Biography

Xavier Samuel was born December 10, 1983 in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia to Maree and Clifford Samuel. He grew up in Adelaide, South Australia and graduated from Rostrevor College in 2001. Xavier has younger brother, Benedict Samuel, who is a writer, producer and actor. He also has a older sister Bridget Samuel who is a stage manager.

Despite completing his senior secondary years at Rostrevor College, he undertook final year drama at Christian Brothers College under the tutelage of Amanda Portus. During the same year, he played the part of Tom Snout (the wall) in Rostrevor College’s production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as well as playing the part of Belvile in CBC’s production of Aphra Behn’s The Rover (The Banished Cavaliers).

Xavier attended Flinders University Drama Centre in 2005 where he studied under renowned acting teacher Professor Julie Holledge. He played Hamlet in the graduate production.

Xavier made his debut on an Australian TV show named McLeod’s Daughters in 2003. He starred in the Australian horror movie Road Train as Marcus and also acted in the Australian movie Drowning with Elephant Princess star Miles Szanto, directed by Craig Boreham. In 2009, he was casted as Brent in the Australian comedy/thriller movie The Loved Ones as the lead role. He was opposite Robin McLeavy. The movie received a lot of nominations of awards, winning some and received critical acclaimed from lots of critics, the film was a financial failure, only grossing a small budget worldwide.

In early 2010, Xavier was cast as Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse where he beat out the likes of Tom Felton and Channing Tatum for the role. The film gave Samuel his first blockbuster film worldwide. Xavier received his first award nomination and win at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards.

Since his rise to fame from Eclipse, Xavier has been busy at work on comedy, drama and horror movies that will be released within the next year.