Samantha Cutaran

Biography

Raised in central California by a family full of nurses and engineers, Samantha became the first in her pamilya (Tagalog for family) to focus her career in the arts. Her love for the stage sprouted at a young age when she started taking ballet and tap classes. From there, she transitioned into acting and began doing plays at school and local theaters. Her passion led her to New York where she studied at NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts and spent a semester in London studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.   After graduating with a B.F.A. in theatre, Samantha made the move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television. 

Samantha’s ability to bring strength, humor, and vulnerability to characters garnered her roles on some of America’s favorite TV shows including Criminal Minds, Home Economics, S.W.A.T., The Neighborhood, Not Dead Yet, Bosch: Legacy, Murderville, Call Me Kat, Agents of SHIELD, NCIS:LA, Scandal, Jane the Virgin and House, in which her portrayal of Lida demonstrates the genuine sincerity and emotional availability that is prevalent in all of her work. 

With her roots grounded in theatre, Samantha continues to do stage productions when she’s not in front of the camera.  Samantha “revels in her seductiveness and born-in-the-USA street-smarts” (Gil Kaan of BWW LA) in the world premiere of Criers For Hire at the nation’s premier Asian American Theatre East West Players and was a part of a national touring show with Will & Company dealing with racism and social injustice in America. Samantha has also co-produced and played one of the leads in Patrick Marber’s play Closer at the LOFT Ensemble. As Alice, “Samantha Cutaran is appropriately spunky and seductive” (Katherine Davis of Backstage) and according to Paul Birchall from LA Weekly, “…powerful acting turns are offered by Cutaran’s nicely sultry Alice, who twins predatory sexuality with damaged vulnerability.”

When she’s not on screen or on stage, Samantha can be found on a yoga retreat in Bali, zip-lining in Costa Rica, sipping wine in Solvang, hunting for the best almond croissant, or checking off another destination on her bucket list.