Tory Burch cropped cotton top and draped jersey skirt; BVLGARI B.zero1 18K white gold bracelet
“It’s easier to make people cry than to make people laugh,” admits actress Samara Weaving. “I love to watch a really good comedy or any thriller drama… but to play comedy is hard. It’s so fun, but it’s really hard. So to play, I like doing drama.” And drama she will do this season with a flurry of film projects.
Weaving, with her chameleonic ability to traverse across a broad spectrum of characters, continually captivates audiences with her vibrant portrayals on screen. From the tension-laden corridors of horror to the glittering allure of Hollywood’s golden era, Weaving brings a unique veracity to each role, immersing herself fully into the fantasy worlds of film.
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Her breakout role as Grace Le Domas in the comedy-horror film Ready or Not showcased her ability to blend dark comedy with intense survival thriller, earning her critical acclaim and fan adoration. The announcement of her reprisal in Ready or Not 2 has excited fans eager to see how her character evolves in another thrilling installment of the franchise. “I’m so excited to get the band back together on that one,” she says. “It’s going to be really fun.”
In addition to her return to the Le Domas family’s deadly games, Weaving’s role in Ryan Murphy’s hit Hollywood as Claire, an aspiring actress in post-World War II Los Angeles, highlighted her versatility and depth as an actress, navigating through a narrative rich with historical and social complexities.
Her recent role in the dark comedy Borderline, written and directed by her husband, Jimmy Warden, sees her diving into the world of a ’90s pop superstar whose life takes a dramatic turn when a hopelessly romantic sociopath, played by Ray Nicholson, disrupts her life. The personal connection to the project deepened her engagement. “We had always been looking for something to work on together,” she shares.
Weaving’s slate of forthcoming projects is as varied as it is intriguing. In Carolina Caroline, she portrays a young woman on a crime-fueled journey across the Southeast with a charismatic con man. Her roles in The Trip, a thriller about a dysfunctional couple with deadly intentions, and Eenie Meanie, a heist thriller set in the 20th century, showcase her adaptability and penchant for intense, emotionally charged narratives.
“At my core, I am a very scared, shy, little human, and I did not appreciate being moved around a lot. ... But I think that it really helped me prepare for this industry because I move around so much, and you meet new people on every different set.”
Reflecting on the allure of the thriller genre, Weaving muses, “All the characters in genre movies usually allow you to play the full scope of human emotions. You’re not limited to one [emotion] because they’re in such insane situations,” she explains, noting that one day she may be screaming and crying and running for her life and then another day be making people laugh. “There’s such a different scale, and it’s such a big scale. I think that’s why I keep coming back.”
Preparation for these demanding roles involves both physical and emotional readiness. “Staying physically fit is important because it’s so easy to get sick if I’m not taking care of myself, especially like long hours and in the cold, if we’re outside and I’m running, having to do all these insane stunts,” Weaving explains. To delve deeper into her characters’ psyches, she collaborates closely with her drama coach, Leigh Kilton-Smith, and curates music playlists that resonate with her roles’ emotional landscapes.
Weaving’s global upbringing in places like Australia, Singapore, Fiji and Indonesia inadvertently prepared her for the transient life of an actress. Initially overwhelming, this exposure fostered resilience and adaptability, which have proved invaluable in her career. “At my core, I am a very scared, shy, little human, and I did not appreciate being moved around a lot. ... But I think that it really helped me prepare for this industry because I move around so much, and you meet new people on every different set.”
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Off screen, Weaving cherishes her downtime, embracing simplicity and comfort after the whirlwind of her professional pursuits. “I move and travel for work so much [that] when I do have time off, I just want to be at home relaxing,” she says. Whether unwinding with a puzzle, indulging in a quiet holiday by the pool, or engaging in her daily meditation and yoga practices, she values the moments of stillness amid her bustling career. “I’m really good at doing nothing,” she says.
Weaving continues to be a formidable presence in film, effortlessly moving between genres and roles—each new project a testament to her expansive talent and relentless pursuit of challenging, transformative performances. “It would be fun to do a Western,” she says when asked what genre she may tackle next. “And I haven’t done a straight action movie. That could be cool too… or maybe a cool noir or a weird, surrealist fantasy.”
