If you are a Hallmark aficionado, more than likely you are aware of the fact that last summer, we viewers were treated to two movies that were filmed in the beautiful country of Fiji. While both of these movies featured local actors, one of them, A Summer To Remember, highlighted a delightful young actress named Samantha MacGillivray. I read countless comments regarding her portrayal of Ava Martin, Catherine Bell’s character’s daughter, and everyone seemed to be as enchanted and as impressed with her and her performance as I was. Last summer, I reached out for an interview with her, and due to the busy schedules we both have been experiencing, this interview of ours was unavoidably delayed. However, I am finally ready to share her wonderful interview with my readers today!
RH: Please tell us a little about your background and how you got involved in pursuing a career in acting?
SM: I was born in New Zealand and moved to the Gold Coast, Australia with my parents when I was five years old. I was always an entertainer; Mum reckons when I was a baby, I’d squeal at strangers in the supermarket then smile to get them to smile back! My sister and I used to make up dances and perform them for the family!
Mum and Dad have always taught me to follow my dreams. They encouraged me to find something I’m passionate about and I’m lucky enough to have found my dream! It all started when I was twelve years old. I signed up at the local theatre and started youth classes, and I loved acting from the beginning. After a while, I started weekly acting classes with Kris Keevers at The Warehouse Workshop in the Gold Coast and although I’m now with Tom McSweeney, I’ve been at the same school ever since!
With Levi Miller
I remember back when I was thirteen, I filmed my first ever showreel with Australian actor Levi Miller (Pan, Red Dog, Jasper Jones, A Wrinkle In Time). He is an amazing actor and had just landed Pan, but that was confidential and we didn’t know that at the time.
Very early on, my mum did some research and found the best acting agent for me. We drove a couple of hours south to meet Charmaine Gilchrist, the nicest lady ever and luckily she liked me, and signed me straight away after seeing the showreel I’d done with Levi Miller! I am super blessed and lucky to be with the best agent in Australia, Gilchrist Management.
What was your first professional acting credit? What are your memories of doing that particular job/role?
Wurrawhy
My first ever role was as a presenter in a child’s educational TV program called Wurrawhy. I remember feeling like quite an important twelve-year-old! I was in two episodes, both filmed at the beach, and they recorded the ADR/voiceover in a car! A very mobile set up! I had the time of my life!
Please tell us a little about your role in Harrow. What did you enjoy most about your role and working on that project?
Harrow With Ioan Gruffudd
I worked with Ioan Gruffudd (Titanic, Great Expectations, Fantastic Four), who played a man called Harrow, a forensic pathologist. Acting alongside Ioan was amazing. I’d done lots of short films and a bit of extras work, but Harrow was a taste of what being a successful Australian actor might be like. When you’ve got your own trailer on set, you start to realize that the dream is achievable. Being on the set of Harrow with cameras focused on me made it real and got me excited about what was potentially possible for me in the future.
Harrow
My role in Harrow was of the daughter of a mother who has been viciously and randomly murdered. I had to bring emotion and sadness with strength as I met with Ioan (Harrow) to ask about my dead mom, and then later go to the morgue and identify her.
2 Minute Clip of Samantha In Harrow
Although it was a sad episode, behind the scenes there was lots of fun and laughter working with Ioan and the awesome crew.
With Catherine Bell
Last summer, Hallmark viewers got to see you in the role of Ava in the movie A Summer to Remember. How did you get that role?
I didn’t realize how popular Hallmark was since we don’t have the Hallmark channel in Australia! So that probably helped me relax in the audition for Ava. In the audition, I just played the role the way I felt it, and luckily for me, it was exactly what the director and producer were looking for.
What was it like filming that movie?
A Summer To Remember
It was surreal, to be honest. We only had ten days between getting the role of Ava and flying to Fiji. A Summer to Remember was filmed at Yanuca Cove Resort. Being surrounded by coconut palms, white sand and clear blue water made the whole cast feel more like we were on holiday! Fiji is amazing; the way of life and the atmosphere is so laid back. Every time someone spots you, they shout “Bula!” which means, “Hello, thank you, you’re welcome and kind of ‘gidday mate’ and ‘good on ya mate’!” Martin Wood, the director, was so kind and amazing to work with. He has this incredible, loud, celebratory, signature “cut call” when he is especially happy with a scene! The perfect thing to bond everyone with a giggle and a smile!
With Catherine Bell
What was it like working with the two stars?
Working with Catherine Bell and Cameron Mathison was very cool. They’re both so laid back, kind and fun to work with! Catherine has a daughter almost my age, so she understands my generation, I guess. I think that really helped on camera when building the mother/daughter relationship. It was hard to say goodbye, apart from the fact we were kinda in love with the location!
Since Fiji doesn’t get the Hallmark Channel, what did you know about this network? Were you aware of the work of Cameron Mathison and Catherine Bell before working with them? What has been the fan response?
With Catherine Bell
I knew a little bit about the Hallmark channel before we started filming. I’m all about family, having fun and doing things together. And Hallmark provides quality family TV and film entertainment with respect to maintaining family values so it was a perfect match.
I had done some homework on my co-stars Catherine and Cameron, and I knew they were very successful actors. They both looked like fun people to be around which made me even more excited to work with the two of them.
With Catherine Bell
So many people–friends and family–have seen A Summer To Remember and raved about the movie. By the comments I’ve received, the fans of Hallmark channel are loving the movie.
Any other upcoming/recent works you can mention?
Life of Jess
The only thing I am allowed to mention is a fun little project I did recently. It’s a seven-episode series called The Life Of Jess. It’s on the channel of a famous Youtuber called Jess who teaches young people and students how to be organized and balance life and school work. She’s pretty informative and I’m sure she’s helping a tonne of teenagers because she has 40k subscribers. The series is set in this fabulous private school in Brisbane and it’s about surviving high school. I’m the mean girl in this production!
Life Of Jess
Since you are stationed in Australia, what are the positives about being an actor in that part of the world? What are the challenges?
Living in Australia is amazing! The people are down-to-earth and fun-loving, and life is always good when the sun shines this much! There are some great acting schools and if you can sign with a good agent who has their finger on the pulse, then there are real possibilities if you have some talent! Recently there’s been a bit of money injected into the industry, which has been great for producers down under, but there is a lot of competition for acting roles. I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunities to do what I love. I think the challenges here are the same as in any country; when you’re not right for the role that you’ve worked hard to self-test or audition for, then you have to train yourself to trust the process, trust the universe and never give up on your dream. But I think I have always trusted that the right roles will come along when they’re supposed to!
As a young person in acting, how do you keep up with your school schedule when working? How do you juggle your personal and professional life?
I’m in my last year of high school, so 2018-2019 has been very busy with assignments and exams. Fitting acting into my schedule has been harder than usual, but I love it so much that it’s worth the crazy late nights! Mum and Dad are also incredibly supportive so it just works!
Also, my teachers and the principal are super supportive and they allow me to submit my assignments around my acting roles. Sometimes I have to miss out going out with my friends because I’ve got scripts to learn, but this is something I want to do for the rest of my life so everything else takes second place.
Do you plan to move beyond Australia to pursue a film/TV career in North America? Why or why not?
Definitely! Moving to North America is one of my dreams. I really want to be where the action is, and although Australia’s film and TV industry is growing, I’m not sure if there’s enough of it to work full-time. Australia will always be “home,” but I’m super excited to travel more and be at the heart of the entertainment industry, in the USA, and I believe when I’m ready the right door will open!
When not working, what do you like to do for fun?
When I’m not studying for school or auditions, I’m either watching movies or sitting at a café with my family watching people for inspiration. Or I’ll be on my skateboard or running on the beach with my dog.
I cannot detail how significantly Samantha has impressed me with her giftedness, kindness, humility, and incredible work ethic. Unlike so many young people today, Samantha has been raised with an authentic understanding of who she is without the dreaded quality that myriads of young people display in today’s society on a regular basis–entitlement. Samantha is so far removed from that mode of thinking that although she is a typical teenager in many respects, she still recognizes the fact that in this world, nothing will be bequeathed to her on a silver platter. If she desires a certain object or outcome, she has no choice but to invest time and money in the attainment of that goal or dream. Furthermore, she takes nothing for granted and focuses on the positive in every situation, regardless of appearances and surroundings. Some youngsters would balk at the filming conditions she described, and others would dismiss acting as an “easy” profession that only requires beauty and the ability to read lines. Yet as Samantha has learned, it is oh so much more than that, and she has proven time and time again that she is up for the challenge.
If you have not had the opportunity to watch A Summer To Remember (or if you would merely like to revisit this film), be sure to tune into the Hallmark Channel on May 5th (or check the schedule for additional air dates/times). I would also invite all my readers to visit her links below and consider following Samantha on Instagram (or at least look up her works). I am thoroughly convinced that Samantha is an extraordinary young lady who possesses all the gifts and fortitude to continue pursuing a career in film/TV, and if she is willing to take the necessary steps towards that vision, she can definitely be successful. At this point, no one is certain of the trajectory of her career, but there is no need to convince those who know her best that she is on the correct path in all sectors of her life and work. As long as she remains true to her course and to herself, the possibilities for this young starlet are astronomical, and I anticipate the amazing opportunities that will be coming her way in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. Furthermore, I plan to support her every step of the way in all ways possible, and I venture to say that several of you would love to join me on that quest, and I definitely hope you do!
FOLLOW SAMANTHA
