Young, beautiful, and blonde, Samaire Armstrong seems to fit the prototype of aspiring actresses everywhere, yet this young starlet on the rise is far from the typical Hollywood breed. Born in Japan and raised in both Hawaii and Arizona, Armstrong knew she wanted to be an actress at the early age of 3. Best known for her role as the stylish Anna Stern on the “The O.C.” (2003 - ), Armstrong has since racked up credits that are quickly cementing her place on Hollywood’s most-wanted list. Armstrong’s first acting experiences took place at Sedona Red Rock High School in Arizona, where she took part in several theatrical productions including, “The Miracle Worker” and “Impromptu.” Armstrong spent a summer at the Parsons School of Design in New York, and later attended the University of Arizona, where she studied costume design and theatre. Anxious to jump-start her career, the aspiring actress took matters into her own hands when she decided to leave college after her freshman year and move to L.A. to test her skills in Hollywood. Her bold move quickly paid off as she landed her first role on the TV drama, “Party of Five” (2000), acting alongside young Hollywood veterans Jennifer Love Hewitt and Neve Campbell. Many recurring guest-spots followed including a stint as Laurie on the short lived, but critically acclaimed NBC drama “Freaks and Geeks” (2000), and the popular late night dramas, “ER” (2001) and “The X-Files” (2001), where Samaire played a pivotal role in an exceptionally eerie episode of the well-known series.
Taking her career to new heights, Armstrong ventured off the small screen and into film when she debuted her comedic talents in the 2001 hit, “Not Another Teen Movie,” which spoofed some of the most memorable moments in teen movie history. Trying hard to stray from being type-cast as the “cute blonde” in usual teenybopper movies, the actress searched for more unique and unconventional roles. She made a splash as a prominent character in the 2003 flick “Darkwolf”--a hip, erotic twist on the traditional werewolf thriller. Craving for more, Armstrong took a major risk to snatch the lead role in the never-before-seen WB pilot, “Trash” (2003), when she chopped her long, blonde locks during her audition to give herself a more edgy image. Not only did her audacity pay off, but it opened more doors for her flourishing career on both the small and big screens. She soon was guest-starring on the overnight sensation, “The O.C.” and cast opposite heart-throb Brad Rowe for the 2004 entertaining, screwball comedy “Would I Lie to You?” based on Oscar Wilde’s classic, “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Armstrong also landed a spot on the HBO original series, “Entourage” (2004 - ), where she plays an assistant to a big-shot agent in Hollywood.
When not working on set, the style-conscious actress dabbles in her second love, fashion, which from she has developed her own clothing line, “Naru,” sold at exclusive stores in Hawaii and L.A. the actress also enjoys honing her craft of judo and sword training, which she began practicing at age 5 while living in Japan.
