Sam Reid (actor)

Sam Reid (born 19 February 1987) is an Australian actor. He is best known for his work in Lambs of God (2019) and The Newsreader (2021–present), for which he was nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama thrice, and his critically acclaimed performance as Lestat de Lioncourt in Interview with the Vampire (2022–present).

A graduate of London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Reid made his professional debut in Anonymous (2011). He has appeared in films, including Belle (2013), The Riot Club (2014), Despite the Falling Snow (2016), and The Drover's Wife (2021). His other television appearances include main roles in The Astronaut Wives Club (2015), Prime Suspect 1973 (2017) and The Hunting (2019). As a stage actor, Reid joined The Old Vic and West End production of the musical Girl from the North Country (2017–2018).

Early life and education
Sam Reid was born on February 19, 1987, in New South Wales, Australia. He was raised in the rural Monaro region where his father worked as a cattle farmer. Reid is of Irish descent from his mother's side. He has an older brother, Rupert Reid, who is also an actor, and a producer sister, Kali Reid.

Reid has loved acting since he was six years old; his brother and he used to stage plays and cabaret in the cattle shed at home. He called Orson Welles his hero, saying: "I will never stop marvelling over Citizen Kane. It's impossible to think that that film was made by a 26-year-old. It's impossible to think that he had that confidence and that talent so early". Reid attended Cranbrook School, a private boys' school in Sydney. After his graduation, Reid made his television debut with a small role in Australian medical drama series All Saints. He then briefly lived in New York City before moving to London to study acting at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). He graduated in 2010.

Career
During his final semester at LAMDA, Reid was given an opportunity to audition for a part in Anonymous (2011). Despite not receiving a script prior to his audition, he was offered the role of the Earl of Essex the next day. He was at this time credited as Sebastian Reid.

In 2012, Reid was cast as the male lead opposite Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the period drama Belle after actor Sam Claflin left the project due to scheduling conflicts.

In February 2016, he appeared in Flume's music video for his song "Never Be Like You" alongside Sophie Lowe.

In 2019, Reid appeared in the Australian web television series Bloom, the subscription television series Lambs of God, and SBS TV drama mini-series The Hunting.

In 2021, Reid was cast as Lestat de Lioncourt in the AMC television series Interview with the Vampire. The series premiered on 2 October 2022 and Reid's performance garnered widespread critical acclaim.

Reid played up-and-coming news presenter Dale Jennings in the ABC series The Newsreader, released in August 2021.