About Samora Smallwood
Samora Smallwood is an award-winning, classically trained actor, writer and cool feminist of West African & Caucasian descent. Samora is fluent in French, proficient in Spanish and a lover of action who is trained in stage combat, fighting for TV and film, and archery. She is Co-Chair of ACTRA’s Diversity Committee, an ACTRA Toronto Councillor as well as founder of The Actors Work Studio, an innovative acting studio in Toronto.
Samora’s recent television work includes Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Short Treks, The Expanse, American Gods, Coroner, The Shelter, Shadowhunters, Good Witch, and an episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries involving a story close to her heart about white passing and Black identity in Canada. Recent projects include Daughter Dearest, Counting on Christmas, Toni & Solo and the feature film Queen of the Morning Calm, which premiered at the 2019 Whistler Film Festival and is directed by 2020 Canadian Screen Award-nominated Director Gloria Kim. Samora just finished shooting the lead role in Death She Wrote and is set to start filming another lead role in a romantic comedy.
Samora won the Best Actress Theatre Windsor Award for her portrayal of May Henning in Norm Foster’s The Affections of May and is nominated for a 2020 ACTRA Award for Best Series Ensemble for her work in Tokens. Samora’s passion is telling fresh stories and promoting diversity onscreen and behind the camera. She was recently a jury member for the Female Eye Film Festival as well as a selected participant in the Reelworld Film Festival’s “Emerging 20” Talent to Watch Program. Samora is also a passionate public speaker whose recent work includes hosting panels at TIFF, the Toronto Black Film Festival, and Official International Women’s Day.
What inspired you to pursue acting?
As a child, I had a knack for doing voices and kept everyone entertained with impressions. When my grandfather invested in a Canon camera, it was game on! I would create mini-theatre shows and write, direct and cast (my siblings) in shows and short movies. When I look back at those videos, two things are clear: my grandfather really loved me and I am a natural-born storyteller. We didn’t have much money growing up, as my mom was a single mother, so I didn’t attend theatre or film camp, but I did devour books and would engross myself in the characters’ lives in my own everyday life. Reading Harriet the Spy meant I kept a log of the neighbours comings and goings and laid traps around the house (which mom loved by the way). Roald Dahl’s The Witches had me checking everyone’s feet and looking for hidden witches in all mom’s friends and the Babysitters Club inspired me to start Kid Kare Kompany (a name, I know) and get certified in CPR to become the neighbourhood babysitter. At the time, it seemed like play, but when I look back I clearly see me becoming characters even then.
As a teen, I became obsessed with classic films like A Place in the Sun, Bus Stop, A Woman Under the Influence, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Streetcar Named Desire and In the Heat of the Night. Watching these iconic performances, I knew I wanted to professionally pursue acting. I convinced my family to let me apply for theatre school and the rest is (my) history being written.
What is your dream role?
This is a really difficult question! Lately, I have been manifesting roles with emotional resonance that have an impact on the community. I love to usurp stereotypes in my performances and, as a bi-racial woman, it’s very important for me to tell a bigger story. Whenever I read that a character is strong, for example, I always look for how that strength might be warm. If a female character is described as ambitious, I know in real life, women are often punished for their ambition, so I try to root it in love and passion for her work and keep the energy feminine and warm versus trying to be overly masculine to fit in (which women have to do so often in real life).
My dream role is definitely one that allows me to insert as much humanity into the character as possible. That said, dream-dream roles would include action, as I am (and have been told by directors) a physical actor, and I am athletic and certified for fighting in TV and film. I have a talent with voices and accents, so I would love to do a biopic in my career (I won’t say who, I don’t want to jinx it!) and, most of all, I want to play roles that make anyone who feels invisible feel seen and gives a voice to underrepresented voices, communities and experiences.
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Booking Information
Agent: Amanda Rosenthal
Amanda Rosenthal Talent Agency
Phone: (416) 425-4255
Email: amanda@artagencyinc.com