Anna's dramatic Return 'THE OBSESSION THAT DRIVES ME'

The former Home And Away star open up about family and her unhealthy habits

- Lucy Croke

There's something quietly magnetic about Return To Paradise actress Anna Samson. It's not just her serene presence or her ability to command a scene - it's the travelling spirit that's been with her since childhood.

“I grew up in West Africa,” reveals the former Home And Away star, 35, who was born in England but raised in Nigeria, before relocating to Australia. “I travelled lots with my parents in my childhood, so living out of a suitcase and being in new locations is something I'm very comfortable with.”

That nomadic upbringing has shaped her life as a working actress - one who's learnt to make family wherever she goes. On the set of Sky crime comedy-drama Return To Paradise, that sense of belonging's never felt stronger.

It's a stark contrast to her character, Detective Inspector Mackenzie “Mack” Clarke, who is more likely to keep people at arm's length than pull them close.