Canadian multi-hyphenate Samora Smallwood is stepping behind the camera for the first time with Coming Home, a heartfelt rom-com that doubles as her series directorial debut.
Known for her award-winning performances in projects like Death She Wrote and her recurring role in Hallmark’s The Way Home, Smallwood is now expanding her creative voice with a project she not only stars in but also created, wrote, and directs.
Coming Home tells the story of a Hollywood influencer whose glittering life unravels after betrayal, forcing her to return to her small-town roots, and, more importantly, to herself.
About the Series – Coming Home
Coming Home is a rom-com with heart, humour, and a deeply personal touch. The series marked a milestone for Samora Smallwood, who not only starred but also made her directorial debut and launched it through her own production company, Hold One Entertainment.
The 4 x 20-minute show received a greenlight from Bell Fibe TV1, and filming took place last fall in Grimsby, Ontario, and the Greater Toronto Area, with production support from Kalkaden Productions and RavinMurph Pictures.
The series follows Sammy, a Hollywood influencer whose life unravels after discovering her husband’s betrayal, forcing her to return to her small hometown and confront the person she’s become.
Smallwood describes the show as “an adult coming-of-age story that explores the humorous and poignant realities of returning to one’s roots while striving to build a future in the art.” She adds, “Coming Home is about the journey to reconnect with our authentic voice, reclaim our self-worth, and get back up when life knocks us down… designed to uplift and inspire.”
The cast includes some of Canada’s finest talent, such as Tommy James Murphy (Last Resort), Robert Ifedi (Madam CJ Walker, What We Do in the Shadows), Karen LeBlanc (Ginny & Georgia, Lovecraft Country), Kevin Hanchard (Hudson & Rex, Orphan Black), and Paula Brancati (Slasher, Degrassi: The Next Generation).
Smallwood’s goal is to centre strong, vulnerable women in the story, blending humour and heartfelt moments, reflecting the authenticity she admires in her favourite romantic comedies.
Through Coming Home, Hold One Entertainment is setting the tone for its slate of projects focused on redemption, empowerment, and human connection, including a development deal with Amos Adetuyi’s Circle Blue Entertainment, known for CBC’s Diggstown and feature films like The Boathouse and Orah.
For Smallwood, this series isn’t just a story; it’s a declaration of the kind of cinema she wants to create: authentic, relatable, and inspiring.
Samora as Creator and Director
Coming Home is a full-circle moment for an artist who has long believed that her work is about more than inhabiting characters; it’s about bringing her authentic self to the screen.
As both storyteller and lead, she’s crafted Sammy as a character who feels deeply personal. “Right now, the character resonating most deeply is Sammy – from Coming Home, the first series I created that got a greenlight,” Smallwood explained. She wanted Sammy to reflect the complexity of real women: confident yet insecure, ambitious yet scared, funny yet vulnerable.
Directing her own series also gave Smallwood the chance to shape the vision from every angle. She calls the project “a love letter to my inner child and to the inner child in all of us,” infusing it with themes of rediscovery, resilience, and authenticity.
In stepping into the director’s chair, Smallwood isn’t just telling Sammy’s story; she’s also carving out her own space as a filmmaker determined to lead with honesty and heart.
Themes and Message of the Series
While Coming Home is wrapped in the warmth of a rom-com, its heartbeat lies in something deeper: identity, self-worth, and the courage to embrace one’s true self. Smallwood explains that the series is about “coming home to who you really are, and being brave enough to admit maybe you don’t even know.”
By making Sammy a social media influencer, Smallwood explores the modern tension between public image and private truth. When Sammy’s curated life collapses, she’s forced to confront who she is without the status, the followers, or the applause. “It’s really powerful to be able to love yourself when you’re not winning,” Smallwood says — and that power sits at the centre of Sammy’s journey.
The show also challenges the cycle of seeking validation, whether through relationships, success, or the approval of strangers online. It asks the question: who are we when the mask slips? Through humour, heartbreak, and hope, Coming Home encourages audiences to see that self-love doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from authenticity.
Samora’s Broader Career in Film & Television
Before stepping behind the camera for Coming Home, Samora Smallwood had already built a career that showcased her versatility across Canadian and international screens. Audiences may recognize her from series such as Designated Survivor, The Expanse, Star Trek: Discovery, and Murdoch Mysteries. She’s also made her mark in Hallmark Channel’s Good Witch and Oprah Winfrey Network’s The Kings of Napa.
Her most widely embraced role to date is Monica Hill in Hallmark’s The Way Home, a series Smallwood holds close to her heart. Fans have connected deeply with her performance, with one memorable encounter standing out: a young Black woman approached Smallwood in public to say how much Monica meant to her. “She saw herself in the show and in my character and she took the time to tell me that. I carry that moment with me. That’s the power of storytelling,” Smallwood shared.
In 2022, Smallwood’s talent was formally recognized when she won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Actress for her gripping performance in Death She Wrote. More recently, she has appeared in Apple TV+’s The Big Cigar and Bell Fibe TV’s Disrepair, proving her ability to move between genres and platforms.
This rich and varied background not only informs her performance as Sammy but also fuels her vision as a storyteller, one determined to broaden the scope of Canadian television with voices and narratives that feel both authentic and overdue.
Her Artistic Philosophy and Mission
For Samora Smallwood, acting and directing are never just about playing a role or calling “cut.” Her philosophy is rooted in authenticity, a commitment to telling stories that break stereotypes and amplify voices too often left unheard.
“My mission as an actress, writer, director, producer is to tell diverse stories in ways we haven’t seen, to provide a fresh take on something thought-provoking, to start conversations, and stir up feelings about life, women, representation, love, belonging, family, healing, and power,” she explains.
Part of that mission comes from how she approaches her craft. Smallwood builds each character from the inside out, beginning with voice, cadence, and backstory, then letting all of it go once the cameras roll. For her, the magic happens in freedom and presence, when performance feels alive, playful, and unpredictable.
As a director, she brings the same sensitivity to casting. She looks not only for talent, but for “that special something” that makes a performer unforgettable. It’s a perspective shaped by years of auditioning herself, and one that she hopes empowers actors to bring their full selves into the room.
If there’s a single word that defines Smallwood’s cinematic journey, it’s homecoming. As she puts it, “this work isn’t about becoming someone else – it’s about returning to who you’ve been all along and doing the thing you were born to do.”
Challenges and Lessons in the Industry
Like many artists, Samora Smallwood has navigated both the exhilaration and the hardships of life in the entertainment world. She admits that the greatest joy lies in the work itself — from researching and embodying characters to the “pure magic” of connecting with scene partners on set.
“There’s nothing like the moment when you and your scene partner lock in, your sense of self dissolves, and something real happens,” she reflects. Those moments of collaboration and creative trust are what keep her coming back.
But the industry also demands resilience. For Smallwood, the hardest part has been the rejection — learning how to hear “no” without losing her sense of self. She describes it as a balancing act: developing “thick skin to protect your mental health” while still keeping the “thin skin” that allows you to feel deeply and remain open as an artist.
That balance has become one of her greatest lessons. It’s not just about protecting her own creative spirit, but also about modelling perseverance for others.
Her advice to aspiring actors is clear: love the craft enough to do it when no one’s watching, commit to discipline, and remember that acting is also a business. “Build relationships. Know what’s being made, who’s making it, and study. That kind of preparation earns respect and opens doors.”
These challenges and lessons have shaped Smallwood not only into a stronger performer but into the kind of director who understands what it means to take risks, and to create space for others to do the same.
Looking Ahead – What’s Next for Samora Smallwood
With Coming Home marking such a defining chapter in her career, Samora Smallwood isn’t slowing down anytime soon. She’s already proven her range, from writing and producing to delivering commanding performances on screen, and the momentum behind her work continues to grow.
She’s committed to telling stories that reflect the world we live in, with all its beauty and its challenges. That commitment points to a future filled with projects that not only entertain but also inspire.
Whether it’s through her work as an actor, her efforts behind the camera, or her advocacy for more diverse representation in film and television, Smallwood is clearly charting a path that goes far beyond a single series.
For fans, that means there’s plenty to look forward to. And for the Canadian entertainment industry, it means one of its brightest talents is just getting started.
(Quotes featured in this post are from drivemusicmedia.co.uk and deadline.com)