[5] After three years at the Boris Shchukin Theater, Samoilova landed the lead role of Veronika in Mikhail Kalatozov's war film The Cranes Are Flying in 1957.

[5] While on tour promoting The Cranes Are Flying, Samoilova met Pablo Picasso who boldly predicted "tomorrow you will be driving in a car through Hollywood".

[4] The prediction nearly came true, as she received offers to work in Hollywood and other foreign film industries.

However, upon returning home she learned the Soviet government would forbid her taking foreign roles because she was still a student at the time.

[1] Samoilova starred in Giuseppe De Santis' war drama Attack and Retreat (1964).

Samoilova had the title role in Aleksandr Zarkhi's Anna Karenina (1967), appearing beside her former husband Vasily Lanovoy in the film.

[4][5] On 3 May 2014, the eve of her 80th birthday, Samoilova was taken to hospital in serious condition with coronary heart disease and hypertension.