Who is Samara Weaving?
Australian actress and model Samara Weaving was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on 23 February 1992, making Pisces her zodiac sign. She’s appeared in 36 movies and TV series, and is perhaps known best for portraying the lead character Grace in the 2019 action horror comedy “Ready or Not”, which Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin directed, and which also starred Adam Brody and Mark O’Brien. It follows a bride who’s been forced by her in-laws to play a terrifying game with them – the film won four of its 28 award nominations.
Education and early life
Samara and her sister Morgan were raised by their Maltese mother Helena Bezzina who’s an art therapist and professor of museum studies at the University of Newcastle, and British father Simon Weaving, who’s the artistic director of Canberra International Film Festival, professor at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, and moviemaker. Samara’s sister is also an actress, while their uncle Hugo Weaving’s a famous actor.
She was raised in several countries, including Indonesia, Australia and Singapore, as the family often moved because of Samara’s parents’ jobs. Samara studied at Canberra Girls Grammar School, from which she matriculated in 2010; she appeared in nearly all of the school plays of the time, and was also the school’s drama captain.
Samara hasn’t attended college.
Roles in TV series
Samara’s debut TV series role was playing Kirsten Mulroney in 50 episodes of the 2008 drama “Out of the Blue”, and from 2009 through 2013, she starred as India Walker in 336 episodes of the long-running soap opera “Home and Away”, created by Alan Bateman, and which today stars Ray Meagher, Emily Symons and Lynne McGranger. It follows the people living in the coastal town of Summer Bay in Australia, it’s aired over 8,000 episodes since 1988, and has won 48 of its 166 award nominations.
Samara could then have been seen appearing in three episodes of the 2015 comedy “Squirrel Boys”, three episodes of the 2016 action horror comedy “Ash vs. Evil Dead”, and all the six episodes of the 2018 romantic mystery mini-series “Picnic at Hanging Rock”.
From 2017 through 2019, she played one of the lead characters Nelson Rose in all the 18 episodes of the comedy “SMILF”, created by Frankie Shaw, who also starred in it; the series follows a single mother in her 20s as she’s struggling to balance her personal life and work, and it won one of its three award nominations.
Samara’s also known for portraying Claire Wood in all seven episodes of the 2020 historical mini-series “Hollywood”, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, and which starred David Corenswet, Darren Criss and Laura Harrier. It follows a group of moviemakers and actors trying to succeed in post-World War II Hollywood – the mini-series won five of its 56 award nominations.
Samara’s only two other TV series roles have been voicing Sue in five episodes of the 2021 animated comedy “No Activity” and playing Jessica Chandler in eight episodes of the mystery thriller mini-series “Nine Perfect Strangers” also in 2021; she’s currently shooting for the upcoming mini-series “Down the Rabbit Hole”.
Roles in movies
Samara’s debut film role was playing Fran in the 2009 short comedy “Sprung”, while some of her following roles were in the 2009 short drama “Steps”, the 2013 crime drama “Mystery Road”, and the 2014 short comedy “Growing Young”.
She starred as Serena in the 2015 short drama “He Who Has It All”, while the following year saw her play Chloe Buchanan in the thriller “Bad Girl”, written and directed by Fin Edquist, and which also starred Sara West and Ben Winspear. It follows the life of ‘bad girl’ Amy who’s 17, and who’s tried to destroy her adoptive family; the series won one of its two award nominations.
In 2017, Samara played one of the main characters Melanie Cross in the popular action horror comedy “Mayhem”, directed by Joe Lynch, and which also starred Steven Yeun and Steven Brand. It follows the outbreak of a deadly virus, and the film won three of its six award nominations. Some of Samara’s following roles were in the Oscar-winning 2017 crime comedy “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing. Missouri”, also in 2017 the horror comedy “The Babysitter”, and the 2019 action crime comedy “Guns Aimbo”.
The Babysitter—It seems like babysitters in films are either trying to seduce someone, or trying to kill someone. There’s a bit of everything in this one! It’s campy, and fun, and has a lot of strong scares. 10/10 would not hire Samara Weaving to look after children. pic.twitter.com/GlPU86Zu37
— Netflix Tudum (@NetflixTudum) July 22, 2018
One of her most recent film roles has been playing Constance Moore in the 2022 historical comedy “Babylon”, written and directed by Damien Chazelle, and which starred Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Jean Smart. It follows the lives of several celebrities in early Hollywood, and the film won 41 of its 188 award nominations, which include three Oscar nominations for Best Achievement in Costume Design, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, and Best Achievement in Production Design.
Samara’s currently shooting for the upcoming movies “Bella”, “Azrael” and “Liz”.
Other credits
Samara wrote and directed the 2009 short drama movie “Steps”.
Some of her recent talk-show appearances have been in “The Late Late Show with James Corden”, “IMDb on the Scene – Interviews”, and “Made in Hollywood”.
Awards and nominations
Samara’s won six of her 13 award nominations. Some of her wins include a 2018 Gold Derby Award for Ensemble Cast, a 2018 Online Film & Television Association for Best Ensemble and a 2018 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, all three for Samara and her colleagues’ performances in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”.
Love life and marriage
Samara prefers to keep the details of her love life to herself, but it’s still widely known that she’s today married to American screenwriter, director and actor Jimmy Warden.
The two met on the set of the 2017 horror movie “The Babysitter”, and kept their relationship a secret until 10 March 2019, when Samara revealed that they had become engaged; they exchanged vows in the same year, but the exact date of the ceremony hasn’t been disclosed.
Samara’s husband Jimmy’s probably known best for writing the 2020 horror comedy movie “The Babysitter: Killer Queen”, and the 2023 thriller comedy film “Cocaine Bear”.
She’s yet to mention other men whom she’s maybe dated, Samara’s married to Jimmy Warden as of May 2023, and doesn’t have children.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Samara’s dreaming of portraying the late American actress, model and singer Marilyn Monroe in either a movie or TV series.
She was shy during her teenage years, and appearing in school plays helped her overcome her shyness.
Samara’s an Instagram star, as there are today more than 1.2 million people following her on the network, while she’s posted over 750 pictures and videos; most of these show her during her everyday life, whether she’s sun tanning at the beach, drinking her morning coffee or acting.
She’s passionate about fashion, and reads a number of fashion magazines on a daily basis.
Samara’s favorite actress is Emma Thompson, while some of her favorite movies include “Cruella”, “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical” and “The Children Act”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Samara’s age is 31. Her hair’s blonde and eyes are blue, she’s 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall and weighs around 120lbs (54kgs).
Samara’s net worth’s been estimated at over $3 million, as of May 2023.
