Just two years ago, Anna May Samson was a firm favourite on Aussie soap Home and Away - and no-one could have expected her to crop up on Death in Paradise. However, the show has had a huge shake-up recently, following the announcement that Ralf Little was bowing out of his own leading role, while Anna has since been announced for the brand new spin-off show, Return To Paradise.
Despite being born in the UK, the 34 year old actress is not widely known here. However, she gained fame in Australia for her portrayal of Mia in Home and Away.
Her journey, both on and off-screen, hasn't been smooth sailing, as she faced severe backlash from online trolls shortly after her casting announcement for the soap.
In response to the trolling, Anna took to social media to encourage the trolls to "find something better to do", criticising the "culture of online bullying" that marred her big moment. According to the Express, the stunning actress expressed her frustration, saying: "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. "I'd suggest to these social media bullies to find something better to do with their time. "".
She warned the online bullies on her Instagram, where she boasts nearly 20,000 followers: "You are guilty of contribution to a very problematic and dangerous culture."
Her legion of fans quickly came to her defence, hailing her as "insanely talented".
Anna's journey began in Britain, then took her to Nigeria with her family when she was just a child, before finally settling down in Sydney, Australia during her teenage years.
It was in Sydney that Anna landed her first major acting gig, following her studies at a prestigious Melbourne acting college.
Starting off with various guest roles, Anna made an impression in the horror classic remake of Stephen King's Children Of The Corn.
Her resume also includes roles in hit shows like Leftovers, Offspring, Dead Lucky, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Hunters, and Jack Irish. Not to mention, she bagged the Best Actress award at the Oz Flicks Awards in 2018.
In 2021, she revealed she'd be joining the cast of Home and Away as Mia, but her character faced immense sorrow when her on-screen husband Ari, portrayed by Rob Kipa-Williams, succumbed to a terminal illness.
While starring in the beloved soap, Anna found romance off-screen with Lee Jones, who appeared as Ambulance Officer Luke in a 2021 episode.
However, her departure from the show was quick, as her character couldn't bear to stay in the picturesque coastal town after losing her great love.
Ari's brother Tane, portrayed by Ethan Browne, presented her with a one-way ticket to New Zealand in an attempt to help her start afresh.
She is now set to take on the role of DI MacKenzie Clark in the upcoming Death in Paradise spin-off, which promises to bring "a distinctively Australian flair".
In her new role, she will play an Aussie ex-pat who has made a name for herself within London's Metropolitan Police, despite her disdain for her home country.
This storyline closely mirrors her complex relationship with Australia during her time on Home and Away, allowing fans to potentially see traces of her previous character in her new role.
However, after being accused by the Met of tampering with evidence, she finds herself forced to return to Dolphin Cove in Australia
