By Wonderwall.com Editors
5:24am PDT, Sep 30, 2019
We've been obsessed with Sam Claflin ever since he got his big break in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" in 2011. The British actor is now playing politician Oswald Mosley on the hit BBC and Netflix series "Peaky Blinders." In celebration of the show's Season 5 premiere on Oct. 4, 2019, Wonderwall.com is running down some things you might not know (but should!) about Sam…
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1. He originally wanted to be a professional footballer
Sam Claflin might be an accomplished actor today, but once upon a time, he wanted to be a professional soccer player. During his childhood, he was on track to turn pro until he broke his ankle. He then picked up acting in high school and the rest, as they say, is history.
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2. He's one of four boys
Sam Claflin has not one, not two, but three brothers! Benjamin and Daniel are older and Joseph is younger. Sam told Thrifty Jinxy that growing up among boys made for quite a rambunctious upbringing. "I have always been interested in getting my hands dirty and my hands scraped. My childhood consisted of me climbing trees," he said.
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3. He's a great co-parent
Sam Claflin and actress Laura Haddock might have separated after six years of marriage in August 2019, but the duo are still awesome co-parents to their children, son Pip and daughter Margot. The British actor is a "hands-on" dad who loves spending time with his two tots. "I love being a father, I love having two, I genuinely embrace the challenge," he said on "The Chris Evans Breakfast Show." "I think every guy should be as hands-on as much as they can be. I think that's what's wonderful about our society as it is now, I feel men are willing and wanting to be more involved than they used to be."
4. He's a loving dog dad
Sam Claflin is not only a great father to his kids — he's also an awesome dog dad! The actor often posts photos, videos and love for his black cockapoo, Rosie, and in January 2019 posted a touching tribute to his late dog, Archie (pictured), writing, in part, "I never properly knew or understood dogs until I met this little feller. And because of him, because of the joy, and the love, because of the energy and at times absolute chaos he brought in to my world, I finally knew what I had been missing in my life. It's because of him that I fell in love with dogs," he wrote on Instagram, adding, "He was way more than just a dog. He was a friend. A protector. A playmate. The Yin to Rosie's Yang. And a champion cuddler. Thank you Archie for all of the memories. We, all of us miss you already. Good boy."
5. He's a franchise darling
Sam Claflin is all about the franchises! The "Peaky Blinders" actor has starred in multiple blockbuster film franchise projects including 2011's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," 2012's "Snow White and the Huntsman," 2013's "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," 2014's "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1," 2015's "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2" and 2016's "The Huntsman: Winter's War." All together, Sam's franchise films have grossed more than $3.8 billion!
6. He gives back
Sam Claflin combined his love of soccer with his passion for philanthropy in June 2019 when he played for Team England at the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match. Together with his team, he helped raise more than $8.3 million to benefit 80,000 children in Sierra Leone and Zambia. He later posted on Instagram that the charity game was "a dream come true." "Thank you @socceraid. And thank YOU all for your support, your donations and general love for this incredible event, put together for an incredible cause," he wrote." "Very honoured to have played a small part in this big game, and can only hope I'll get to see you all same place, same time, next year. #grateful #dreamcometrue."
7. He's had some relatable celebrity crushes
All of us have celebrity crushes and Sam Claflin is no exception. The "Hunger Games" star revealed that he had the hots for two celebs as a kid. "My celebrity crush as a teenager was — and still is — Pamela Anderson. Though I haven't met them but I used to have a picture on my bedside table of her — that I framed — and I use to kiss before bed," he told Heatworld. "I think it was a bit earlier than me being a teenager though. I think I had grown out of that phase as a teenager. I also loved Nadia from 'American Pie.' I used to be obsessed with her." Sam — he's just like us!
8. He's romantic
Sam Claflin might be one of the most romantic men in Hollywood. The British star and former wife Laura Haddock are separated today, but in happier times, Sam had nothing but sweet things to say about the "Da Vinci's Demons" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise actress. In fact, he told Yahoo! News that he knew he wanted to marry her as soon as they met. "She's my female counterpart is the best way to describe her. She is my mum. She reminds me of my mum so much which I think — a guy will know, right? It's important. Your mum knows like everything," he explained. "[After meeting her] I called my agent, I said, 'Mate, I am in love.' He's like, 'How did the audition go, mate?' I was like, 'No, no, you don't understand. I have just met the woman I want to marry.'" Swoon!
9. He's a runner
Sam Claflin has worked hard for his amazing physique! He's an avid runner who often shares photos of his workouts on Instagram. He commits himself to 5 a.m. stair sprints and in May 2019 told fans about his "8 mile, pre-work workout" run in Rome, where he was filming at the time. Impressive!
10. He went to college for his craft
Sam Claflin is so into acting that he made sure to back up his professional experience with a hard-earned degree. The father of two studied drama at Norwich City College in Norfolk, England, and graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2009.
