Skyler Samuels’ Amazing Transformation

Hollywood has not always been kind to its child stars. Celebrated and feted for their cuteness and precociousness, these youngsters can experience all the perks of fame at an early age — only to have the rug yanked out from under them when they grow too old for the roles in which they once excelled.

Yet, numerous former child stars have managed to navigate the often treacherous transition to a successful acting career as adults, and such has been the case with Skyler Samuels. Just a kid when she garnered her first screen credit portraying a spoiled child star in an episode of Nickelodeon comedy “Drake & Josh,” she went on to become a staple on the Disney Channel. After appearing in several series, including the Selena Gomez sitcom “Wizards of Waverly Place,” at age 17 she went on to star in her own TV series, from which she was able to successfully catapult from teen roles to more adult fare.

These days, she’s enjoying a particularly fruitful stage of her career, having taken on a popular franchise with the Hallmark Channel, seasonal purveyor of delightfully sappy holiday movies, while boasting an array of screen credits that are as impressive as they are eclectic.

Born in 1994, Skyler Samuels is the middle child of five siblings, and she comes from a somewhat unusual background. “My dad, Scott, is a U.S. Marshal,” she explained in an interview with the New York Post. “My mom, Kathy, is a producer for unscripted shows like ‘Access Hollywood.'”

In fact, it was her mom’s association with that show that led to Samuels receiving her big break when she was just 8 years old. When her mother was seeking someone to cover a press junket for the second “Harry Potter” movie, she came up with the novel idea of enlisting her daughter as a “junior correspondent,” sending her to interview actors. In 2019, Samuels shared a brief snippet from that 2002 segment on Instagram.

Samuels’ on-camera experience on “Access Hollywood” opened the door to Hollywood, and fed her childhood acting aspirations. After booking her first acting gig on “Drake & Josh,” she was cast in more roles, including a guest spot on Disney Channel series “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.” That led to another guest-starring role on a Disney show, “That’s So Raven,” and then a three-episode stint on “Wizards of Waverly Place” as snooty mean girl Gigi Hollingsworth.

Samuels kept on acting, clearly impressing the powers that be at Disney. That was evident when she was cast in the leading role in a short-lived sci-fi series for the Disney-owned ABC Family channel, “The Nine Lives of Chloe King.” Samuels played a seemingly average teenage girl who discovers she’s of the race of Mai, who have all the heightened feline abilities of cats.

Having just come off her first starring TV role, Samuels’ acting career was red hot by 2012. Rather than capitalize on that, however, she decided to fulfill a long-held dream by attending Stanford University.

As she explained during an appearance on the “Wizards of Waverly Pod” podcast, it was being directed by former “Wonder Years” star Fred Savage that set her on the path to Stanford. Learning that he’d hit the pause button on his acting to attend Stanford inspired her decision. “If I hadn’t done ‘Wizards’ … I don’t know, I don’t think I even would have thought of Stanford,” she added.

When she finally got there, the experience lived up to her high expectations. She relished taking classes in different disciplines and had a great time immersing herself in academia.

While attending Stanford, Samuels also managed to squeeze in a few acting jobs. Season 4 of “American Horror Story” featured her in a role playing a young woman abducted by a homicidal clown. Producer Ryan Murphy was impressed and offered her a series regular role in his next project, “Scream Queens.” Samuels decided to take a semester off to film “Scream Queens,” which she described as an incredibly wild experience that did a lot for her career.

Despite taking the semester off, Samuels remained serious about her studies, determined to get her degree. She still viewed herself as a student first, then an actor, and made it clear that her academic goals remained a priority.

In 2015, Samuels appeared in a feature film, the teen comedy “The DUFF.” She starred alongside Robbie Amell, Mae Whitman, and Bella Thorne. The film’s premise, where Whitman’s character is the “Designated Ugly Fat Friend” of the popular mean girls in high school, resonated with Samuels. She appreciated “The DUFF” for its relatability and humor.

Made on an $8.5 million budget, the film was considered a success, grossing $43.7 million worldwide and solidifying Samuels’ place in the realm of teen comedies.

Samuels finally graduated from Stanford in 2020, after re-enrolling to complete her missing units, partly delayed by her role in “The Gifted.” The series, set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featured Samuels playing three telepathically connected mutant triplets.

The challenge of portraying all three siblings in a single scene was unique, requiring her to remember which sister was speaking and reacting at any given moment. Being part of an “X-Men” project also thrilled her, as her brothers were big Marvel fans, marking the first job they’d found genuinely cool.

In 2022, Samuels starred in “The Gabby Petito Story” for Lifetime, portraying the titular travel blogger who was tragically murdered. The weight of playing such a high-profile and recent victim wasn’t lost on Samuels. She accepted the role to give Gabby a voice, aiming to do justice to her story beyond the headlines.

Despite her good intentions, the film faced criticism for potentially profiting off recent tragic events. However, Samuels stood by her intentions to honor Gabby’s memory.

Skyler Samuels joined Jason Statham in the 2022 sequel “The Meg 2,” fighting giant prehistoric sharks. Samuels discussed the film’s appeal – it was more than just about the sharks, with other enormous sea creatures also featured.

Yet, her character met a grisly end, being eaten by a Meg. This death scene was even featured in the film’s trailer, leaving fans aghast. Despite her character’s fate, the experience was a notable addition to her varied career.

Samuels typically keeps her personal life private, but eventually it emerged she was dating actor Lucas Till. She mentioned meeting him while working on “The Gifted” in Atlanta, which completely altered her life. Their romance became public when she revealed they tied the knot in 2024.

According to Samuels, their initial interactions were shy, but once they reconnected in 2021, the sparks truly began to fly, culminating in their marriage.

When Candace Cameron Bure exited Hallmark Channel, Samuels took over portraying a younger version of Aurora Teagarden in the prequel series “Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New.” However, she intended to offer a fresh take on the character, rather than mimic Bure’s performance.

Speaking with People, Samuels explained her vision was to create something familiar yet exciting to both old fans and new viewers, admitting that stepping into an iconic role was a challenge she eagerly took on.

In April 2024, Samuels announced her partnership with Charles & Colvard as their brand ambassador, promoting sustainable lab-grown jewelry. Additionally, she introduced her newborn daughter, delighting in her new role as a parent.

She acknowledged the challenges of motherhood, describing it as joyous, messy, and often comical, while emphasizing the importance of a support system.

Skyler Samuels continued her streak with Hallmark Channel in the standalone romance film “My Dreams of You,” where she played a woman dreaming of a stranger she eventually meets in real life.

Samuels expressed hopes that fans would be inspired by the film’s theme, and expressed a desire to expand her career into writing and directing, indicating her aspirations to shape stories from behind the camera.