Samantha was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. She received her Licentiate in Speech and Drama Teaching through Trinity College of London's worldwide examination board. After traveling around the globe, she decided to settle in Portland, Oregon.

Samantha currently runs Shaking The Tree Theatre Company, where she teaches drama and art to young children, directs plays for the company's 8-11 year old theatre troupe and also directs one adult play a year. Her recent directing credits include Salome by Oscar Wilde, The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde, and The Raspberry Worm from Z. Topelius. Her favorite acting roles include Pola from Dream of a Common Language and Varina from Run Perfectly Still. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to direct The Road To Mecca, a very poignant play about freedom and the courage it takes to claim it.