Samantha Carpenter
| Sam Carpenter | |
|---|---|
| Scream character | |
Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter in Scream VI (2023) | |
| First appearance | Scream (2022) |
| Last appearance | Scream VI (2023) |
| Created by | |
| Portrayed by | Melissa Barrera |
| Chronological appearance | Scream 4 (2011; off-screen) |
| Last mentioned | Scream 7 (2026) |
| Birth date | May 19, 1997 |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Samantha Carpenter |
| Nicknames | Sam New Girl (by Gale) Rookie (by Gale) |
| Occupation | Babysitter Bowling alley employee Ghostface (briefly) |
| Family | Billy Loomis (father) Christina Carpenter (mother) Mr. Carpenter (legal father) Tara Carpenter (half-sister) |
| Significant other | Danny Brackett (boyfriend) |
| Relatives | Paternal: Nancy Loomis (grandmother) Hank Loomis (grandfather) |
| Nationality | American |
| Location | Carpenter Residence, Woodsboro, California (formerly) Modesto, California (formerly) New York City, NY |
| Status | Alive |
significant_other, significant_others.Samantha "Sam" Carpenter is a fictional character and antihero from the Scream franchise. The character was created by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick and portrayed by Mexican actress Melissa Barrera. She first appeared in Scream (2022) as the protagonist and returned for Scream VI (2023). Introduced as the sister of the fifth film's opening victim, Samantha is later revealed to be the secret daughter of original serial killer Billy Loomis.
The character is depicted as a protective, resilient young woman who gradually becomes more brutal over the course of the series as she attempts to overcome her lineage and the threats around her. Melissa Barrera's role as Sam Carpenter was generally highly praised by critics, with The Hollywood Reporter highlighting her "ferocious" and "grounded" performance. For her portrayal in Scream VI, she earned a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2023 Golden Scythe Horror Awards. Additionally, her performance contributed to the film's win for Best Movie at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards.