Long before she became known to streaming audiences as the teenage version of Christina Ricci’s unsettling character on Showtime’s Yellowjackets, Samantha “Sammi” Hanratty was already a familiar face on American television, having appeared in commercials so frequently as a child that she earned the nickname “the Pringles Girl.”
Her journey from toddler talent to seasoned screen actress spans more than two decades, an unusually long run for a performer who started before she could read a script on her own.
Hanratty is best known for her work in the Vampire Diaries universe, Showtime’s Shameless, and most prominently, her acclaimed portrayal of teen Misty Quigley in Yellowjackets, a role that introduced her to a new generation of fans drawn to the show’s blend of survival horror and dark comedy.
Her career, however, stretches back to guest spots on iconic series like Charmed and Mad Men, proving her staying power in an industry that rarely keeps child stars working into adulthood.
What makes Hanratty’s story compelling is not just her longevity but her range, moving comfortably between family-friendly fare like the American Girl film franchise and grittier, more mature projects as she grew older. Her rise reflects the quiet persistence of a performer who built a career one recurring role at a time rather than chasing a single breakout moment.
Profile
| Full Name | Samantha Lynn Hanratty |
| Stage/Brand Name | Sammi Hanratty |
| Born | September 20, 1995 |
| Age | 30 years old |
| Birthplace | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actress, Producer, Director |
| Height | 5 feet 1 inch (1.55 m) |
| Parents | Brian Hanratty and Ellen Hanratty (née Sugrue) |
| Spouse | Christian DeAnda (married November 2023) |
| Children | One son (born December 31, 2024) |
| Relationship Status | Married |
Early Life
Samantha Lynn Hanratty was born on September 20, 1995, in Scottsdale, Arizona, to Ellen and Brian Hanratty. She is one of several siblings, and her family relocated to Los Angeles when she was a toddler so she could pursue acting opportunities, a move that placed her in the heart of the entertainment industry from an early age. Hanratty has described having her “heart set on acting” from as young as two years old, an unusually early start even by Hollywood child-star standards.
Her earliest professional work came through television commercials, including a memorable run promoting a well-known potato chip brand that led to her being informally dubbed the “Pringles Girl” among casting circles and young viewers alike. That early commercial visibility opened doors to guest appearances on established network shows while she was still in elementary school, giving her a grounding in professional sets long before most of her peers had considered a career at all.
Hanratty has spoken candidly about being bullied as a young performer, both in person and online, and has used those experiences to connect with other teenagers facing similar struggles. Outside of acting, she has cited swimming, gymnastics, bike riding, and rollerblading as childhood hobbies that helped balance the demands of an early start in show business.
Career
Hanratty’s screen career began with guest appearances on shows including Charmed, Drake & Josh, and House around the age of ten, followed by a recurring role on Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody in 2006. That same year, she had an uncredited part in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, one of the highest-grossing films of its era, giving her an early taste of blockbuster filmmaking even in a minor capacity.
Her first true leading role arrived in 2009 with the TV film An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong, in which she played the title character Chrissa Maxwell. She built on that momentum with the 2011 family drama The Greening of Whitney Brown, sharing the screen with Brooke Shields, Aidan Quinn, and Kris Kristofferson, and continued into recurring television work on Pushing Daisies and the military drama The Unit, the latter of which also featured her sister Danielle in the cast.
The mid-2010s saw Hanratty diversify further. She appeared in the Sony comedy Mom’s Night Out alongside Patricia Heaton in 2014, led the independent feature Zoe Gone, and starred opposite Olympia Dukakis in The Christmas Spirit. She also took guest roles on prestige dramas including AMC’s Mad Men and David E. Kelley’s Monday Mornings, working alongside top-tier directors and actors including Robert Zemeckis, Jon Hamm, and Gary Oldman across various projects throughout her career.
Hanratty’s profile rose considerably with recurring roles in the supernatural horror series Salem and the 2015 Lifetime adaptation of V.C. Andrews’ novel Seeds of Yesterday. In 2017, she starred in the action-comedy Bad Kids of Crestview Academy as Siouxsie Hess, and the same era brought guest spots on The Vampire Diaries, where she played Violet in season eight, as well as a recurring role on Showtime’s Shameless.
Her most significant and ongoing role began in 2021, when she joined the ensemble of Showtime’s breakout hit Yellowjackets as the teenage version of Misty Quigley, the adult version of whom is played by Christina Ricci. The dual-timeline psychological thriller, centered on a girls’ soccer team stranded in the wilderness, became a critical and cultural phenomenon, and Hanratty’s performance as the disturbing yet sympathetic young Misty has been one of the show’s most talked-about elements across its multiple seasons. She has continued appearing in the series through its most recent seasons, alongside guest and recurring work on shows including Brilliant Minds and the film Atlas.
Social Media
Hanratty maintains an active presence across major platforms, where she shares updates from her acting career, family life, and advocacy work.
- Instagram: @sammihanratty
- X (formerly Twitter): @SammiHanratty
Personal Life
Hanratty married Christian DeAnda in California in November 2023. In August 2024, the couple announced they were expecting their first child, and the following month she shared that their son would be born with a cleft lip requiring multiple surgeries.
Their son was born on December 31, 2024, and Hanratty has since spoken openly about the experience as part of her broader advocacy on health and parenting topics.
Throughout her career, Hanratty has been a vocal advocate against bullying, drawing on her own experiences as a young actress who faced harassment both in school and online. She serves as a Celebrity Friend and StarPower Ambassador for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, visiting schools to speak with children about resilience and self-acceptance.
Standing 5 feet 1 inch tall, she has described family and close friendships, including with fellow former child actresses, as central to staying grounded in an unpredictable industry.
Net Worth
While Hanratty has not publicly disclosed exact financial details, entertainment outlets estimate her net worth in the low single-digit millions, built primarily through more than two decades of consistent television and film work.
Her income streams include recurring television salaries from long-running series such as Yellowjackets and Shameless, supporting film roles, voice acting work including contributions to animated franchises like Winx Club, and brand partnerships connected to her public profile.
Notable Works & Achievements
- An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong (2009)
- The Greening of Whitney Brown (2011)
- The Lost Medallion: The Adventures of Billy Stone (2013)
- Mom’s Night Out (2014)
- Seeds of Yesterday (2015)
- Bad Kids of Crestview Academy (2017)
- The Vampire Diaries (2017)
- Shameless (recurring)
- Yellowjackets (2021–present)
- Daybreak (2019)
Conclusion
Samantha Hanratty’s career stands as a rare example of a child performer who successfully navigated the transition into adult acting without losing creative momentum.
From her early days as the “Pringles Girl” to her acclaimed work on one of streaming television’s most distinctive dramas, she has built a body of work defined by versatility rather than a single defining role.
As Yellowjackets continues to draw audiences deeper into its mystery and Hanratty takes on new projects alongside her growing family life, her career appears positioned for continued relevance.
For longtime fans who have followed her since childhood commercials and Disney Channel guest spots, her ongoing success feels like the natural culmination of a performer who never stopped working.