First Blake Lively, now Taylor Swift. Despite earlier reports that country singer Swift had been offered and was in negotiations for the role of Eponine in Tom Hooper’s big screen adaptation of “Les Miserables”, producer Cameron Mackintosh made the shocking announcement today that in fact, it is West End musical theatre actress Samantha Barks who will play the iconic role in the film. Barks played the role on the London stage and most memorably in the 25th Anniversary Concert of the show in 2010, and will now reprise it opposite the likes of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

Mackintosh made the announcement live on stage tonight after a performance of “Oliver!”, where Barks is currently playing the role of Nancy. Barks was seemingly unaware of the decision and was just as surprised and excited as the audience in attendance. She tweeted later, “Most incredible moment of my life!!!! X” Barks will presumably go directly into rehearsals, which began yesterday, opposite Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette and fellow theatre vets Aaron Tveit as Enjolras and George Blagden as Grantaire. Filming begins in March and release is set for December 7, 2012.

Barks trained for musical theatre at the Arts Educational School and gained some name recognition when she finished in the Top 3 of “I’d Do Anything”, a British reality competition series that sought to find the girl to play Nancy in “Oliver!.” She made her debut as Eponine in the West End production of “Les Miserables” last year and was also cast to be immortalized in the role for the 25th anniversary concert. Looks like Barks as Eponine will be iconic on an even larger scale now with Hooper’s film – her feature film debut, no less.

See below for video of Barks singing “On My Own”, the most famous of Eponine’s songs from the show.