Book excerpt: Sam Claflin is a British actor best known for his role in the blockbuster film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as Finnick Odair. Born in Ipswich, England on June 27, 1986, Claflin began his career as a model before transitioning into acting. He studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and landed his first acting gig in the television series The Pillars of the Earth. Claflin’s big break came in 2011 when he played the role of missionary Philip Swift in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Since then, he has appeared in a number of popular films including Snow White and the Huntsman, Love, Rosie, and Me Before You. In addition to his work in films, Claflin has also made appearances on several television series including The Lost Future and White Heat. He has received critical acclaim for his performances and has been nominated for several awards such as the BAFTA Rising Star Award. In his personal life, Claflin married British actress Laura Haddock in 2013 and the couple has two children together. Claflin is also an ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity which helps support young people with cancer.