Samuel Bottomley

Samuel Bottomley is an English actor who was born on 14 June 2001 in Wibsey, a suburb of Bradford, England. From a young age he showed a passion for performance, joining the Buttershaw St Paul’s Amateur Operatic Dramatic Society while attending Lightcliffe Academy, where he honed his stagecraft and learned the discipline of ensemble work. At the age of nine he made his professional film debut in Tyrannosaur (2011), a critically acclaimed drama that introduced him to a wider audience and set the foundation for a steady stream of roles. He continued to build his résumé with a supporting turn in the 2012 adaptation of Private Peaceful, portraying the younger version of Tommo, and soon after secured a regular spot on the CBBC adventure series Rocket’s Island, playing the inquisitive Brandon from 2012 to 2015. His breakout television role arrived when he was cast as Jordan Wilson in Channel 4’s socially charged school drama Ackley Bridge (2017‑2018), where his nuanced performance captured the complexities of teenage life in a multicultural community. In 2019 he expanded into comedy with the cult hit Get Duked!, playing the earnest Ian, and simultaneously began starring as Ralph Roberts in the iPlayer coming‑of‑age series Ladhood, a role that earned him a dedicated fanbase. The following year he stepped onto the big screen again as Dean Paxton in the musical film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, showcasing his ability to blend drama and musicality. Recent projects include the Channel 5 drama The Teacher (2022) and the Channel 4 comedy‑drama Somewhere Boy, while his upcoming appearance alongside Pierce Brosnan in The Last Rifleman underscores his growing presence in period cinema.

Beyond his screen work, Bottomley remains rooted in his Yorkshire origins, often speaking about the importance of community theatre and the support he received from local mentors. He is recognized for his versatility, effortlessly transitioning between intense dramatic material and light‑hearted comedy, and continues to be a promising talent in the UK entertainment industry.