Samantha Barks gave birth to her first child only days before the premiere of her new reality show, Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream.
Back in August, the actress, best known for her roles as Eponine in both the stage production and film adaptation of Les Miserables, as well as Elsa in Disney’s Frozen, announced she was expecting her first child with husband Alex Stoll.
The 32-year-old revealed the news by presenting a board with the due date written on it hidden inside a white basket, beside a fluffy sheep toy and small socks.
‘We have been keeping a tiny secret,’ she wrote.
The couple also uploaded a short video in which each family member lifted their hands – and paws – off the pile to show an ultrasound image.
Samantha has now announced the birth of her kid by posting a black and white photo of herself holding his hand.
‘Welcome Rafael Richard Barks-Stoll, born on 16th October. My heart could burst with happiness,’ she wrote.
The joyous addition to her family comes just days before the premiere of the brand new reality talent show Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, in which she participates as one of four judges.
Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, hosted by Zoe Ball, will be judged by Samantha, Alan Carr, Jessie Ware, and Amber Riley as they look for two talents to play the lead parts of Sophie and Sky in the London production of the musical.
The candidates will be coached by guest industry stars in innovative workshops and assessed by a panel of well-known industry specialists in both music and theatre.
The majority of the series has already been taped in Greece, but the series will conclude with a live grand finale in London.
Samantha and Alex met in 2018 while she was playing as Vivian in the Chicago and Broadway versions of Pretty Woman.
The couple got engaged in 2021, and although they kept their relationship very quiet, Alex proposed on a snowy countryside stroll.
They married in Tuscany in 2022, and Samantha shared photographs from the wedding day earlier this year to commemorate their one-year anniversary.
Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream launches on Sunday October 22 at 6pm on ITV1.
