Samer Salem is an actor and writer from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Whilst he has amassed a significant body of work, he’s recognized for his role as Josep in the hit sci-fi series ‘ The Expanse’. As we look forward to its sixth and final series, we caught up with Samer to discuss the role and his blossoming career.
Samer, thanks for taking the time to speak to us about your work. How and when did you decide to fully embrace acting as a career?
I’d always loved the arts growing up but never really understood that it could be a viable career path. It wasn’t until my 20’s that I thought I might be able to do it for a living. I was finishing the last semester of my Science/Nursing degree in Sweden as part of an exchange program. I had to decide what I’d do after graduating and confided in my friends that I’d really love to be an actor. It was the first time I’d said it out loud. Thank you liquid courage!
My friends were incredibly supportive and encouraged me to go for it. So, I made the decision to move to Vancouver as soon as I graduated and started taking acting classes.
Who has been the most influential in your career and why?
I don’t know that there’s a single person I can identify. I’ve gotten a lot of great advice from friends and teachers through the years, and I can say that’s helped push me in the right direction. Takes a village, I guess. And anytime I see great acting, that really pushes me to want to be better and push the boundaries of what I’m capable of.
You’ve gathered a significant body of work. To date, what have been your most memorable experiences working in the industry and why?
The most memorable moments thus far, have been
1) The Expanse. The people on that show, both in front of and behind the camera, are amazing top to bottom. But in particular, I feel so lucky that I got to act with the actors who were part of my crew (Cara Gee, Stephen Tracey, Vanessa Smythe, Sandrine Holy, Wilex Ly) We really became like a little family and had so much fun working together. It was magic.
2) My time on Handmaid’s Tale and working with Elisabeth Moss. I’m a massive fan of the show, and Lizzie as well. Was a dream to get to be a part of it.
We can look forward to seeing you in the final season of ‘The Expanse’ next month. Without giving too much away, what should the audience expect?
Season 6 is going to be the best season yet, and I think audiences will agree. Every episode is really intense. The season is only 6 episodes this time around, so each episode is full to the brim. I can’t wait for people to see it.
We can also look forward to seeing you alongside Sarah Hyland, Dylan Sprouse, and Keiynan Lonsdale in a new feature film ‘My Fake Boyfriend ‘. Please tell us more about the plot and your character.
My Fake Boyfriend is about a guy (Keiynan Lonsdale) who takes the advice of his friends (Dylan Sprouse and Sarah Hyland) to use social media to create a fake boyfriend in order to get his crappy ex-lover out of his life. But it all backfires when Keiynan’s character falls in love with someone he meets. He then has to find a way to get rid of the “Fake Boyfriend” after he’s convinced everyone the guy is real. My character is a guy named Rafi. He’s a chef, and restauranteur with a big heart. I can’t really say much else but I think audiences are going to LOVE the film. It’s super fun.
What do you look for when choosing a role?
I definitely get excited about a role if it’s something that I haven’t done before. I like to challenge myself, and I’m always looking to grow. So if a part comes my way and my initial thought is ‘Oh damn, that’s gonna be hard’. I immediately want to do it.
To date, what would you say has been your biggest challenge as an actor?
I think the biggest challenge since I started acting, was learning to trust my own instincts and intuition when it comes to the actual work. I’ve come a long way, but it’s still a work in progress.
As mentioned, we’re accustomed to seeing you in front of the camera. Do you have aspirations to work behind the scenes writing, producing, or directing?
Yes! I’d love to try my hand at directing one day. I feel very lucky to have worked with some phenomenal directors over the past few years, and I’ve definitely been a sponge on set. It’s a job that I have a lot of respect for and would love to learn. I’m also keen on producing projects of my own.
What advice would you give to young actors embarking on their careers?
Study. Get into scene study, voice, movement classes, etc. Keep learning.
Where can our readers find out more about you?
I’m active on Instagram @mr.samersalem and Twitter @SamerSalem8
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