Xavier Samuel
Xavier Samuel (born 10 December 1983) is an Australian actor recognized for his versatile performances in film and television, with a breakthrough role as the vampire Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010).[1][2] His career spans independent Australian cinema, Hollywood blockbusters, and prestige dramas, including lead roles in Adore (2013), Love & Friendship (2016), and supporting parts in Elvis (2022) as guitarist Scotty Moore and Blonde (2022) as Cass Chaplin.[3][4][5] Born in Hamilton, Victoria, Samuel was raised in Adelaide, South Australia, by parents Maree and Clifford Samuel, alongside his older sister Bridget (born 1981) and younger brother Benedict (born 1988), who is also an actor.[6][7] He completed high school at Rostrevor College in 2001 before studying acting at Flinders University Drama Centre, where he graduated in 2006 after performing as Hamlet in the graduate production.[8][9] Samuel's early interest in performing extended to music, as he served as lead singer and guitarist for the band Hyatus (formerly known as Degrees of Freedom) during university.[10][11] Samuel began his professional acting career with a guest appearance on the Australian television series McLeod's Daughters in 2005, followed by his feature film debut in the surfing drama Newcastle (2008).[12] His horror-thriller The Loved Ones (2009) earned critical acclaim at festivals, showcasing his ability to handle intense dramatic roles.[6] The international success of Eclipse propelled him to wider recognition, leading to comedic turns in A Few Best Men (2011) and romantic leads in Adore and Plush (both 2013).[2] Subsequent highlights include the war film Fury (2014) alongside Brad Pitt, the Jane Austen adaptation Love & Friendship (2016), and the lead in the time-bending drama The Death and Life of Otto Bloom (2016).[3] On television, he starred in the miniseries Seven Types of Ambiguity (2017) and Picnic at Hanging Rock (2018), contributing to ensemble casts praised for their depth.[12] In the 2020s, he appeared in series including The Clearing (2023) and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (2023). Recent works include the series Apple Cider Vinegar (2025) and The Last Anniversary (2025), as well as the film The Great Departure (2025). Among his accolades, Samuel won the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight in 2011 for his Eclipse showdown with Taylor Lautner, and shared in the Equity Ensemble Awards for Seven Types of Ambiguity in 2018.[13] He received nominations for Best Breakout Star at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards, Best Actor at the 2015 Louisiana International Film Festival for Plush, and Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Drama at the 2018 AACTA Awards.[6][14]Early life and education
Family and childhood
Xavier Samuel was born on 10 December 1983 in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia.[15][16] He is the middle child of teachers Maree Samuel and Clifford Samuel.[17][18] His older sister, Bridget Samuel (born 1981), works as a stage manager, while his younger brother, Benedict Samuel (born 1988), is an actor, writer, and producer.[17][18][9] The Samuel family demonstrated a strong artistic inclination, particularly through the siblings' involvement in theater and performance, which fostered an early environment supportive of creative pursuits despite the parents' academic professions.[17][19] Following his birth in Hamilton, the family relocated to Adelaide, South Australia, where Samuel spent much of his formative years in the suburb of Kurralta Park.[17][9] This move established his deep Australian roots, with Adelaide serving as the primary setting for his childhood and early family life.[17] The close-knit family dynamics, influenced by the parents' dedication to education and the siblings' shared interest in the arts, shaped Samuel's early years up to adolescence.[19]Schooling and early training
Xavier Samuel completed his secondary education at Rostrevor College, an independent Catholic school in Adelaide, South Australia, graduating in 2001. Although Rostrevor did not offer a drama program during his senior years, Samuel pursued his interest in acting by enrolling in a final-year drama course at the nearby Christian Brothers College, where he studied Shakespeare and participated in school productions.[20] During his teenage years, he also engaged in amateur theatre in Adelaide, performing in local productions that helped nurture his passion for the stage and informed his decision to pursue acting professionally.[21] Following high school, Samuel enrolled at the Flinders University Drama Centre, undertaking a four-year Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) program focused on drama.[22] Under the guidance of course director Professor Julie Holledge, a renowned acting educator, he developed his skills through rigorous structured courses emphasizing classical techniques, improvisation, and ensemble work. These early performances at university allowed him to explore complex characters and refine his craft in a professional training environment. During his time at university, Samuel also pursued music, serving as the lead singer and guitarist for the band The Black Bonsons.[10] Samuel graduated from Flinders University Drama Centre in 2006, capping his studies with a lead role as Hamlet in the graduate production directed by John Green.[22][23] This performance showcased his command of Shakespearean verse and emotional depth, marking a pivotal milestone in his formal acting training.[20] Through these experiences, Samuel built a strong foundation in dramatic interpretation and stage presence that would influence his subsequent career.[21]Acting career
Early roles and breakthrough
Xavier Samuel began his professional acting career shortly after graduating from Flinders University Drama Centre in 2006, where he had honed his skills through rigorous training. His initial foray into theatre included a notable performance in the 2006 production of Osama the Hero at the Sydney Theatre Company, where he portrayed the naive protagonist Gary, a young man whose unconventional school presentation on Osama bin Laden sparks community paranoia. The role earned praise for Samuel's delivery of "honesty and charm," contributing to the play's intense emotional impact as part of a strong ensemble.[24] Transitioning to screen work, Samuel debuted with a guest appearance on the Australian television series McLeod's Daughters in 2005, followed by his film debut in the ensemble drama 2:37 (2006) and a lead role in September (2007), a coming-of-age story set in Western Australia's wheatbelt.[25]) He then starred as Fergus Hoff in Newcastle (2008), a coming-of-age surfing drama set in 1980s New South Wales, which highlighted his ability to embody youthful vulnerability amid family tensions and coastal rivalries. Building momentum, Samuel appeared in the short film Further We Search (2009), playing a lead role in this independent Australian production that explored themes of displacement and urban adaptation. That same year, he starred as Brent Mitchell in the 2009 horror film The Loved Ones, a role that showcased his range in a dark tale of obsession and torment; critics lauded his "eminently likable" performance, with the film achieving a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its bold genre execution.[26][27][28] Samuel's breakthrough came in early 2010 when he was cast as the vampire Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, his first major Hollywood project and a role that introduced him to international audiences as the charismatic leader of a newborn vampire army. This opportunity marked a significant escalation in visibility, transforming his career from local independent circuits to blockbuster scale. However, the shift presented challenges, as Samuel noted the intimidation of navigating large productions after smaller Australian sets, where auditions were rarer and resources more limited; he described sending audition tapes to the U.S. as "startling" due to the swift responses compared to the slower pace back home. Post-university, this transition required relocating from Adelaide to Sydney and eventually Los Angeles, balancing the excitement of global exposure with the demands of adapting to Hollywood's high-stakes environment.[29][4][30]International recognition and mid-career projects
Following his breakout role in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010), Samuel transitioned into international projects that showcased his versatility across genres. In 2011, he starred as David Locking, the groom in the Australian comedy A Few Best Men, directed by Stephan Elliott, which marked his first lead following the Twilight success and highlighted his comedic timing amid chaotic wedding antics. The film, produced by Ambience Entertainment, blended humor with ensemble dynamics, allowing Samuel to explore lighter fare after his vampire portrayal.[31] Samuel took on a prominent lead as Ian in the 2013 romantic drama Adore (also known as Two Mothers), directed by Anne Fontaine and adapted from Doris Lessing's novella The Grandmothers. Co-starring Naomi Watts and Robin Wright as his character's mother and her best friend, respectively, the film delved into complex intergenerational relationships set along the Australian coast, earning praise for Samuel's nuanced performance in a provocative narrative. This U.S.-Australian co-production premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, underscoring his growing international appeal.[32] In 2014, Samuel appeared in a supporting role as Lieutenant Parker in David Ayer's World War II tank drama Fury, opposite Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf, portraying a young officer navigating the brutal realities of combat in Nazi Germany. The Sony Pictures film, with a budget exceeding $80 million, provided Samuel exposure in high-stakes Hollywood action, contrasting his earlier romantic leads. The following year, he led as Adam, the artificially created creature, in Bernard Rose's modern adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (2015), a U.S. TV film co-starring Carrie-Anne Moss and Danny Huston, where he embodied the monster's tragic humanity through physical transformation and emotional depth.[33][34] Samuel continued diversifying with a supporting turn as Reginald DeCourcy in Whit Stillman's 2016 Jane Austen adaptation Love & Friendship, based on Lady Susan and featuring Kate Beckinsale and Chloë Sevigny; his character, a naive suitor entangled in social machinations, added witty charm to the period comedy. Returning to Australian television, he earned an AACTA Award nomination for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama for his role as Jim, a compassionate doctor, in the 2018 ABC miniseries Riot, which dramatized the 1971 New South Wales prison riot and explored themes of reform and resistance. Throughout the 2010s, Samuel balanced U.S. blockbusters and indies with Australian productions, spanning comedy, drama, horror, and historical genres to establish a multifaceted career.[35][36]Recent work (2020s)
In the early 2020s, Xavier Samuel continued to build his career with a series of high-profile roles in biographical dramas and thrillers, marking a shift toward character-driven narratives that often explored historical figures and psychological tension. This period saw increased collaborations between U.S. and Australian productions, leveraging his established presence in both markets.[1] Samuel portrayed guitarist Scotty Moore in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis (2022), a Warner Bros. biopic chronicling the life of Elvis Presley, where he depicted the musician's early collaborator during key performances like the Russwood Park show.[37] His performance contributed to the film's ensemble dynamic, supporting Austin Butler's lead role in this visually extravagant exploration of Presley's rise.[38] That same year, Samuel appeared in Andrew Dominik's Blonde (2022), Netflix's controversial Marilyn Monroe biopic starring Ana de Armas, playing Cass Chaplin, the son of silent film icon Charlie Chaplin, in a segment highlighting Monroe's brief romantic entanglements. The role underscored Samuel's versatility in period pieces, aligning with the film's nonlinear examination of Monroe's personal struggles.[39] He also took a supporting role as Moss in the 2023 Amazon Prime Video series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, an Australian drama adaptation of the novel by Holly Ringland.[40] Transitioning to television, Samuel took on the role of Colin Garrison, a detective investigating a cult's child abductions, in the Australian psychological thriller miniseries The Clearing (2023), which aired on Hulu in the U.S. and Foxtel in Australia. Starring alongside Teresa Palmer and Hugo Weaving, his character navigated the eerie remnants of a real-life-inspired cult, emphasizing themes of trauma and redemption in a seven-episode arc.[41] In 2025, Samuel starred as Erik in the Netflix miniseries Apple Cider Vinegar, a drama exploring the rise and fall of a wellness empire.[42] By 2025, Samuel expanded into upcoming features and series, including a lead role opposite Sonal Sehgal in The Great Departure, an India-shot drama directed by Pierre Filmon about two strangers connecting in Delhi amid personal loss.[43] He also joined the ensemble of Netflix's romantic comedy Champagne Problems as Ryan Garner, supporting Minka Kelly in a holiday tale of corporate intrigue and romance in France. In the AMC+ mystery series The Last Anniversary, adapted from Liane Moriarty's novel, Samuel played Zeke, a family member unraveling secrets on a remote Australian island, alongside Teresa Palmer.[44] Additionally, he portrayed Marcus Turner in the Disney+ thriller miniseries The Stolen Girl (2025), a four-episode story of a missing child and neighborhood suspicions, co-starring Holliday Grainger.[45] These projects reflect Samuel's ongoing pivot to biographical authenticity and suspenseful genres, fostering cross-continental partnerships.[1]Personal life
Relationships
Xavier Samuel dated Iranian-German model Shermine Shahrivar from 2010 to 2011. Xavier Samuel began a relationship with Australian actress Phoebe Tonkin in 2011, following their collaboration on the film Bait.[46] The couple dated for approximately one year before parting ways in 2012.[47] Shortly after, Samuel started dating fellow Australian actress Emily Browning in late 2012, having met on the set of the film Plush. Their relationship lasted until mid-2015, spanning nearly three years.[48] In 2016, Samuel entered a partnership with Australian model Jessica Gomes, which they confirmed publicly after being spotted together in Los Angeles.[49] The couple dated for about two years, until early 2018, and Gomes has spoken about balancing their careers during this time.[50] Samuel's next known relationship was with Scottish actress and filmmaker Marianna Palka, beginning in April 2018.[51] They appeared together at events like the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards before ending the brief romance in February 2019.[52] Since 2019, Samuel has maintained a low profile regarding his personal life, with no confirmed romantic relationships reported as of 2025. He has been described as notoriously private about such matters.[47]Interests and residence
Samuel is an avid supporter of the Adelaide Football Club and a lifelong fan of Australian rules football, having idolized player Tony Modra as a child and once aspiring to become a professional footballer himself.[17][53] Despite his career requiring time in the United States, Samuel maintains close ties to Australia, where his family resides in Adelaide, and frequently travels between Los Angeles—his primary base—and his hometown to visit them.[17] He also shares a house in Sydney's Newtown suburb with his brother Benedict during Australian stays.[17] Samuel has described Adelaide as enduringly feeling like home, often returning for cultural events such as the Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Garden of Unearthly Delights.[17] His interests include outdoor-oriented pursuits reflective of his Australian roots, such as enjoying the open-air festivals and coastal environments of South Australia, though he has admitted to finding surfing—despite its prominence in his film roles—particularly daunting and not a personal hobby.[17][54]Filmography
Film roles
- Further We Search (2007) as Chris[1]
- September (2007) as Ed Klose[1]
- Newcastle (2008) as Fergus[1]
- The Loved Ones (2009) as Brent Matthews[1]
- Healing (2010) as Vander Harris[1]
- The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010) as Riley Biers[1]
- Anonymous (2011) as Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton[1]
- Bait (2012) as Josh[1]
- A Few Best Men (2012) as David Locksley[1]
- Adore (2013) as Ian Wheeler[1]
- Plush (2013) as Enzo[1]
- Drift (2013) as John Ridge[1]
- Fury (2014) as Lieutenant Parker (minor appearance)[1]
- Frankenstein (2015) as Adam[1]
- Mr. Church (2016) as Owen[1]
- Love & Friendship (2016) as Reginald DeCourcy[1]
- The Death and Life of Otto Bloom (2016) as Otto Bloom[1]
- A Few Less Men (2017) as David Locksley[1]
- Bad Blood (2017) as Vincent[1]
- Swinging Safari (2018) as Paul Anderson[1]
- Elvis (2022) as Scotty Moore[1]
- Blonde (2022) as Cass Chaplin[1]
- Champagne Problems (2025) as Ryan Garner[55]
- The Great Departure (2025) as TBA[43]
- Send Help (2026) as TBA[1]