Emma Samms was born Emma Samuelson in London, England on August 28^th 1960 into a happy and affluent family. At age six, she showed an interest in dance and began studying at the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London.  Emma had a charmed childhood and youth until it was marred with the death of her younger brother, James, from a rare blood disease. Emma’s way of escaping the hurt was to focus on dance. But at the age of sixteen an injury she sustained ended her ballet career.

Samms then turned her attention to modeling and later she took up acting. At this time she changed her name from Samuelson to plain Samms as the Equity union already had an Emma Samuelson registered as an actress.  Emma’s first role, in 1979, came in the movie "Arabian Adventure," and saw her acting alongside many American greats such as Mickey Rooney, Christopher Lee and John Ratzenberger. This first role garnered her the British Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer of 1979.

In 1982, as the devious Holly Sutton, Samms joined the cast of "General Hospital" which had seen the start of many promising acting careers including Demi Moore, Mark Hamill, Nikki Cox and future singing sensation Ricky Martin.  

Four years later, at age 24, Samms attained international fame when she landed the role of the spoiled, foot stamping Fallon Carrington on the prime-time soap "Dynasty." The role had been occupied by Pamela Sue Martin until 1985 when she quit the show to move onto new pastures, leaving a gap in the cast which was amply filled with the charismatic Miss Samms.

In 1981, Samms landed a part opposite Mark Harmon in the movie "Goliath Awaits’ which also starred Christopher Lee and John Carridine. Emma was introduced to viewers in several episodes of ‘Dynasty’ in the 1980’s and later become one of the main stars of the spin-off series ‘The Colbys’ with John James, Charelton Heston and another British actress, Stephanie Beecham. ‘The Colbys’ was axed after just two seasons and at that time Samms returned to the cast of ‘Dynasty’.