Samara Weaving’s rise to stardom reads like a script from one of her own genre-bending films: a little bit bloody, a little bit bizarre, and wholly unpredictable. Over the last decade, the Australian actress has carved out a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most fearless performers, especially in the horror and thriller genres. But as 2026 unfolds, Weaving’s career—and her personal life—are both entering bold new chapters, with a string of high-profile projects and the impending arrival of her first child.
It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment Samara Weaving became a household name for horror fans. Was it her early role in the Evil Dead TV series? Her breakout turn in The Babysitter? Or perhaps her star-making performance in the 2019 hit Ready or Not? According to Bloody Disgusting, whichever it was, the consensus is clear: Weaving was destined for the big time. Her portrayal of Grace, the blood-soaked bride fighting for survival against her murderous in-laws, not only earned her critical acclaim but also spawned a sequel, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which hit theaters on March 20, 2026.
For Weaving, the journey from Australian soap operas to Hollywood scream queen was anything but conventional. Born in Adelaide in 1991, she spent her childhood moving across Asia and Europe for her father’s work. Despite being the niece of actor Hugo Weaving, her connection to the industry was more accidental than preordained. “I remember being like, ‘Wait, hold on. What’s happening? That’s my uncle,’” she recalled to The New York Times about seeing her uncle’s film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert for the first time. It wasn’t until a life-changing viewing of Pirates of the Caribbean at age 11 that she considered acting as a real possibility. “I left the theater and I was furious because I’d had almost a spiritual awakening. I was like, ‘How dare they do this without me?’”
Her family’s eventual return to Australia paved the way for Weaving’s first acting gigs, including the TV series Home and Away. She credits the show’s reputation for helping her land auditions in Los Angeles, even if, as she jokes, “They’d never watched the show, thank God.” Her first major Hollywood callback was for the title role in 2017’s The Babysitter, a horror-comedy that subverted expectations and introduced audiences to Weaving’s knack for playing characters who are as feral as they are magnetic.
On the set of Ready or Not and its sequel, Weaving’s physical commitment became legendary. Director Tyler Gillett told The New York Times, “You have to tell her when to take a breather because there’s not an off switch. She just can go and go and go.” Sarah Michelle Gellar, who joined the sequel as a villainous billionaire, echoed this sentiment: “It is exhausting watching her. I would say to her every day, ‘Oh, I’m so glad you’re number one on the call sheet.’”
Weaving herself finds something cathartic in the chaos. “I find it quite strangely therapeutic. You get to do things that are so socially unacceptable, like scream and bash people up,” she explained. “At the end of the day, I’m exhausted, but I’m also like, ‘Huh, I don’t have any anger left in me. It’s all been burnt up.’”
Her work ethic has earned her the admiration of peers. Margot Robbie, a close friend and frequent comparison point due to their similar looks, praised Weaving’s resilience on set: “She just rocked up to set and gave 150% despite how sick she was feeling.” The two even joked about being mistaken for one another, with Weaving quipping, “Our husbands, if they drink enough, they get confused. My phone thinks I’m her in photos.”
But Weaving’s ambitions stretch far beyond the confines of horror. The coming year is packed with projects that showcase her versatility. Up next is Over Your Dead Body, a dark comedy co-starring Jason Segel and directed by Jorma Taccone, set for theatrical release on April 24, 2026. The film, a remake of Tommy Wirkola’s The Trip, follows a dysfunctional couple who each secretly plan to kill the other during a remote cabin getaway. Early reviews from Bloody Disgusting have called it “one of the funniest films of the year; it happens to be one of its bloodiest, too.”
Later in 2026, Weaving will appear in Carolina Caroline, a romantic crime thriller directed by Adam Rehmeier and co-starring fellow Scream alum Kyle Gallner. She stars as Caroline Daniels, a woman whose hunger for escape leads her into a whirlwind of crime and passion across the American Southeast. The film promises to be more character-driven, aligning with Weaving’s desire for “more character-based storytelling.”
Other upcoming projects include Bella, an action-thriller set in 1980s New York where Weaving plays a police officer’s daughter seeking justice and confronting corruption within the NYPD. Producer Craig Flores described the film as one that “cleverly reinvents the female-lead action genre pairing a sexy and unapologetic rock n’ roll edge with the gritty heightened realism of 80’s New York City.”
Weaving is also set to portray real-life figures in two anticipated projects. In the TV mini-series Down the Rabbit Hole, she will play Holly Madison, exposing the darker side of the Playboy brand. As Weaving told IndieWire, “[Holly Madison is] so cool. She’s the best. I’m nervous about [playing] Holly Madison, because people have their own idea about who she is.” In Liz, she’ll embody Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte, the trailblazing American socialite who married Napoleon’s youngest brother. “Elizabeth Bonaparte is so dope. She’s the first American socialite, first American female millionaire who made every penny on her own,” Weaving said.
As if that weren’t enough, Weaving’s face will also grace the Canadian indie film A Thousand Cuts, which premieres on VOD March 26, 2026. The film, featuring Varun Saranga from Ready or Not 2, spins a murder-mystery tale set against the backdrop of a live television special.
All this professional momentum comes as Weaving prepares for a major personal milestone: the birth of her first child, a baby girl due in early April. “That’s the scary unknown, isn’t it? There’s a lot of change coming,” she reflected recently, admitting she’s unsure how motherhood will shape her future choices. Still, she’s determined to follow her instincts: “It’s either a hell yes or a hell no.”
With her trademark blend of grit, vulnerability, and a dash of weirdness, Samara Weaving is proving that being a scream queen is only the beginning. Whether she’s running for her life in a ruined wedding dress or diving into complex real-life roles, Weaving is set to captivate audiences for years to come—no matter what surprises lie ahead.