Samantha McGrady began her career in the Australian film industry in 1997, entering as an attachment to the Assistant Director department. She was fortunate to learn under highly respected Assistant Directors, including PJ Voeten, during a period when Australia was attracting major international productions such as Star Wars, The Matrix, and Moulin Rouge. This formative time provided Samantha with invaluable on-set experience and laid the foundation for a long-standing career across both local and international productions.

In 2003, Samantha relocated to the United Kingdom, where she continued to build her career as an Assistant Director, working extensively throughout Europe and North Africa. During this time, she collaborated with leading production companies and studios including Ealing Studios and Working Title, worked with legendary producers Dino and Martha De Laurentiis, and contributed to HBO’s globally acclaimed series Game of Thrones.

Upon returning to Australia, Samantha worked on a range of independent features such as Goddess, The Hunter, and A Few Best Men, before joining large-scale, critically acclaimed productions including The Great Gatsby and Mad Max: Fury Road.
In 2015, Samantha was accepted into the Directors Guild of America (DGA), expanding her work into the North American industry. She went on to collaborate on major international projects such as Jason Bourne - which included shutting down the Las Vegas strip, and worked alongside renowned filmmaker David Fincher in L.A on Mank. 

Now based on the Gold Coast, Samantha works as a Production Manager overseeing both independent and large-scale feature films, including How to Make Gravy and Sony’s recent release Anaconda. She is deeply passionate about film production, mentorship, and the development of local talent, and continues to play an active role in strengthening Australia’s screen industry.