Hotly anticipated new Death in Paradise spinoff series, Return to Paradise, is finally here, starring the BBC franchise’s first-ever female lead, Anna Samson, who is playing Australian ex pat Detective Inspector Mackenzie Clarke. Anna, 34, will join the ranks of fan favourites Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon and Ralf Little, who have all starred as Detective Inspectors in the series. If she looks familiar, that’s because she is: Anna, who is British-Australian, is best known for her role as Mia Anderson in Home And Away.
But, being no stranger to the spotlight also means that the actress has also received some nasty online trolling, particularly during her time on the Australian soap, with Mia asking for online bullies to “find something better to do with their time” than send her hate comments. She added that she had received criticising her appearance and weight from the “dangerous” trolls.
The actress took to Instagram during her time in Summer Bay to take a stand against the cyber bullying with an honest and open letter to fans. In an unflinching post, she wrote, of her and fellow cast member Sam Barrett, who played her on-screen daughter: “What an exciting time for Sam Barrett and myself, as we join the cast of Home and Away, this iconic piece of Australian television. How disappointing that this can be spoilt with the culture of online bullying.”
She continued: “People still feel they have the right to shame, comment on and harass women about their appearance,” adding, “This is not new. It’s part of a culture of cowardice. Cruelly commenting on our weight loss or gain, our faces, our choices, our voices.”
The actress followed up, slamming the cyber bullies’ actions: “I’d suggest to these social media bullies to find something better to do with their time. You are guilty of contribution to a very problematic and dangerous culture.”
She ended the damning statement with: “Our bodies are not your business. Our bodies are not your battleground.:
Anna’s Home and Away co-stars were quick to back her up, too, with Luke Arnold, who played nurse Lewis Hayes on the show, also posting his support publicly. Luke noticed the double standard for the women, writing on Instagram: “I joined the show the same time as these talented women, but I am spared all this sh** because I’m a dude.”
Home & Away star Emily Weir, who plays Mackenzie Booth, also applauded he message, commenting: “Absolutely yes.”
Anna starred on the Australian soap for two years, bowing out in 2022. In her new lead role in Return to Paradise, the second Death in Paradise offshoot, she’ll star as a Detective Inspector for London’s Metropolitan Police - but who has to return to her local Australian hometown, rejoining the local police to solve a murder there.
Meanwhile, Anna's Return to Paradise co-star, Lloyd Griffith has revealed that Anna would actually apologise to him on set for her character's rude comments in the show.
Return To Paradise will air on BBC One at 8pm on Friday 22 November, with the full series available on BBC iPlayer the same day
