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Samuel Bottomley
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Samuel Bottomley (born 14 June 2001) is an English actor. He began acting at the age of nine, when he made his professional debut in the 2011 film Tyrannosaur. After portraying Brandon Kelleher on the CBBC series Rocket's Island, Bottomley went on to appear as Jordan Wilson on the Channel 4 school drama Ackley Bridge, followed by roles on Kiss Me First and Ladhood. He then played Dean Paxton in the 2021 film adaptation of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, after which he was cast in television series including The Teacher and Somewhere Boy. He appeared in The Last Rifleman as Rory alongside Pierce Brosnan, a film about a Second World War veteran.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Bottomley was born on 14 June 2001 in Wibsey, Bradford.[1] He attended Lightcliffe Academy. Bottomley was a member of the Buttershaw St Paul's Amateur Operatic Dramatic Society.[2][3]
Career
[edit]At the age of nine, Bottomley made his professional acting debut in the 2011 drama film Tyrannosaur.[4] He then appeared in the 2012 film Private Peaceful as the younger version of Tommo.[5] Later that year, he began portraying the role of Brandon in the CBBC series Rocket's Island, a role he portrayed until 2015.[6] From 2017 to 2018, Bottomley portrayed the role of Jordan Wilson in the Channel 4 school drama Ackley Bridge.[7][8] In 2019, he starred in the comedy film Get Duked! as Ian.[9] In the same year, he began starring in the iPlayer series Ladhood as Ralph Roberts.[10] In 2021, he starred in the film Everybody's Talking About Jamie, in the role of Dean Paxton.[11] Also in 2021, Bottomley was cast in the Channel 5 drama The Teacher, which aired in early 2022.[12] This was followed by his casting in the Channel 4 comedy-drama series Somewhere Boy.[13]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Tyrannosaur | Samuel | |
| 2012 | Private Peaceful | Young Tommo | |
| 2017 | Ghost Stories | Young Goodman | |
| 2019 | The Last Right | Louis Murphy | |
| Get Duked! | Ian | ||
| 2020 | Running Naked | Young Mark | |
| 2021 | Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Dean Paxton | |
| Sundown | Colin Bennett | ||
| 2023 | How to Have Sex | Paddy | |
| The Last Rifleman | Rory | ||
| 2025 | California Schemin' | Billy Boyd | |
| Anemone | Brian |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2015 | Rocket's Island | Brandon Kelleher | Main role |
| 2015 | Sons of Liberty | Christopher Seider | Episode: "A Dangerous Game" |
| Wolf Hall | Young Thomas Cromwell | Recurring role; 3 episodes | |
| 2016 | Moving On | Connor | Episode: "Passengers" |
| Jericho | George Quaintain | Main role; 8 episodes | |
| 2017–2018 | Ackley Bridge | Jordan Wilson | Main role |
| 2018 | Kiss Me First | Ben / Denier | Main role |
| 2019–2022 | Ladhood | Ralph Roberts | Main role |
| 2022 | The Teacher | Kyle | Main role; 4 episodes |
| Somewhere Boy | Aaron | Main role; 8 episodes | |
| Am I Being Unreasonable? | Boy | 4 episodes | |
| 2025 | Coldwater | Cameron | 6 episodes |
References
[edit]- ^ "Sam stars in major new Yorkshire drama". Telegraph & Argus. 9 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Sundance winner "Tyrannosaur" features Bradford actor Sam Bottomley". Telegraph & Argus. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- ^ Clayton, Emma. "Bradford teens go back to school in new TV drama Ackley Bridge". Telegraph & Argus. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ Scott, A. O. (17 November 2011). "'Tyrannosaur' With Peter Mullan - Review". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ "Private Peaceful". Variety. 12 October 2012. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ "Rocket's Island - S2 - Episode 8: The Wolf Tree". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ Anderton, Joe (12 June 2018). "Ackley Bridge abuse story praised for its sensitivity". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ "Ackley Bridge child abuse scene has viewers in tears as Jordan is viciously beaten by his dad". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ Miska, Brad (8 May 2020). "SXSW Horror-Comedy 'Boyz in the Wood' Hits Amazon Prime This August". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 16 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ Nicholson, Rebecca. "Ladhood review – boisterous comedy smells like teen spirit ... and Lynx". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ Tossell, Shaun (1 July 2019). "Further Casting For Everybody's Talking About Jamie Film Revealed". Theatre Fan. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ "The Teacher cast: How old is Samuel Bottomley and what else has he been in?". Heart. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "The Birth Of Daniel F Harris coming to Channel 4". British Comedy Guide. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
External links
[edit]
Samuel Bottomley
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Childhood and family background
Samuel Bottomley was born on 14 June 2001 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.[7] He grew up in the Wibsey area of the city, a post-industrial northern English town historically centered on textile manufacturing and wool production.[3][8] Bottomley hails from a working-class family and lives with his mother, a beauty therapist.[2] Public details about his family remain limited, respecting their privacy.[9] His upbringing in Bradford has contributed to his grounded perspective. During his childhood, Bottomley was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of nine, which led to significant academic challenges and struggles in school.[9][3] The condition impacted his learning, causing difficulties with reading and writing that made formal education particularly demanding.[3] His family provided support by encouraging positive outlets to navigate these obstacles, helping him maintain a playful and happy demeanor despite the hurdles.[9]Education and entry into acting
Bottomley attended local schools in Bradford, West Yorkshire, including Lightcliffe Academy for secondary school, where he faced significant academic challenges after being diagnosed with dyslexia at age 9. This condition particularly affected his reading abilities and contributed to a lack of confidence in traditional classroom settings.[9][3] To provide a constructive outlet amid these struggles, his family encouraged him to enroll in a local church drama group near his school around age 9. The group offered a supportive environment that allowed him to channel his energy positively, fostering the development of performance skills and helping to build his self-assurance through creative expression.[9][3] He was later spotted at the church drama group, leading to his professional debut.[2] Bottomley soon became involved with the Buttershaw St Paul's Amateur Operatic Dramatic Society, participating in amateur theater productions. These experiences further mitigated the impacts of his educational difficulties by enhancing his self-esteem via collaborative performances and positive feedback from peers and mentors in the society.[10][11] He later attended The Yorkshire School of Acting starting in 2014, building on his natural talent discovered in amateur groups.[12]Career
Debut and early television roles (2011–2016)
Bottomley made his professional acting debut at the age of nine in the 2011 British drama film Tyrannosaur, directed by Paddy Considine, where he portrayed Samuel, the young son of a neglectful and abusive mother living in a deprived neighborhood.[3] The role came through open auditions held locally in Bradford, West Yorkshire, when Bottomley was eight years old; casting director Shaheen Baig noted his natural demeanor during the process, describing how he "just didn't care," which highlighted his innate suitability for the part without any prior formal training.[13] Following the film's release, Bottomley secured representation from an agent, marking the start of his professional career.[3] His transition to television began in 2012 with the recurring role of young Tommo Peaceful in the war drama Private Peaceful, adapted from Michael Morpurgo's novel, which explored themes of brotherhood and loss during World War I.[14] That same year, Bottomley landed his first major television series role as Brandon Kelleher in the CBBC adventure-mystery Rocket's Island, a three-season production spanning 2012 to 2015, where he played a foster child uncovering family secrets on a remote island. This role introduced him to serialized teen-oriented storytelling, requiring him to film on location in the Isle of Man, which involved significant travel from his home in Bradford.[15] By 2015, Bottomley expanded into historical dramas with recurring appearances as young Thomas Cromwell in the BBC adaptation Wolf Hall, based on Hilary Mantel's novels, and a guest role as Christopher Seider, a boy killed in the prelude to the American Revolution, in the History Channel miniseries Sons of Liberty.[16] These projects demanded international shoots, including time in the United States for Sons of Liberty, complicating his efforts to maintain regular school attendance amid his growing commitments.[17] Bottomley later reflected on the logistical hurdles of early shoots, such as coordinating homeschooling and travel, while relying on his initial agent for role selections that aligned with his school schedule.[3] In 2016, he appeared as George Quaintain in the ITV period drama Jericho, set in a Yorkshire mining community during the early 20th century, further establishing his versatility in ensemble casts focused on social issues. Critics praised Bottomley's early performances for their authenticity, particularly in Tyrannosaur, where his debut as a first-time child actor was described as a "pleasure to watch" for conveying vulnerability without affectation.[18] Reviews of his work in Private Peaceful and Rocket's Island similarly noted his natural delivery, contributing to the emotional depth of youthful characters in challenging narratives despite his young age.[19]Breakthrough in film and television (2017–2021)
Bottomley's breakthrough in film began in 2017 with his supporting role as the young Philip Goodman in the British horror anthology Ghost Stories, directed by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, where he portrayed a teenage version of the protagonist amid supernatural tales, contributing to the film's critical acclaim for its tense atmosphere and twists.[20] The performance showcased his ability to convey vulnerability in horror, helping the movie achieve a 6.4/10 rating on IMDb from over 39,000 users and positive reviews for its indie horror style.[20] He also took on the recurring role of Jordan Wilson, a troubled student, in the Channel 4 school drama Ackley Bridge from 2017 to 2021.[3] In 2018, he expanded into television with the role of Denier/Ben in the Channel 4 and Netflix thriller series Kiss Me First, a six-episode drama about virtual reality and dark secrets, where Bottomley played a troubled member of an online community, adding depth to the ensemble cast led by Tallulah Riley.[21] The series highlighted his versatility in psychological drama, earning a 6.2/10 IMDb rating and praise for exploring themes of isolation and identity in the digital age.[22] By 2019, Bottomley appeared in two contrasting projects that further elevated his profile: as Ralph Roberts in the BBC Three comedy series Ladhood, a coming-of-age story written by and starring Liam Williams, where he portrayed a key friend in a narrative spanning timelines to examine modern masculinity, contributing to the show's 7.3/10 IMDb score and renewal for multiple seasons.[23] That same year, he starred as Ian in the black comedy adventure film Get Duked!, directed by Ninian Doff, playing one of four urban teens on a disastrous wilderness trek pursued by hunters, a role that demonstrated his comedic timing in the hip-hop-inspired satire, which garnered an 88% approval on Rotten Tomatoes for its anarchic energy.[24] Bottomley's transition to more international exposure came in 2021 with supporting roles in two films: as Colin Bennett, the son in a dysfunctional wealthy family, in Michel Franco's drama Sundown, which premiered at Venice and earned a 78% Rotten Tomatoes score for its subtle exploration of grief and privilege, with Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg leading the cast.[25] Later that year, he played the antagonistic Dean Paxton in the musical adaptation Everybody's Talking About Jamie, bullying the protagonist in this uplifting story of self-expression, contributing to the film's positive reception as a vibrant ensemble piece based on the true story, with a cast including Max Harwood and Sarah Lancashire.[26] These roles marked his growing presence in diverse genres, from drama to musical, solidifying his reputation as a versatile young actor in both film and television.Acclaimed roles and recent projects (2022–present)
In 2022, Samuel Bottomley earned widespread critical praise for his performance as Aaron in the Channel 4 miniseries Somewhere Boy, a poignant drama exploring the long-term effects of childhood trauma and isolation after his mother's death in a car crash. Bottomley's portrayal of a sheltered young man confronting the outside world was lauded for its emotional depth and vulnerability, with reviewers highlighting his ability to convey subtle psychological nuances without resorting to overt sentimentality. The series received multiple BAFTA Television Award nominations, including one for Bottomley in the Supporting Actor category, underscoring his maturation as a performer capable of anchoring intimate, issue-driven narratives.[27] Bottomley's breakthrough in feature films came with his role as Paddy in How to Have Sex (2023), directed by Molly Manning Walker, where he depicted a boisterous yet insecure teenager navigating the complexities of consent, friendship, and toxic masculinity during a raucous holiday in Malia, Crete. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the coming-of-age drama won the Un Certain Regard Prize, and Bottomley's authentic depiction of youthful bravado masking deeper insecurities was singled out by critics for adding raw energy to the ensemble dynamics. His performance contributed to the film's reception as a vital, unflinching examination of adolescent identity and social pressures among Gen Z.[28] Expanding his range into supporting roles across genres, Bottomley appeared as Rory in the inspirational drama The Last Rifleman (2023), playing a compassionate young hitchhiker who aids a grieving World War II veteran (Pierce Brosnan) on an emotional journey to Normandy. The film, inspired by true events, drew positive notices for its heartfelt storytelling, with Bottomley's brief but empathetic turn providing a grounding counterpoint to the lead's introspection. Concurrently, in the BBC comedy-thriller series Am I Being Unreasonable? (2022–present), he portrayed a enigmatic "Boy" entangled in a web of maternal paranoia and suburban secrets, earning acclaim for injecting quiet menace into the show's blend of humor and suspense; the series itself garnered four BAFTA nominations for its innovative tonal shifts.[29][30] Bottomley's recent projects have further showcased his versatility in ensemble-driven stories addressing familial strife and personal reinvention. In Anemone (2025), directed by Ronan Day-Lewis, he played Brian, the estranged son in a fractured family navigating grief and reconciliation, with the film premiering to strong reviews at the 2025 New York Film Festival for its raw exploration of generational trauma—critics praised Bottomley's subtle intensity as enhancing the ensemble's emotional authenticity amid production hurdles like coordinating a high-profile cast including Daniel Day-Lewis. Later that year, Bottomley starred as Billy Boyd in California Schemin' (2025), James McAvoy's directorial debut, a whimsical true-story dramedy about Scottish aspiring rappers fabricating a California backstory to break into the music industry; the film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival to enthusiastic reception for its sharp satire on ambition and identity, with Bottomley and co-star Séamus McLean Ross earning a Special Mention at the Rome Film Festival for their charismatic chemistry, despite challenges from the project's low-budget indie roots and period recreation demands.[31][32][4][33] Through these roles, Bottomley has demonstrated a deliberate evolution toward projects that tackle social issues such as mental health, trauma recovery, and fluid identities, often prioritizing character-driven stories over commercial vehicles, as evidenced by his selections in festival circuits and collaborations with auteur directors.[3]Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Tyrannosaur | Samuel | Paddy Considine | Child role as the son of the protagonist. |
| 2012 | Private Peaceful | Young Tommo | Pat O'Connor | Child role in war drama. |
| 2017 | Ghost Stories | Young Goodman | Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman | Supporting role in horror anthology. |
| 2019 | The Last Right | Louis Murphy | Aoife Crehan | Supporting role in comedy-drama. |
| 2019 | Get Duked! | Ian | Michael Herlihy | One of the four main teens in comedy adventure. |
| 2020 | Running Naked | Young Mark | Victor Buhler | Supporting role in comedy-drama. |
| 2021 | Sundown | Colin Bennett | Michel Franco | Supporting role in drama. |
| 2021 | Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Dean Paxton | Jonathan Entwistle | Antagonistic role in musical film. |
| 2023 | How to Have Sex | Paddy | Molly Manning Walker | Lead role in coming-of-age drama. |
| 2023 | The Last Rifleman | Rory | Samuel Dore | Supporting role in Irish drama. |
| 2025 | Anemone | Brian Stoker | Ronan Day-Lewis | Supporting role in family drama. |
| 2025 | California Schemin' | Billy Boyd | James McAvoy | Lead role in musical biographical drama; premiered at TIFF in September 2025. |
Television
Bottomley's television work spans a variety of genres, from children's adventure to period drama and contemporary thrillers, with roles ranging from guest appearances to leads. He began with recurring and guest spots in early roles before taking on more prominent characters in later projects.| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2015 | Rocket's Island | Brandon Kelleher | Recurring role across 24 episodes |
| 2015 | Wolf Hall | Young Thomas Cromwell | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| 2016 | Jericho | George Quaintain | Main role; 8 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Ackley Bridge | Jordan Wilson | Recurring role; 12 episodes |
| 2018 | Kiss Me First | Ben Graham / Denier | Guest role in 5 episodes |
| 2019–2022 | Ladhood | Ralph Roberts | Main role across 18 episodes over 3 seasons |
| 2022 | Somewhere Boy | Aaron | Supporting role in the 6-episode miniseries; BAFTA-nominated for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2022 | The Teacher | Kyle | Main role; 4 episodes |
| 2022–present | Am I Being Unreasonable? | Boy | Recurring supporting role, 7 episodes as of 2025 |