SAMANTHA BAILEY

Actress on the Rise

We caught up with rising actress, Samantha Bailey.

What is the favorite character you’ve played?

I have played several different types of characters but I had the most fun playing Young Rebecca (Becky) Quinn from the Amazon Prime Series “Just Add Magic”.

What sort of person is going to love this character?

The target audience for this show is mainly tweens and early teens but I think this show is intriguing for any age. The characters on this show really focus on the power of friendship and the importance of learning to work together even when times get tough.

How is this character like you? Different?

This character is very relatable for me because she is caring and always tries to find the bright side of any situation. She loves her friends and wants to help them in any way she can. She also loves cooking and creating things in the kitchen which I find a lot of fun!

Is it easier to play this character or to be yourself on camera?

I don’t get to play myself on camera very often so I always try to find elements of myself within the characters personality and dialogue. I wouldn’t say this character was easy to play because there was a certain complexity to her that needed to shine through but it was fun getting to bring her to life on screen.

What do you love about this character?

I played the younger version of one of the grandmothers in the series, so my scenes took place in the 1960’s. I loved the style of clothing that I got to wear in the scenes and loved playing with the dialogue to include words that were used in the time period.

What do you hate about this character?

There really is nothing that I could hate about Becky Quinn because of her big heart and thoughtful personality.

What’s the biggest challenge about taking on this role?

The biggest challenge I had with taking on this role was matching my character to Dee Wallace’s older version of the character so that I was a believable younger version of her. Dee is an absolutely amazing actress and unbelievably talented so I knew I was going to be in for a challenge. I was able to sit down and talk with Dee for a little bit before filming to get an idea of her personality and presence. This was incredibly helpful so that our characters were realistic.

Besides yourself, what celebrity would you like to see tackle this character?

I think Millie Bobby Brown would be amazing in this role. She is such a talented actress and can take on any character that she is given.

Without giving anything away, what’s your favorite line of dialogue?

“We have to make a pact. Let’s swear that this book will never come between us.”

Besides yourself, which actor in this production is going to/ has blown people away?

I am so proud of all that Olivia Sanabia, Aubrey Miller, and Abby Donnelly have done since being on Just Add Magic. They are amazing actresses and I can’t wait to see what else they are going to do!

If you could play any other character in this show, who would it be?

I think it would be fun to switch roles with Olivia Sanabia and play Kelly Quinn since I play a younger version of her character’s grandmother. I feel like all three of those characters are very similar.

What makes a good scene partner?

I think a good scene partner is someone that, even though they know the dialogue and what’s going to happen next, they still live in the moment and react to the other character as if they were hearing the lines for the first time. Listening and responding are the most important factors that build trust and a connection between scene partners.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to continue acting for as long as I can. I have a Theatre AA and a Communications AA right now. I am currently working on my Theatre BA and Communications BA. Even though my passion is with performing, I think it would be fun to explore some behind the camera work in the future too.

If someone was going to make your life into a movie, who would play you?

That’s a hard one. Popsugar had an app feature a few years ago calling #twinning where it matched your picture with your celebrity look alike. A little girl named Hendrix Yancey matched with me and tagged me in her post on Instagram. We ended up meeting at the GenZ Social Summit in 2019 and she was just so sweet. She is an awesome actress and I would be honored to have her play me.

When did you first perform?

My family always jokes that I was born dancing and acting. I have seen pictures of me performing in diapers and tap shoes with my aunts in their recitals. I have always loved being on stage and entertaining others.

Who do you look up to (as an actor/director/etc.)?

I have always looked up to Kristin Chenoweth & Reese Witherspoon. They are both strong, talented and empowering women. They are role models that girls of all ages can look up to and be proud of.

What’s your perfect Sunday afternoon look like?

My perfect Sunday afternoon would be going to Cafe Habana in Malibu with friends for an early lunch then walking over to the beach and relaxing by the water.

When you have a five-minute break during rehearsal, what do you spend that time doing?

If I get a break, I will usually go over and find somebody to talk to in the cast or crew. I am always looking to introduce myself to new people and see what they do. When I was on The Young & The Restless, the camera operators would teach me how to use the cameras which I always found super fun!

Who’s the funniest person in this cast in real life?

When I was working on Just Add Magic, Tiane Le, Harper Quaintance and I had the absolute best time! We were always joking around and playing games. When the first season was released on Amazon, the three of us had a sleepover and binge watched all of the episodes in one night!

What do you do when you’re not doing tv/film?

I love to hang out with my friends. It has been hard because of Covid since I can’t see my friends as much as I used to but we are making it work by playing games and chatting over Zoom. I am also learning how to rollerblade so that is a fun way that I can get out of the house and still be safe. I have also been teaching Princess Ballet classes to toddlers, both in person and over Zoom. It is so fun watching them learn how to express themselves with dance.

If you had a magic wand, what show would you do next?

If I had a magic wand, I would bring back Pushing Daisies. That show was so amazing and it was so before it’s time.

What’s the last thing you do before you step out on set?

I make sure I am hydrated and have my lines prepared. Then I leave the rest up to my director and let any creativity and play happen naturally.

What are your social media handles?

My Instagram is: @SamanthaABailey1, My Twitter is: @SamanthaABailey, My Facebook is: @SamanthaBailey, and My TikTok is: @SamanthaABailey1