Samantha Hayes
Maybe hope starts small... but it grows
Played by
Neli Koleva
Neli has been fascinated by the acting world since as long as she can remember. She has taken part in numerous short films screened at festivals and a few theatre plays, changing her characters like a chameleon and falling in love with acting more and more in the process.
Who is Samantha Hayes?
Samantha Hayes walks into a room like she belongs there.
Confident, socially aware, and emotionally intelligent, Samantha understands how perception works — and she uses it carefully. She values independence, refuses to be underestimated, and doesn’t apologise for taking up space.
But confidence doesn’t mean simplicity.
Beneath her composed exterior lies someone navigating expectations, attraction, and the subtle politics of loyalty within Avalon Models. She doesn’t seek drama — but she won’t shy away from it either. When tension rises, Samantha chooses her responses deliberately.
Samantha becomes an important social force within the group. She knows when to charm, when to withdraw, and when to protect herself. Her choices may not always be predictable — but they are always intentional.
Samantha doesn’t chase validation. She sets the terms. And once she decides what she wants, she rarely hesitates.
Character Quotes
"Someone needs to tell them the truth - and I've never been one to bite my tongue."
"I may be new, but I'm not naive."
"I walked in on day one and thought - what have I stepped into?."
Getting to know Neli
1. Why did you want become an actor?
I have always been very curious about the world and people and their actions and reactions simultaneously. And it just clicked one day that the only way to experience everything, even in a small capacity, is acting. The career that opens the doors to all people and professions.
2. Given the chance, which actor would you most like to work with?
I truly believe taht you can learn something from every actor you work with. Thus, there are many actors with whom I would be honoured to work with. A name that comes to mind immediately though is Meryl Streep as someone who has been a chameleon with her roles throughout the years.
3. If you could play any character from a tv series or film who would it be, and why?
I would say as a show that seems, unfortunately, more and more relevant given the current political climate in some countries, I would love to have had the chance to play a character like June Osborne in the Handmaid's Tale. Even though I would rewrite the entirety of the last season as it's in direct opposition to the book and the themes of it...
4. What director, living or dead, would you most like to work with, and why?
Christopher Nolan. I believe that everything this man touches is cinematically beautiful and moving. Even if you don't like the theme of the movie, the way he frames scenes is outstanding.
5. What actor would play you in a movie?
I have been told I look alike many actors who are arguably a lot more beautiful than I. However, the one that people seem to keep comparing me to seems to be Jenna Ortega so i would say her purely based on the coincidence factor.
