Samantha "Sam" Fitzgerald is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Simone Buchanan.

Samantha's main storylines focused on her marriage to Daniel Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker), her bipolar disorder, which was triggered by a miscarriage prior to her introduction, and a pregnancy.

In June 2010, executive producer Susan Bower announced that Buchanan had reprised her role and Samantha returned on 1 November 2010.

[5] Tucker told Jackie Brygel of TV Week that during a meeting to discuss his character's return to the show, it was "loosely" mentioned that he could have a wife.

[3][7] The storyline required careful planning as the Neighbours production team wanted to portray the issue sensitively.

[8] Buchanan worked closely with mental health charity SANE Australia to carry out the relevant research.

During an interview with the charity she stated: "I think they've done a great job, the writers really did their research beforehand; they spent time with people who have bipolar disorder, and worked closely with SANE Australia.

"[8] Neighbours' executive producer Susan Bower said that it was important to represent the character dealing with bipolar disorder accurately.

[2] Buchanan called the plot "an absolute emotional rollercoaster" and explained that Samantha had been six months along in her pregnancy when she lost the baby.

[9] Buchanan told Jackie Brygel of TV Week, "With each day that Samantha's off her medication, she becomes more and more paranoid about Dan's feelings for Libby.

"[14] Buchanan also said that Sam has a personal agenda as well as a professional one, she is unhappy that Steph fell pregnant with Dan's child.

[14] Buchanan added that she surprised to be asked back because she thought her character had "burnt her bridges with most people in Ramsay Street the last time around.

"[15] On 23 March 2020, Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy reported that Buchanan had reprised the role again, and would appear in April 2020.

[16] Samantha is hired by Claudia Watkins (Kate Raison) in her custody battle with Elly Conway (Jodi Anasta).

[19] Six months later, a heavily pregnant Samantha returns to Erinsborough in the middle of Dan and Libby's joint hen and buck's night.

Elle Robinson (Pippa Black) offers Samantha a room at her house and Libby tries to be nice by inviting her to a barbecue.

Cassandra Freedman (Tottie Goldsmith) moves into Ramsay Street and when she sets her sights on Paul, she sees Samantha as a threat.

A year later, when Charlie Hoyland (Jacob Brito) wanders off during Halloween, Samantha finds him and runs into Steph, Lucas and Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha).

Samantha later sees Donna's university lecturer fail her assignment and asks if she can buy her and Kate Ramsay (Ashleigh Brewer) tea.

Samantha tells Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) that she has recently lost her father and that she is sorry for what she did to them.

Ten years later, Samantha meets with Claudia Watkins, who wants custody of her granddaughter Aster Conway (Scout Bowman).

Claudia tells Sam that Aster's mother, Elly Conway is unemployed and about to face trial for murder.

Sam explains her history with the Kennedys and how she believes that they exploited her mental health issues, prompting her departure from Melbourne.

Sam and Claudia assist Angela Lane (Amanda Harrison) in her campaign to persuade Susan to resign from her principal's job.

After Claudia witnesses Susan berate Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone), she calls for an emergency meeting to gain an interim parenting order.

Claudia is later arrested after Susan, Bea and several other Ramsay Street residents discover she was responsible for the fire which destroyed the physical evidence in Finn's case.

She denies this will get her into trouble with the law, and warns Toadie that she may take him to court if he continues to dig for information about her in the future.

"[20] A year later, another critic for the newspaper stated: "We know we're supposed to feel sorry for people who are ill, but can somebody just tell Dan's ex-wife Sam to get knotted?

[22] Of her subsequent return, Cameron Adams of the Herald Sun wrote "When Simone Buchanan is back in Ramsay Street you know she's going to bring all manner of drama courtesy of her slightly unhinged character Sam.

"[23] Adams' colleague Siobhan Duck later commented that Buchanan had received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Sam.