Anna Samson, star of the new Death in Paradise spin-off Return to Paradise, has made a notable return to Australian television after a 15-year absence. The 34-year-old actress, who was born in the UK and raised in Nigeria and Australia, plays DI Mackenzie Clarke in the series, which follows a detective returning to her hometown after being accused of evidence tampering in London.
Samson's acting career began on stage after graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2010. She made her TV debut in the 2012 miniseries Conspiracy 365, followed by roles in Winners & Losers and Hunters. Her big break came in 2017 with Wake in Fright, and she later played Mia Anderson on Home and Away from 2021 to 2022.
Off-screen, Samson was previously linked to her Home and Away co-star Lee Jones, with whom she shared a red carpet photo in 2017. The pair played siblings in Wake in Fright before both appearing on the soap. Samson keeps her current relationship status private.
Samson has spoken fondly of her upbringing in West Africa, calling it a 'real gift' for understanding the world. She also praised her parents as 'extraordinarily kind' in a 2022 birthday tribute. Her passion for acting began at age four, inspired by her grandmother's comedic talent.
