Sara Sampaio has already lived out what many would call the ultimate dream—she’s made history as the first Portuguese model to appear in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, walked the Victoria’s Secret runway show six times, worn the brand’s iconic Bombshell bra on the catwalk, and has been featured on numerous magazine covers globally, including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ. However, at the age of 33, she’s finally getting to live out her dream—being an actress.
And, she’s not easing into Hollywood quietly; she’s flying in. Sampaio has booked her biggest acting role in none other than James Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman reboot, which is set to hit theaters this week. She takes on the part of Eve Teschmacher, the sharp, alluring personal assistant and possible love interest of Lex Luthor (played by Nicholas Hoult). It’s a character with roots in the original Superman films, but now reimagined for a new generation.
Landing a role in Superman isn’t just a big break—it’s a power move. The Superman franchise is one of the most enduring and culturally significant in cinematic history, with a legacy stretching back nearly five decades on screen and even longer in comics. For Sampaio, debuting in a universe that has launched countless careers and captured generations of fans adds weight and meaning to her transition from model to actress. She’s trading catwalks for character arcs and proving that her on-camera presence shouldn’t be limited to fashion campaigns.
And speaking of presence, she brought plenty of it to the red carpet last night for the Los Angeles premiere. With the help of stylist Emma Jade Morrison, Sampaio turned heads in a striking Marmar Halim S/S 25 couture gown that conveyed both power and symbolism. The color red, long associated with Superman’s iconic cape and the bold femininity of Teschmacher, set the tone for her role, so of course, we had to get all of the details.
We caught up with Sampaio after the premiere to discuss the vision behind her red-carpet look, which included supporting an Egyptian fashion designer and bringing the character of Teschmacher to life.
Let’s start with your evening leading up to the Superman premiere in L.A.—what was the experience like as you got ready for the event?
Well, I was drinking a lot of water because I always feel dehydrated in L.A. Overall, though, it was a very chill day. I like silence. I don’t usually listen to anything before going to a red carpet or similar event. I get so overstimulated that I prefer the silence beforehand to get in the zone. I had my hair and makeup team, whom I’ve worked with for years, there, so it was really special to have them with me. Also, my three friends were there, and they helped me select the jewelry. It was really fun to have them there and share the experience.
Are there any style icons you look to for inspiration when curating your looks for a premiere or red carpet?
I always enjoy classic, beautiful, modern, and elegant styles. I’m obsessed with Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. I love them. They were so stunning, and they always wore the best, most beautiful dresses. So, a lot of that served as my inspiration.
What about the Marmar Halim number stood out to you on the rack? Did you try on a lot of options?
When we did the fitting, there were many different types of dresses on the rack. This red Marmar Hamlim dress was actually the last one I tried. However, as soon as I put it on, I knew it was the right one. It fit like a glove and made me smile. I love red—it’s my favorite color. And, you know, Superman—red is his color—so it felt like it was just made for the premiere.
Do you feel like the dress was symbolic of Eve and her bold, glamorous persona?
Yes, for sure, for sure. Eve loves color and fashion—I had the most dresses out of everyone [on set]. I’m sure she would have loved and worn this red dress, but she probably would have styled it a bit more over the top rather than in a classic way.
Let’s talk about your glam. Did you and your team talk through ideas before the day? What were some factors you had to consider in terms of the makeup and hair direction?
I have this thing where, when I put on a dress, I immediately know what I want to do with my hair and makeup. If I don’t, it’s usually because it’s not the right dress. After the fitting and choosing the red dress, I knew I wanted my hair to be both down and pulled back. Overall, I wanted a shiny, soft, and flowy look, similar to the dress. It’s a hairstyle I’ve done before with my hairstylist, Vasco, so I told him, let’s do this the same way we did in the past. He’s from Portugal too, so this was a really special moment for us. For makeup, I wanted to keep it very simple, beautiful, glowing, and fresh. My makeup artist, Daniel, is amazing—he trained with Pat McGrath, so he’s one of the best in the industry.
Switching gears—I saw your interview with DC Comics, where you mentioned that acting has always been a dream of yours. Where do you think that passion originally came from?
Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved performing. We had drama in school, and it was my favorite class. When it was time to go to university, I wanted to study that, but I ended up studying something else, which I didn’t end up doing either. However, acting was always in the back of my mind. I thought, ‘Oh, that’s something I really want to do,’ but my schedule was so busy that I didn’t have time for acting classes until around 2017 or even earlier, when I started taking a few classes here and there. Then, in 2018, I decided to step back from modeling and focus on what I truly love—acting. I went to L.A., but then COVID happened, and I took many classes online, which helped. Being in acting classes brought me immense joy. That’s when I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
What was it like getting offered the role in Superman, such an iconic film?
I got the audition, and I never thought I would be able to get it because it’s Superman—such a big movie. I thought, ‘Oh, they’ll probably give it to someone more experienced.’ However, I did the audition, and I had so much fun. Then they called me and wanted to meet me for a chemistry read. When they told me I got the role of Eve Teschmacher, I was very happy. It wasn’t just handed to me—I had to audition with hundreds of people. I’m really thankful that James saw something in me and trusted me.
Tell me about that process for you, finding your Eve and stepping into her character?
Eve’s quite different from the version we saw in the original Superman film. She’s definitely more modern—a selfie-loving, influencer-type character, which I had a lot of fun leaning into. At the same time, I wanted to retain that childlike wonder she had in the earlier movies. And, because she wasn’t a major figure in the comic books, I had the creative freedom to explore and shape her in a fresh, playful way.
I imagine this experience has sparked an interest in taking on more roles in the future. Are there any particular types of characters you’d love to play, or film genres you’d be excited to explore?
I think the most amazing thing about acting is that you get to live so many different lives. But I mean, I want to do it all; I want to do a musical, a romantic comedy, a drama, or even horror, even though I can’t watch horror. Still, I feel that it would be a lot of fun to be part of it. So, I really hope this will open up more opportunities, and I want to be as diverse as possible. I just really want to play characters that are, you know, the opposite of me, really.
Superman hits theaters on July 11.
Stylist: Emma Jade Morrison
Hairstylist: Vasco Feitas
Makeup Artist: Daniel Kolaric
Photographer: Bryan Carr
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