Samuel West came relatively late to acting as a profession, beginning a degree in Physics at Oxford University before becoming involved with the Oxford University Drama Society and the Oxford Experimental Theatre Club. He completed his BA in English Literature in 1988, and went on to play Caspian for the BBC and Konradin in the critically-acclaimed Reunion, both released in 1989.

His subsequent work has included feature films (Howard's End, Carrington, Iris) television productions (Horatio Hornblower, Cambridge Spies), stage (Richard II, Hamlet, Faustus), and radio. In recent years, he has directed a number of productions, including Cosi Fan Tutti, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Lady's Not For Burning, and Three Women and a Piano Tuner.

Sam was appointed Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres in October of 2004. He will be appearing as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing later this year, and will be directing The Romans In Britain.

"[Rupert is] very much an outsider ... A lot of the comedy in the film comes from Rupert being unfamiliar with his surroundings and the way things are done here ... what I very much like about the script is it's not that terribly sentimental - it always avoids the easy answer."