Samantha Gangal is a true multi-hyphenate. After moving from North Carolina to Los Angeles at age ten, she has built an impressive resume with roles in NCIS: Los Angeles and the series Middlehood. Yet, her creative expression extends far beyond the screen. A gifted recording artist, Samantha is currently leaning into her 80s rock roots, evolving from the acoustic sounds of her debut to a heavier, more intentional musical identity.
Fresh off her graduation from UCLA, Samantha is re-entering the industry with a sharpened focus and a degree in Political Science. Whether she is co-writing award-winning short films or using her platform to advocate for animal welfare, her commitment to authentic storytelling remains the constant thread in her journey. In this interview, Samantha shares insights on her professional growth, the power of digital connection, and why 2026 marks her most exciting chapter yet.
HEY SAMANTHA WELCOME TO ABOUT INSIDER, AND IT’S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU WITH US. COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS AND TAKE US THROUGH YOUR JOURNEY SO FAR?
I’m Samantha Gangal — an actress and musician originally from Charlotte, North Carolina. My journey really started when I was eight years old, doing a summer camp play at the place where I took piano lessons. Something just clicked for me in that moment, and I fell in love with performing. From there, things moved pretty fast. When I was 9, I participated in a talent expo in Orlando where I met and signed with my first agent and manager. They were honest with me and said, ‘We can’t do much for you unless you’re in LA,’ so my family made the move when I was 10, and we never looked back. Since then, I’ve appeared in national commercials, TV shows like Blood Relatives and NCIS: Los Angeles, and most recently, the series Middlehood, which is streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, YouTube TV, and Roku. It’s been quite a ride, and I feel like I’m just getting started.
YOU’VE SUCCESSFULLY BALANCED BOTH ACTING AND MUSIC. HOW DID YOUR PASSION FOR THESE TWO CREATIVE PATHS DEVELOP?
Both passions really grew alongside each other… they’ve never felt separate to me. I’ve always had a deep love for 80s rock music. At the talent expo in Orlando, I actually sang a cover of Journey’s ‘Who’s Crying Now,’ which was part of what caught the attention of my first agent and manager. So in a way, music is what opened the door! I see both acting and music as different forms of storytelling, and that’s what draws me to each of them. Acting lets me step into someone else’s story, but music gives me my own creative outlet… a space that’s entirely mine to express what I’m feeling and experiencing. I feel really lucky to have both.
FROM FRESH OFF THE BOAT TO NCIS: LOS ANGELES, YOU’VE WORKED ON WELL-KNOWN PRODUCTIONS – WHAT HAVE THESE EXPERIENCES TAUGHT YOU AS A PERFORMER?
Every set has taught me something different, and I’m grateful for each experience. I did appear on Fresh Off the Boat, though in a background role — but even that was a valuable lesson in how a professional set operates. My larger roles have really been where I’ve grown the most as a performer. NCIS: Los Angeles was especially exciting because I got to try my hand at light stunt work for the first time. I’d never done anything like that before, and seeing how fight scenes are carefully coordinated behind the scenes was such a fascinating learning experience. Most recently, Middlehood gave me something different… the chance to work within a wonderful ensemble cast, which teaches you so much about listening, timing, and chemistry with other actors. Each project adds a new layer to who I am as a performer.
YOUR FILM WORK, ESPECIALLY MAKE A WISH, MOM, HAS EARNED RECOGNITION… WHAT DREW YOU TO THAT ROLE, AND WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY?
Make a Wish, Mom is a short film I co-wrote and starred in with one of my closest friends when I was just 13 years old. It was a really special project for so many reasons. I played the lead role, and the script was emotionally heavy. It required me to go to a darker place mentally than any role I’d taken on before. That was a real challenge, but also a huge growth moment for me as a performer. What made it even more nerve-wracking was that for the first time, it wasn’t just my acting being put out into the world, it was my creativity too. I had a hand in writing the story, so there was a vulnerability to releasing it that felt completely different from anything I’d experienced before. It taught me a lot about courage, both as an actress and as a storyteller.
AS A RECORDING ARTIST WITH SINGLES LIKE “MY OWN PRISON” AND “RUIN ME,” HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSICAL IDENTITY AND EVOLUTION?
My musical identity has definitely evolved since my first release, and I think that’s a natural and exciting part of the journey. ‘My Own Prison’ was my debut single. It’s a slower, more acoustic ballad, which is a bit different from where I am now stylistically. It was a great starting point, but as I kept creating, I found myself gravitating toward a heavier, more rock-driven sound. ‘Ruin Me’ really reflects that shift. It has a much bigger, bolder feel, and it’s closer to who I am as an artist today. Right now I’m in the studio recording my next few singles, and they lean even more heavily into that 70s and 80s rock world that I’ve always loved. That era of music has been in my blood since I was a kid, so in a way, I feel like I’m finally coming home to the sound that’s truly mine.
WITH A STRONG SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, HOW DO YOU BALANCE BEING AN ARTIST AND A DIGITAL INFLUENCER IN TODAY’S ENTERTAINMENT LANDSCAPE?
I’m active on Instagram, but also TikTok and Facebook. I’ve also recently become more active on Snapchat. My content really centers around what I do… acting, music, and even some modeling. I was resistant to the whole content creator idea at first. It just didn’t feel like something I was naturally drawn to. What changed my mind was realizing how powerful it is as a tool to market and promote yourself as an artist in today’s landscape. You really can’t ignore it. Beyond the promotional side though, it’s also opened doors to connecting with other actors and musicians in a way I didn’t expect, and those connections have been really valuable. Social media has genuinely helped me stay focused on my goals and keep pushing forward as an artist.
YOU’VE RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM UCLA. HOW HAS YOUR ACADEMIC JOURNEY INFLUENCED YOUR CREATIVE CAREER?
I absolutely loved my time at UCLA. I graduated with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Film, which was an interesting combination. Beyond the coursework though, college taught me so much more than what was in any textbook. I grew enormously as a person. I became more focused, more independent, and most importantly, more comfortable expressing myself freely. That last part had a really significant impact on me as an artist, because so much of what I do requires vulnerability and authenticity. Balancing school with my career was not easy. I had to take a bit of a hiatus from music and acting while I focused on getting my degree. It was a tough and necessary sacrifice, but now that I have that diploma in hand, I feel more driven than ever. I’m finally able to pour everything into what I’m truly passionate about… acting and music.
YOUR ADVOCACY FOR ANIMAL WELFARE IS INSPIRING, WHAT SPARKED THIS PASSION, AND HOW DO YOU INTEGRATE IT INTO YOUR WORK AND PLATFORM?
Animals have always had a special place in my heart. It’s just something that’s been part of me for as long as I can remember. So many of my closest friends have pets that I’ve bonded with over the years, and those connections really deepened my appreciation for how much animals enrich our lives. From there, it felt natural to want to give back. I’ve attended, as well as performed, at numerous charity events benefiting animal shelters. It’s always such a rewarding experience. I think when you have a platform, even a growing one, you have a responsibility to use it for things that matter to you. Animal welfare is absolutely one of those things for me. I hope to do even more in that space as my platform continues to grow.
LOOKING AHEAD, WITH NEW MUSIC ON THE HORIZON, WHAT CAN YOUR AUDIENCE EXPECT FROM YOU IN 2026 AND BEYOND?
2026 is shaping up to be a really exciting year for me. I have new singles dropping later this summer, and I genuinely cannot wait for the world to hear them. What makes these releases even more meaningful is that many of these songs were written before my time at college, so in a way, this has been a long time coming. It feels like I’m finally getting to share a part of myself that I’ve been holding onto for a while. Beyond the singles, my goal is to keep releasing more music and eventually get back to performing live. It’s a really exciting new chapter, and I feel like everything is finally coming together. If you want to stay up to date on everything that’s coming next, give me a follow on my socials.
You can connect with Samantha Gangal through Spotify, TikTok, and Instagram @samanthakgangal
