Samara Weaving Talks About Her SXSW 2026 Double Feature, Embracing Her ‘Scream Queen’ Role, and Her Love for Improv: “I Was a Scaredy-Cat as a Kid”
During a recent virtual interview, Australian actress Samara Weaving shared insights about her expanding film career and her upcoming role as a first-time mother. Speaking from Los Angeles on an unusually rainy day, Weaving discussed her participation in two highly anticipated projects—Ready or Not 2: Here I Come and Over Your Dead Body, both set to premiere at the Austin, Texas film festival.
Reflecting on her journey in the horror genre, Weaving admitted, “I was a scaredy-cat growing up; I did not like horror movies." She credited her breakthrough role in The Babysitter for igniting her passion for the genre. “I had to be taken out of 101 Dalmatians, which isn’t even a scary movie, but that’s the level of fear I had as a kid,” she added, showcasing her transformation from a horror novice to a "diehard fan."
In Ready or Not 2, Weaving reprises her role as Grace, a recently widowed bride, in a sequel that builds on the original film’s success from 2019. The sequel, which introduces new challenges including satanic elements, features a star-studded cast that includes Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood, and David Cronenberg. "When we made the first one, there was no talk of a sequel," Weaving recalled. The unexpected popularity of the original caught the cast off guard, prompting discussions about a follow-up. “But then, if we do a second one, that’s quite scary, because we want to top the first one,” she noted.
Weaving also stars in Over Your Dead Body, debuting Saturday at the Paramount Theatre. This film adds a layer of marital drama amidst its gore, allowing Weaving to flex her comedic chops alongside co-star Jason Segel. She shared her experience taking improv classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade to better adapt to the dynamic between her character and Segel’s. “When you’re in the presence of Jason Segel, and he’s on, and he’s doing his thing, it’s magic,” she remarked.
Since her breakout role in The Babysitter (2017), Weaving has embraced her identity as a "Scream Queen." She met her partner, writer Jimmy Warden, during that film, and they are now expecting their first child. Discussing her future projects, Weaving commented, "I’m reading scripts and flirting with some projects," but is taking a step back for now as she prepares for motherhood.
“I would love to,” she responded when asked about a potential cameo in a sequel to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, her uncle Hugo Weaving’s cult classic. "I wonder if there’s a 30-something-year-old role, post-baby," she joked.
As Weaving gears up for the release of her two films, she expressed her excitement about their upcoming premieres. “I really hope people go and see them," she concluded, indicating her commitment to both her career and her new role as a mother.
