Who is Samantha Sloyan?
American actress and producer Samantha Sloyan was born in Los Angeles, California USA, on 4 January 1979, making her zodiac sign Capricorn. She’s had roles in nearly 50 movies and TV series, and is perhaps best known for playing Bev Keane in the 2021 fantasy horror mini-series “Midnight Mass”, created by Mike Flanagan, and which starred Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford and Kristin Lehman. It follows a strange young priest who’s just arrived on an isolated island; the mini-series won four of its 42 award nominations.
Education and early life
Samantha and her brother Daniel Sloyan were raised in Los Angeles by their mother Deirdre Lenihan and father James Sloyan, both of whom are successful actors; James has appeared in nearly 100 movies and TV series, and is perhaps still best known for his playing of Mottola in the 1973 crime comedy movie “The Sting”, which won 25 awards, including seven Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Art Direction – Set Decoration, amongst others.
Samantha became interested in acting mostly thanks to her parents whom she looked up to while growing up, and who occasionally took her with them while shooting for their TV series and movies. She still had to promise them that she wouldn’t pursue acting until she was done with her education, which was why Samantha didn’t launch her career until she was 24.
She attended a local high school in Los Angeles, from which she matriculated in 1997, then continued her education at college, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 2001.
Roles in movies
Samantha’s debut film appearance was in the 2003 comedy “My Life with Morrissey”, and a couple of her following roles were in the 2005 short drama “No Shoulder”, the 2005 romantic comedy “3 Wise Women” and the 2006 drama “Shamelove”.
The year 2009 saw her play Emmy Hennings, one of the lead characters in the drama “Autodoc”, directed by Jonathan Whittle-Utter, and which also starred Brian Elerding and James Lyons; it follows a group of art students who’ve suddenly become famous. Samantha could then have been seen portraying Megs in the 2011 comedy “In the Key of Eli”, Lois in the 2012 science fiction horror thriller “Area 407” and Marissa in the 2013 short comedy “Do You Have a Cat?”
Having a blast with #samanthasloyan @SaturnAwards #MidnightMass pic.twitter.com/i76mIlDIwX
— Rachel Pizzolato (@braintwist2112) October 29, 2021
In 2015, she portrayed Gretchen Thorne in the crime drama “Murder in Mexico: The Bruce Beresford-Redman Story”, directed by Mark Gantt, and which starred Colin Egglesfield, Lisa Conrad and Mendel Fogelman. It follows the producer of the reality show “Survivor”, who’s the main suspect in his wife’s death, who was strangled in Mexico.
The year 2016 saw Samantha appear in three movies: the romantic comedy drama “Losing in Love”, the mystery crime drama “Fantastic” and the horror thriller “Hush”. In 2019, she played the main character Mrs Watson in the drama “Miss Virginia”, directed by R. J. Daniel Hanna, and which also starred Matthew Modine and Vanessa Williams. It follows the struggles of a mother who’s ready to do whatever it takes to keep her son safe, and the movie won one of its two award nominations.
Samantha’s most recent film role has been in the 2022 short horror thriller “Love You, Mama”.
Roles in TV series
Samantha’s debut TV series role was in the 2009 episode “No Turning Back” of the action crime drama “The Beast”, and she could then have been seen appearing in an episode of the crime drama “The Forgotten”, the mystery crime drama “Law & Order: LA”, and the action drama “The Cape”.
Between 2012 and 2014, she portrayed both Jeannine Locke and Sassy Staffer in the thriller drama “Scandal”, which Shonda Rhimes created, and which starred Katie Lowes, Darby Stanchfield and Kerry Washington. It follows a woman who’s launched a crisis management company, the series aired from 2012 to 2018, and won 37 of its 108 award nominations.
The following years saw Samantha play supporting characters in an episode or two of the mystery crime drama “Rizzoli & Isles”, the science fiction drama “Futurestates” and the action crime drama “Hawaii Five-0”.
In 2018, she portrayed Leigh Crain in the mystery horror drama “The Haunting of Hill House”, which Mike Flanagan created, and which starred Henry Thomas, Carla Gugino and Michiel Huisman. It follows a family as they’re reflecting back to their old haunted home, and the series won 10 of its 46 award nominations.
Samantha’s three most recent roles in TV series have been in the 2019 episode “Not Buried, Planted” of the mystery crime drama “Truth Be Told”, the 2020 episodes “Leviathan” and “Scars” of the action adventure drama “Helstrom” and 10 episodes of the 2022 mystery horror drama “The Midnight Club”.
Other credits
Samantha received special thanks for the 2009 comedy movie “Dear Lemon Lima”.
She produced the 2009 short movie “Plus One”, and was also on the production team of the 2013 episode “The Paper Conjuring” of the animated series “Paper Cuts”.
Samantha voiced Emily Pollock in the 2019 episode “Whitefall” of the documentary series “The NoSleep Podcast”.
Awards and nominations
Samantha’s been nominated for five awards, all for her performance in “Midnight Mass”. These include a 2021 Pena de Prata nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Special, a 2022 Online Film & Television nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series, and a 2022 International Online Cinema nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie.
She was also nominated for two Critics Choice Super Awards in 2022, for Best Villain in a Series and Best Actress in a Horror Series.
Love life and husband
Samantha prefers to keep the details of her love life away from media, and there’s thus only a single man whom she’s been with, whom the public knows about. She began dating American actor Richard E. Grant in 2015, after the two had met on a movie set; Richard’s appeared in close to 150 movies and TV series, and is perhaps still best known for his playing of George in the 2001 mystery comedy movie “Gosford Park”.
Samantha and Richard could then have been seen appearing together at various red carpet events, until they split in 2018.
She hasn’t mentioned other men whom she’s perhaps been with, and seems to be unattached as of October 2022, hasn’t married and doesn’t have children.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsibsBqhCSv/
Interesting facts and hobbies
Samantha’s more or less active on Instagram, and there are today over 5,000 people following her on the social media network, while she’s posted nearly 100 pictures and videos onto her account.
She loves to dance, although she isn’t a trained dancer; her favorite style is salsa.
Samantha’s a lover of animals, with cats being her favorites; when she was a teenager, she occasionally volunteered at an animal shelter.
She’s passionate about travelling and has been to several African and Asian countries, while her favorite city to travel to is Cairo, Egypt.
Samantha’s favorite actresses are Renee Zellweger and Olivia Colman, while some of her favorite movies include “Judy”, “My Own Love Song” and “New in Town”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Samantha’s age is 43. Her eyes are blue and she has ginger hair, she weighs around 115lbs (53kgs) and is 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall.
Samantha’s net worth’s been estimated at over $1 million, as of October 2022.
