the Coventry Inspiration Award 2021[37] and her second book The Night the Moon Went Out was longlisted for The Adrien Prize 2022.[25]

Samantha won the What the Frock! Best Newcomer Award in 2015. One year into her stand-up comedy career, Baines was a finalist in the Funny Women Awards 2014,[38] as well as a semi-finalist in the Laughing Horse New Act Competition 2014.[39] Baines was the first woman to appear in the UK Pun Championship Final 2017[40] and also appeared in the final in 2018.[41]

She also won a Best Actress Award in 24 Hour Film Race for the short film New Model.[42]

Filmography/TV appearances

Year Title Character Production Notes
2013 Lee Nelson's Well Funny People Steph BBC Episode 3
2013 Lee Nelson's Well Funny People Sexy Woman (voice) BBC Episode 2
2014 Hank Zipzer Receptionist CBBC Episode 8
2015 A Royal Night Out Mary Lionsgate and Ecosse Films UK cinema release: 15 May 2015
2015 Doctors Harriet Bryson BBC Episode 110
2015 The 95th Leader of the Refugees Post-production
2016 Call the Midwife Dot BBC Series 5, Episode 4
2016 Sunny D Janet BBC Series 1 (3 episodes)
2016 The Crown Mary Netflix Series 1
2017 Pop Sludge Various 4Music Series 1, Pilot
2017 Bucket Miranda BBC Series 1, Episode 1
2018 Silent Witness Gemma King BBC Series 21 "Moment Of Surrender" (2 episodes)
2018 This Week Guest (self) BBC Episode 13 December 2018
2019 ITV News Guest (self) ITV1 Air date August 2019
2021 The Clash Guest (self) GB News Air date October 2021
2022 Loose Women Guest (self) ITV1 Series 26, Episode 160
2023 ITV News Guest (self) ITV1 Air date March 2023
2023 Changing Ends Fiona ITVX Series 1, Episode 4

References

  1. ^ "Samantha Baines". IMDb.
  2. ^ "Barking and Dagenham News, Sport & Things to do | Barking and Dagenham Post". www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Razzmag – Your SUPER-powered WP Engine Site". razzmag.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Harper's Bazaar UK homepage | Fashion, beauty, art, culture, travel". Harper's BAZAAR. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  5. ^ a b "The Divorce Social on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. 14 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Reviews : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Vinegar Comedy". Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  8. ^ "BehindTheBytes - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  9. ^ BYTES BREAKS - RAPTURE, retrieved 9 November 2022
  10. ^ "Igniting the Streets". Exeunt Magazine. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Wonderful review for Blueprint at the Bike Shed Theatre | Actorum Ltd". Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Samantha Baines". IMDb. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Samantha Baines | HuffPost". www.huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Poentry by Samantha Baines | Waterstones".
  15. ^ "Samantha Baines". HLM.
  16. ^ "Review: Magic Mike Live (Hippodrome Casino) | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Magic Mike Live is a strip show, dance spectacular, and wannabe feminist entertainment". The Independent. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Books - Knights of Media". 4 October 2022.
  19. ^ "The best children's books for Christmas this year". 13 December 2019.
  20. ^ "Harriet versus the Galaxy - Samantha Baines".
  21. ^ Harriet Versus the Galaxy : Samantha Baines, Jessica Flores, Jessica Flores: Amazon.co.uk: Books. ASIN 1999642589.
  22. ^ https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Harriet-Versus-the-Galaxy-Audiobook/B095T43PK9
  23. ^ "The Night the Moon Went Out: A Bloomsbury Reader".
  24. ^ "The Night the Moon Went Out | Peoples Book Prize".
  25. ^ a b https://twitter.com/AdrienPrize/status/1587491241947709441
  26. ^ Baines, Samantha (26 October 2022). Living With Hearing Loss and Deafness. Headline Publishing. ISBN 9781035401505 – via www.headline.co.uk.
  27. ^ Living With Hearing Loss and Deafness: A guide to owning it and loving it: Amazon.co.uk: Baines, Samantha: 9781035401505: Books. ASIN 1035401509.
  28. ^ HoxtonRadio (10 October 2015). "Ladies What Brunch Bake Of Special". Hoxton Radio. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  29. ^ "Rubber Republic – We are an independent film studio specialising in stuff people share". www.rubberrepublic.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Think You're Busy? You're Not As Busy As These Two Women". HuffPost UK. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  31. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Rebecca Ferguson sings Billie Holiday". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  32. ^ "BBC Radio London - Jo Good and Simon Lederman, Frog Stone, Naomi Wilkinson and Clementine's Fabulous Roadshow". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  33. ^ "BBC Radio Kent - Samantha Baines, May Day (07/05/2018)". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  34. ^ Davies, Ashley (15 June 2023). "Podcast of the week: The Divorce Social" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  35. ^ Turauskis, Francesca (30 September 2022). "International Women's Podcast Awards 2022 - The WINNERS!".
  36. ^ "2022 Winners". British Podcast Awards.
  37. ^ "Coventry Inspiration Book Awards: The Winners! – Cannon Park Primary School". www.cannonpark.coventry.sch.uk.
  38. ^ Burns, James (8 September 2014). "Meet the 2014 Funny Women Awards Finalists - Samantha Baines". Funny Women. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  39. ^ "Laughing Horse New Act of the Year - Comedy Competition".
  40. ^ White, Charles (13 February 2017). "The punniest jokes from this year's annual pun championships". Metro. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  41. ^ Guide, British Comedy (10 February 2018). "UK Pun Championships 2018: Meet the finalists". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  42. ^ "The Mandy Network | Jobs for actors, performers, filmmakers and production crew". www.mandy.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.

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