Return to Paradise is set to invigorate the universe, but what do we know about its star, actress Anna Samson?
The forthcoming spin-off, premiering on Friday, November 22, at 9pm on One, will explore life in Dolphin Cove, Australia – the hometown DI Mackenzie Clarke (portrayed by Anna Samson) left behind.
She relocated to work for Scotland Yard in the UK, but a lingering controversy forces her to return.
How will she cope working reluctantly alongside her former community?
As the show prepares for its UK premiere, here’s all you need to know about DI Mackenzie Clarke actress Anna Samson.
Family tributes
Born in the UK in November 1989, Samson spent much of her childhood in Nigeria before moving to Australia in her teens.
In her late teens, she relocated to Melbourne to study at the Victorian College of the Arts.
In an interview with Toasting Aussie Theatre, the 34-year-old revealed that her grandmother was her inspiration to enter the world of performing arts.
“Looking back I can see there was a frustrated actress burning in my Nan,” she said. “She was a great comedienne and she could command your attention and change the energy of a room remarkably. Perhaps I picked up on this power.”
She once also shared a touching tribute to her parents on , hailing them as “extraordinarily kind and wildly brave”.
“Their love for each other is something that never ceases to bolster me. They have given me the most brilliant life,” she expressed with gratitude.
Inside Return to Paradise star Anna Samsons life from cruel trolls and co-star romance to filming challenges (Image: BBC)
Actress Anna Samson was behind Mia Anderson in the Australian soap opera Home And Away. (Image: SEVEN NETWORK)
Online trolls
Samson, who has featured in acclaimed works such as The Leftovers, Dead Lucky, Conspiracy 365, The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Stephen King’s Children Of The Corn, has built an impressive acting resume over the years.
However, 2021 marked a career milestone when she landed the coveted part of Mia Anderson in the renowned Aussie soap opera Home And Away.
Sadly, it wasn’t long after the announcement of her casting that online trolls began bombarding her with negative comments. Defiantly, Samson stood her ground and took to to respond.
In response, she wrote: “The sad thing is, this is not surprising. In 2021 people still feel they have the right to shame, comment on, and harass women about their appearance.
“This is not new. It’s part of a culture of cowardice. Cruelly commenting on our weight loss or gain, our faces, our choices, our voices. In 2021. As if we don’t have bigger things to be concerned with.”
Then in a direct message to those perpetrating online abuse, she stated: “You are guilty of contribution to a very problematic and dangerous culture.”
Actress Anna Samson had previously dated Home And Away co-star actor Luke Jones. (Image: INSTAGRAM)
Co-star romance
Samson had begun a romantic relationship with actor Lee Jones, who featured in the role of Ambulance Officer Luke on Home And Away.
Before their collaboration on the Australian soap opera, the duo co-starred in the 2017 mini-series Wake In Fright, where Samson portrayed Mick Jaffries and Jones took on the character of Joe Jaffries.
The couple used to post adorable photos together on social media, but their online presence has dwindled in recent times, leaving fans questioning the current status of their relationship.
Filming challenges
On the professional front, Samson faced her own set of challenges while filming for her part as DI Mackenzie Clarke in Return to Paradise.
Speaking on Morning Live, she divulged the less-than-glamorous aspects of shooting in Australia, saying: “No, it’s not that glamorous, you know shooting is a lot of hard work, and I’m set quite a lot in this show, so it’s a decent amount of hard slog.
“Also, it looks warmer and sunnier than it is. You know, it’s the magic of television. We were on the coast of New South Wales, it’s very windy.
“Another departure from the original show is that this detective has quite long hair, so the wind was not our friend, and you know when you’re shooting a show, continuity is important.
“You can’t have this bit of hair up here for one shot and down here for another, so yeah, we were kind of battling the tempestuous weather quite a lot.”
Return to Paradise premieres on Friday, November 22, at 9pm on One and iPlayer.