She first became popular as Gracia, the round girl in the “Rambulaga” segment of Eat Bulaga!, before she became known by the screen name Samantha Lopez.
She started in 1994 as a dancer before becoming Gracia in Eat Bulaga!, which led to her own teleserye in 1996, Mia Gracia.
But at the height of her popularity, Samantha decided to leave show business in 1998 after finishing Mia Gracia.
Looking back now, Samantha admits it was a wrong move.
She remembers thinking, when she was too busy juggling her time between Mia Gracia and Eat Bulaga!, that all she wanted was to turn her back on all that.
She says with regrets, “Ang inisip ko lang noon, nakakapagod. Na-burnout ako. Bakit ganito, bakit hindi ako makalabas, bakit ganun.
“Mas hinanap ko yung buhay ko na magpakasarap. At that time kasi, bata ako, I was only 24 at that time, 25 maybe.
"Parang naano ako sa pagta-travel, gusto kong nagta-travel ako, na-deprive ako sa outside world happenings.
“Hindi ko naalagaan, hindi ko napahalagahan nang husto, hindi ko na-appreciate na I was so lucky and I was so blessed to, one, have my own teleserye, and, two, to have a regular show.
“Had I known what I know now, ay, ako pa magsasabing, ‘Bring it on! Bring it on! Go!’
“Kailangan ako sa set? Game! May raket ako or lagari ako dun, game, go!
“I was young and stupid, napagod ako. Hindi ko na-appreciate yung what’s in front of me.”
“Come to think of it, that’s one of my regrets—kung bakit umalis ako."
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After leaving showbiz, Samantha got married to Warren Edwards, and settled in the United States. After their divorce was finalized in 2016, Samantha visited the Philippines and did a guest appearance in the short-lived TV5 series Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap?
Nonetheless, she remains "grateful" to the noontime show and the network that made her a household name.
In her guest appearance in PEP Spotlight, the taped show of PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) which aired on April 18, she adds, “Siguro talagang kailangang maitapon ko yung sarili ko sa New York at makapag-asawa. Lesson learned.
“Awa naman ng Diyos, grateful pa rin ako na tinanggap ako ng Eat Bulaga!, nakapag-guest ako sa kanila. Tinanggap pa rin ako ng GMA.”
Samantha would stage a showbiz comeback full-time in 2018 via the Kapuso afternoon series The Stepdaughters and the movie Because I Love You, produced by her manager Arnold Vegafria.
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GMA-7 COMEBACK
She is also thankful to her manager Arnold, “Siya talaga ang nag-push sa akin bumalik.”
Apparently, when Samantha returned to the Philippines in 2018, she was not aiming for a showbiz comeback.
She recalls, “Well, bumalik ako for one reason, noong 2018, because my daughter gave birth."
And while she was here, according to Samantha, Arnold goaded her, "Gumawa ka, mag-teleserye ka."
She relates, “Siya talaga nag-push and then sinama niya ako sa Because I Love You tapos nagsunud-sunod na.
“The Stepdaughters ‘tapos after that, hindi na ako binitawan."
More than two decades later, Samantha feels "blessed" to be welcomed back with open arms.
"I’m really a genuine Kapuso baby, e. Nag-start ako sa 7 even Gracia days pa.
“So grateful talaga ako sa GMA-7. Lahat ng projects na mga ibinigay sa akin, mataas ang rating. Love of My Life, na-Netflix pa kami.”
Love of My Life was Samantha’s show in 2021 with Carla Abellana, Rhian Ramos, Mikael Daez, and Coney Reyes.
Samantha is currently part of the prime-time series First Lady. She is also a cast member of the series Love.Die.Repeat with Jennylyn Mercado and Xian Lim.
Watch Samantha’s full PEP Spotlight interview here: