Intriguing Facts about Actor Sam Claflin
Sam Claflin has made a career out of stepping into the pages of iconic novels. Now, audiences are transfixed by his transformation as Edmond Dantès in The Count of Monte Cristo. From the sporting life to the screen, find out about Claflin's journey to acting. Also, learn about the icy challenges of filming The Count of Monte Cristo.
The Count of Monte Cristo airs Sundays at 10/9c through April 10, 2026 only on MASTERPIECE on PBS. Or, stream the full series online and on the PBS App when you watch with with PBS Passport. [U.S. and Canada only.]
The Count of Monte Cristo isn't Sam Claflin's First Literary Adaptation
Claflin's turn as Edmond Dantès in The Count of Monte Cristo—the 19th century literary classic by Alexandre Dumas—is far from his first literary adaptation. Longtime fans may recall spotting him in book adaptations like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Reid, and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. His acting resume also includes My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier and The Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett, among others.
See short videos Sam Claflin is The Count of Monte Cristo and Adapting Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo to hear from Claflin and other cast and crew members as they share insights on bringing the iconic novel to TV.
Sam Claflin is Not the Only Actor in the Family
Claflin attributes his love of performing to a memorable family role model: his grandfather, a clown with a gift for delighting a crowd. “My granddad used to be a clown. He’d go do children's birthdays and do balloon animals," he shared in an interview with Bustle. "He was always such an inspiration for me—and such an entertainer.”
Claflin isn't the only one of his brothers (he's the third of four) to appear on screen. His youngest brother, Joe, is also a professional actor with credits including Game of Thrones, the long-running British soap Eastenders, and Wallander. Joe also appeared in Grantchester Season 1 as DC Atkins.
Sam Clafin Didn't Always Plan on Becoming an Actor
Claflin didn’t always plan on a career in acting. Growing up, he envisioned a very different future: life as a professional soccer player. "I played on four teams—for my school, my county, Norwich City Academy, and a Sunday league," he told the Wall Street Journal. After breaking his left ankle at age 11, he recovered and kept playing, but a second ankle break at 16 proved decisive. " Lying there in pain on the field, I knew that my dream of turning pro was over."
While his journey led him from the pitch to the screen, Claflin hasn't given up the sport entirely. In 2023, he took part in Soccer Aid for UNICEF, a charity created by singer songwriter Robbie Williams, which has raised more than £121 million for children and families worldwide.
Sam Claflin Almost Got Hypothermia While Filming
Filming an epic drama in breathtaking locations may sound like a dream, but it wasn't always smooth sailing for The Count of Monte Cristo’s cast and crew. “There was a sequence where I was in a [water] tank in Malta—it was the one day that it was freezing cold. I almost got hypothermia,” he told Page Six. “I was shivering because I was just standing in the cold pool for a long period of time, and my body just hadn’t acclimatized.” Thankfully, the crew took good care of him. He returned to his hotel to find a hot bath already run.
