Samantha Walkes is a Canadian actress and singer who has become widely known through the Prime Video crime series Cross. Many viewers first searched her name after seeing her as Elle Monteiro, the warm and strong-minded partner of Detective Alex Cross. This guide brings together her background, her training, her main roles and her recent news, using details from interviews, industry reports and public profiles.
Who Is Samantha Walkes?
Samantha Walkes is a Canadian actress who plays Elle Monteiro in the Prime Video series Cross. Her path to that role was not a quick one. It grew out of years in theater, and she moved into television and film later. She was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, and her theater work took her across Canada.
Early Life and Education
In an interview, Walkes described growing up in Hamilton, which is known as Steel Town. Her father worked in the steel industry when the steel companies were struggling, and he preferred to spend his free time singing classic crooner songs and dancing to calypso. Music was part of her home from a very young age. She has said she grew up listening to her father sing, and soon she and her sister were singing at church with him.
She was also serious about school. She rode the city bus for about an hour and a half each morning to attend Westmount high school, where she joined an independent learning program aimed at university, and she took part in both music and drama. Teaching was her first plan for the future. She was accepted to Brock University for a double major in English and Drama, although the arts called her away before she finished.
From the Stage to the Screen
Her stage career gave her the discipline that now shows in her screen work. When the pandemic began in 2020, she was in Brooklyn, working on the Broadway production of The Book of Mormon. Theaters closed for a long time, and that changed the direction of her career. With stages struggling to stay open, she found that her love of storytelling had a new home in television and film.
Her earlier screen credits include a role in Hudson & Rex in 2019 and a small part in Santa’s Castle in 2018. These were early steps, and her larger opportunities came in 2022.
The Kings of Napa: Her First Major TV Role
Walkes has described The Kings of Napa as her first major television credit. She is best known there for her series regular role as Rose King, on a show made for OWN and Warner Bros. The drama is set in the world of a wealthy Black winemaking family, and it gave her the chance to build a character over many episodes rather than in a single scene.
Film and Other Television Credits
Walkes has worked steadily in both film and television. Her better-known credits include the following:
- Orphan: First Kill (2022): She appears in this horror prequel as Dr. Segar.
- Good Sam (2022): She played Nadine in this CBS medical drama.
- The Holiday Swap (2022): She played Heidi.
- Deadly Estate (2023): She played Zakiya.
- The Changeling (2023): She played Christine Valentine.
- The Big Cigar (2024): She played Denise.
This list shows that she moves easily between genres, from horror and thrillers to family-friendly holiday films and serious drama.
Cross: The Role That Made Her a Familiar Face
Cross is based on James Patterson’s Alex Cross novels. The series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on November 14, 2024. Aldis Hodge stars as the detective and forensic psychologist. Walkes plays Elle Monteiro, Alex’s love interest, who is the executive director of a nonprofit organization.
Walkes has said she does not want Elle to be seen as only a love interest. In an interview with Screen Rant she explained that the phrase makes her careful, and that she wants the character to be seen as a full person. She also said she went back and read Patterson’s first few books after she was cast.
The show deals with grief and mental health, and she has spoken about this often. She told The Mary Sue that the production offered free on-set counseling to cast and crew because the themes in season one were so heavy. She said the on-set psychologist, Dr. Renee Carr, worked with her on her own life alongside her character’s. She has also said that the story helps open conversations about men’s mental health in her community.
Her working relationship with her co-star is part of what fans enjoy. She has said that they both love their work as storytellers, and that this helps them give each other a professional safe space.
Cross Seasons 2 and 3
The show has grown quickly since its launch. Numéro Netherlands reports that it debuted as the platform’s number one show worldwide, and that the second season returned on February 11. Later, Prime Video renewed the series for a third season of eight episodes, shortly after the season two finale.
Walkes is listed among the returning season two cast, and current reports expect her to continue as Elle. As for timing, Amazon’s own season three guide says a release date has not been announced yet. It is best to check Prime Video directly for the latest schedule.
Her Voice as an Artist and Advocate
Walkes often speaks about representation in the entertainment industry. In her conversation with Numéro, she said that choosing inclusive casting both in front of and behind the camera helps reshape the story the world tells and reminds people of its full variety. She has also described herself as an artist and an activist. In her Mary Sue interview, she encouraged Canadian theater performers to aim higher and not be afraid to cross borders for their goals.
Personal Life
She keeps most of her private life out of the spotlight. On her IMDb biography, which she wrote herself, she lists her spouse as Mets Kramer, with a marriage date of October 16, 2016. Beyond that, she mainly shares her work, her travels and her faith-inspired reflections. Her public social media bio describes her as a curious wanderer who is passionate about change.
Where to Follow Samantha Walkes
She is active on Instagram, X and Threads under the name samanthawalkes. Her Threads profile describes her as a storyteller and links to a TEDx talk. Her own website, samanthawalkes.com, is also listed on her profiles. These are the best places to find updates that come directly from her.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Samantha Walkes play in Cross?
She plays Elle Monteiro, the partner of Detective Alex Cross, who leads a nonprofit organization.
Where is Samantha Walkes from?
She is from Hamilton, Ontario, in Canada.
What was her first major TV role?
She has described Rose King in The Kings of Napa as her first major television credit.
Is Cross coming back for another season?
Yes. Season three has been ordered, but a release date had not been announced in the latest official guide I found.
Has she worked on Broadway?
Her own IMDb biography says she was working on The Book of Mormon in Brooklyn when the pandemic began in 2020.
Final Thoughts
Samantha Walkes has moved from a steelworker’s home in Hamilton, through university and stage training, to one of the most watched thrillers on streaming. Her careful, thoughtful approach to Elle Monteiro has given the character more depth than the usual “love interest” role, and her public comments on mental health and representation add weight to her work. With Cross continuing, her name is likely to keep appearing in searches.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is based on publicly available interviews, industry news and public profiles that were available when it was written. Some details, such as release dates, cast lists and career credits, can change, and different websites sometimes report them differently. For that reason, I left out her exact birth date and age, because the sources I found disagreed. Please check official sources such as Prime Video or her verified social accounts before relying on any detail. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by Samantha Walkes or anyone connected to her.
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