Fiona Samuel began as an actor, and filled the downtime with writing. She has gone on to write scripts, direct, co-host arts show The Big Art Trip, and act in everything from Close to Home to Footrot Flats. With 2011 TV movie Bliss, she became the only woman in over two decades to win awards for directing a New Zealand television drama.

Samuel was born in Scotland: her parents were Kiwis travelling on their OE. While growing up in Christchurch, she was encouraged to enter speech and drama competitions by her "very clever and creative mother". As she says in this 2019 Funny As interview, Wellington drama school Toi Whakaari was "my plan A, B and C. I had no other plan." After graduating, she toured New Zealand, playing feisty twin sister to Miranda Harcourt in hit play Oracles and Miracles.

Starting in 1981 with soap Close to Home, Samuel was learning about the demands of acting for the screen — where the camera is king, but the actor must give no hint of knowing it exists. Next came TV play Casualties of Peace, a scene in yokels comedy Carry Me Back, and a role in car chase romp Shaker Run as 'Casey's Girl' — partner to 1970s heartthrob Leif Garrett. She also impressed in Kathy Dudding adoption short Smash Dupe. In 1986 Samuel supplied two voices for hit movie Footrot Flats: hairdresser and "sex bomb" ‘Cheeky' Hobson, and freckle-faced kid Pongo.