Birmingham-born actor Samuel Anderson, best known for playing Mal in the BBC series Amandaland, has spoken candidly about his two sisters who live with a rare genetic condition. The 43-year-old star, who grew up in Handsworth, revealed in an interview with The Sunday Times that his siblings, aged 45 and 39, have a condition caused by variants in the PRMT7 gene, leading to reduced muscle tone and severe developmental delays.
Actor's Career Highlights
Samuel Anderson has built an impressive career across television, theatre, and film. After training at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London, he landed the role of Crowther in the National Theatre's 2004 production of The History Boys, performing alongside James Corden. He later appeared in popular TV shows such as Doctors, Hex, and The Afternoon Play, and played Fingers in the beloved sitcom Gavin and Stacey. On the big screen, he featured in the 2024 Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black and The Lady in the Van alongside the late Dame Maggie Smith.
Emmerdale Role and Possible Return
Anderson also played police officer Ross Kirk on ITV's Emmerdale from 2007 to 2009. During his time on the soap, his character was pursued by several women, including married colleague Donna Dingle. Despite on-screen chemistry, Anderson dismissed romance rumours, revealing that he and co-star Verity Rushworth shared a house in Leeds. In 2015, he expressed interest in returning to the show, saying, “I loved Emmerdale… Ross Kirk returns from Newcastle to the village, I love that show, yes I would.”
Personal Life and Siblings
While Anderson keeps his personal life private, he opened up about his sisters in a heartfelt interview. He described them as “the oldest people alive with this condition” and shared how he used to react defensively when strangers gave them “funny looks.” He admitted, “Normally I'm the most chilled-out person… but when I was younger, if people would give them a funny look or say something about them, I'd see the red mist.” Now, he understands that such reactions stem from a lack of understanding. Anderson, who has no children and avoids social media, continues to focus on his acting career while cherishing his family.
