MGM+’s From is lauded as one of the best horror shows out there. Now, it’s back for a third season, and the narrative stakes are higher than ever, especially for newcomer Acosta (Samantha Brown). Acosta is a tough, observant and brave police officer who serves a vital role in Season 3.
Recently, I had the privilege of chatting with Samantha Brown about joining the show, what lies in store for the back half of the season and more.
RELATED: 6 Terrifying Books From Fans Need to Read
This interview is condensed for length and clarity.
Samantha Brown’s Origin Story
Melody McCune: We at GGA love a good origin story. So, what’s your origin story? How did you get into acting?
Samantha Brown: I’ve wanted to be an actor since I was five, but no one in my family was in the arts; it seemed illogical and unrealistic. So, I took the traditional path. I went to university for finance. I got a corporate job. After a couple years at that corporate job, I looked around, and everyone loved working there. They had a pep in their step. They loved the company, and I hated it.
One day, I heard a quote on the radio: “Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about.” It just hit me like a ton of bricks. And I said, “I got to go all in on my dreams, no Plan B and just jump into the dark.” It takes years to get going, but I’m finally starting to enjoy the fruits of my labor.
From Season 3
MM: Let’s talk about From Season 3. Can you tell me how you got involved with the project and whether you were familiar with the series beforehand?
SB: I have a list of shows I’m going to watch next on my phone. A lot of people in my family kept recommending From. I knew it was shot in Canada, so I moved it to the top of my list to be the next show I was going to watch.
RELATED: From Drops Terrifying Season 3 Trailer, Casting News and Premiere Date
Ironically, when I did that, this audition came through. It was in December of last year, right before the holidays. I saw a female police officer recurring character, and I was like, “I’m never going to get this. This is going to be so hard to get” because it’s always the ones you really want that you don’t end up getting.
So, I auditioned for it. Usually, you only have a couple of days, but since it was over the holidays, they said, “You can submit your tape at the beginning of the new year.” In January, I got a call that Jack Bender wanted to meet with me. We had a Zoom, and in between my first audition and my callback, that’s when I binged the series.
I said to myself, “I’m going to watch one episode just to get the tone of the show.” The second I finished that episode, I thought, “Oh, this was such a mistake because I am now hooked and obsessed.”
RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: From‘s Kristi Miller
About Acosta
MM: How does your character Acosta fit into the story?
SB: Acosta is a rookie police officer. In episode three, you see she was in an ambulance with Tabitha, and in episode four, you see how Acosta enters the world of From.
Over the course of Acosta’s journey on the show, you’re going to see the tools and resources she’s used to having in the real world in order to do her job. She is stripped of those things when she’s in From. So, the challenge for her will be trying to do her job without access to those resources and tools. We know what her badge means in the real world, but what does her badge mean in From? How does she fit in here will be the question?
MM: What can viewers expect in the back half of this season?
SB: The monsters are becoming more strategic. Escape will become a very real possibility. But at what cost? Just prepare for the absolute worst and prepare to feel distraught. I would say that the audience will appreciate that MGM is only releasing one episode a week because you will need an entire week to recover from every episode you experience.
RELATED: GGA Chats With Hysteria! Cast About Metal, Mayhem and More
MM: Describe Season 3 using three words.
SB: Relentless. Heartbreaking. Revelation.
Favorite Scene
MM: Without going too much into spoiler territory, do you have a favorite scene or highlight from working on this season?
SB: Episode four was my favorite. It’s a really big action scene that Acosta goes through. When you see Acosta pull her gun and she’s beside the ambulance in episode four — that was my very first day working on set.
It was my first time meeting everyone. It was a night shoot; it’s midnight; it’s dark; it’s a Halifax winter, and the stakes were so high for that scene to get it right. I was nervous, and I felt like a fish out of water. But once we got that scene locked, I felt like, “Okay, I’m here. I deserve to be here. I can do this.” So, that scene means a lot to me.
MM: What else is on the horizon for you, career-wise?
SB: So, right now, I’m riding the wave of From. I have some things in the works that aren’t locked in yet. But that’s the beauty of being an actor — your life and career can change with every waking day, so you just never know. This is my first time being on a show where I’m really getting to interact with the audience and the fans because there’s such a high level of engagement with this show.
RELATED: What’s New on TV This Week (Oct 20 – Oct 26)
The experience of making it was one thing, but now, for the first time, I’m getting to experience the release of this big of a show. I’ve really enjoyed the process of giving the show to the public and seeing their reaction.
What Are You Watching
MM: Have you watched anything interesting lately?
SB: I have been watching Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The acting is incredible. There’s one scene, I think it’s in episode seven, where it’s a 30-minute take on one actor the entire time. It’s incredible. After filming From, which was a very dark season, I wanted to bring lightness into my home. So, I’ve been watching Only Murders in the Building.
MM: That show is so cute. Okay, last question. Name your top five favorite movies.
SB: Remember the Titans. Goodfellas. The Departed. Catch Me If You Can. Shawshank Redemption.
MM: Those are all great. Alright, thank you so much for chatting with me, Samantha!
SB: Thank you, Melody!
From drops new episodes every Sunday on MGM+. You can follow Samantha on Instagram (@samantha.brown.__).
5 Horror Movies with Queer Representation
[email protected]
What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
- Samantha Brown on FROM Season 3 and Playing Acosta - October 25, 2024
- Sony Sets Release Date and Director for SPIDER-MAN 4 - October 25, 2024
- TEACUP Recap: (S01E06) You Don’t Know What It Means to Win - October 24, 2024
