Samantha Robinson
Samantha Robinson at the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood premiere
Robinson in 2019
Born (1991-10-19) October 19, 1991 (age 32)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active2012–present
Known forThe Love Witch and Sugar Daddies movies

Samantha Robinson (born October 19, 1991) is an American actress. She is known for playing the lead role in the film The Love Witch, directed by Anna Biller.[1] Her other roles include coffee heiress Abigail Folger in the 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, directed by Quentin Tarantino.[2][3]

Early life

Robinson was born on October 19, 1991, in New York City to a Panamanian mother and an English father. She was raised in London, England. She attended the all girls' school Queen's Gate in South Kensington and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Robinson landed a role in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. At the age of 14, her family relocated to Miami, Florida, where she attended the New World School of the Arts. Robinson later graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a concentration in acting in 2014.[4][5][6]

Career

Robinson's early roles included the independent films Serenade of Sonnets, Dreamgirl, and Labyrinths.[4]

Her breakthrough came in 2016 with the lead role as Elaine, a seductive witch, in the film The Love Witch directed by Anna Biller.[7][8][9][10][11] Robinson earned acclaim for her role in The Love Witch. Frank Scheck, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, called Robinson's performance "intense" and "alluring in a way that goes far beyond her lithe dancer's body and stunning looks."[12] Variety's Dennis Harvey said Robinson "does a great job encapsulating another era’s kitten-with-a-whip affectations."[13] Charles Bramesco wrote in Rolling Stone that director Biller and Robinson "have created a three-dimensional version of the stock eroticized woman."[14] IndieWire's David Ehrlich labeled Robinson's role "unforgettable" and "a breakthrough performance for the ages."[15] The LA Times film critics Justin Chang and Michael Rechtshaffen called Robinson "superb" and "simultaneously channeling Tippi Hedren and '60s scream queen Barbara Steele," respectively.[16][17] Elle magazine called Robinson's performance "pitch-perfect,"[18] while The Nerdist reviewer Scott Weinberg said that Robinson "owns the whole movie," and that her performance was "brave, sexy, (and) commanding."[19] The New Yorker ranked Robinson as one of the best actresses of 2016 for her role in The Love Witch.[20]

Robinson played Abigail Folger, one of the victims of the Tate-LaBianca murders, in the 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood directed by Quentin Tarantino.[21][22]

In 2022, Robinson starred in Jai Love’s short film Sugar Rag as mother of a grotesque and dyspeptic baby man (Aaron Light). The film premiered at Hollyshorts Film Festival 2023 and went on to play in competition at festivals such as Sitges,[23] SXSW Sydney[24] and in Poland.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Dream Girl Daniela Short film
2013 Misogynist Sister 2
2014 Sugar Daddies Lea
2015 Labyrinths Cathy
2016 The Love Witch Elaine Parks
2018 Cam Princess_X
2019 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Abigail Folger
2020 For Your Consideration Heather Short film
2020 Jazzberry Jazzberry Short film
2021 Take Me to Tarzana Jane Avant
2021 Topology of Sirens Wanderer #1
2021 Jazz Kitty Jazz Kitty Short film; also producer and choreographer
2022 Darwin Fick Julia Louis-Childs
2022 Sugar Rag Mommie Dearest Short film; directed by Jai Love
2024 Hauntology Christina

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Everyone Wants Theirs Natalie Episode: "Reflex Theory of a Shy Killer"
2013 The 3 Minute Update Herself Gaming host; 20 episodes
2013 MRS. Sophie Recurring role; 2 episodes
2016 #ThisIsCollege Sophie Episode: "#Flashback Friday"
2017 Doomsday Device Courtney Television film
2019 Soundtrack Young Margot Episode: "Track 4: Margot and Frank"

References

  1. ^ Kenny, Glenn. "The Love Witch Movie Review & Film Summary (2016) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com.
  2. ^ Archibold, Phil. "Why the cast of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood looks so familiar". Looper. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  3. ^ Coates, Tyler (July 26, 2019). "How the 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Cast Compares to Their Real-Life Counterparts". Esquire.
  4. ^ a b McDaniel, Melanie. "Sam Robinson - Actress". Splash Magazines | Los Angeles. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  5. ^ Armand, Charles. "Samantha Robinson IMDB Biography". IMDB. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  6. ^ "The Love Witch Cast & Crew". Anna Biller Productions. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  7. ^ Lecaro, Lina (September 19, 2018). "How Venus Prototype's Bizarre Fetish Couture Brought Underground Fashion to the Mainstream". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  8. ^ Olsen, Mark. "Enter the mesmerizing world of magic, sex and Anna Biller's 'The Love Witch'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  9. ^ Scott, A.O. "Review: 'The Love Witch,' Hell-Bent on Capturing Your Heart". The New York Times. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  10. ^ Francis, Hannah (February 13, 2017). "The Love Witch: blood, sugar, sex and magic make for thrilling Valentine's Day viewing". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  11. ^ Patterson, John (March 2, 2017). "The Love Witch director Anna Biller: 'I'm in conversation with the pornography all around us'". the Guardian. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  12. ^ Scheck, Frank. "'The Love Witch': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  13. ^ Harvey, Dennis (July 21, 2016). "Film Review: 'The Love Witch'". Variety. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  14. ^ Bramesco, Charles (November 3, 2016). "Sex, Satan and Feminism: Inside Retro-Horror Gem 'The Love Witch'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  15. ^ Ehrlich, David (November 8, 2016). "'The Love Witch' Review: Anna Biller's Technicolor Throwback Is a Spellbinding Feminist Delight". IndieWire. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  16. ^ Chang, Justin. "Anna Biller's 'The Love Witch' casts a spell at Cinefamily". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  17. ^ Rechtshaffen, Michael. "Stylish feminism of 'The Love Witch' recalls '70s sexploitation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  18. ^ Myers, Emma (December 1, 2016). "Can 'The Love Witch' Turn Heartbreak into History?". ELLE. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  19. ^ Weinberg, Scott (March 17, 2017). "Genre Past and Present Collide Blissfully in Brilliant THE LOVE WITCH (Review) | Nerdist". Nerdist. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  20. ^ Brody, Richard. "The Best Movies of 2016". The New Yorker. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  21. ^ Romain, Lindsey (August 30, 2018). "Everything We Know About Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' [Part Two]". /Film. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  22. ^ Geier, Thom (August 28, 2018). "Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood': How the Stars Compare to Real-Life Characters (Photos)". TheWrap. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  23. ^ https://sitgesfilmfestival.com/en/film/2023/sugar-rag
  24. ^ https://schedule.sxswsydney.com/speakers/7d85614a-8dd1-57f8-a6ee-cda61c1246b9

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