Samantha Castillo

Samantha Castillo is a Venezuelan actress whose career spans both stage and screen, marked by a remarkable blend of formal training and natural talent. Born on March 12, 1980, in the rural municipality of Miranda near Caracas, she grew up immersed in a community that valued storytelling, an environment that sparked her early fascination with performance. At the age of fifteen she stepped onto her first theatrical boards, launching a journey that would see her mastering a variety of acting techniques taught at the Central University of Venezuela, where she earned a degree in Performing Arts, and later at the International Academy of Film and Television, where she refined her craft for the camera. Over the next decade Castillo built a solid reputation in Venezuela’s vibrant theater scene, appearing in numerous productions that highlighted her versatility and emotional depth, qualities that caught the attention of prominent directors. Her breakthrough arrived with Pelo Malo (2013), directed by Mariana Rondón, a film that won the Golden Shell at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and introduced her to international audiences. The same year she was honored as Best Actress at the Torino Film Festival, a prize bestowed by a jury led by Paolo Virzi, cementing her status as a rising star. Castillo continued to expand her repertoire with roles in Le Badanti (2015) by Marco Pollini, El malquerido (2015) under Diego Rísquez, and El Amparo (2017) directed by Rober Calzadilla, each performance showcasing her ability to inhabit complex characters across diverse cultural contexts. In 2018 the Venezuelan Film Academy recognized her as the best leading actress, a testament to her sustained excellence. Her most recent collaboration with Rondón, Zafari (2024), demonstrates her enduring partnership with visionary filmmakers and her commitment to projects that explore social realities. Throughout her career, Samantha Castillo has remained a dedicated advocate for Venezuelan cinema, using her platform to champion stories that resonate both locally and globally.