Melissa Barrera (actress)

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Melissa Barrera
Melissa Barrera Screenshot 2.jpg
Barrera in 2019
Born
Melissa Barrera Martínez[1]

(1990-07-04) 4 July 1990 (age 31)
Monterrey, Mexico
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2011–present
Spouse(s)
Paco Zazueta
​
(m. 2019)​

Melissa Barrera (born 4 July 1990) is a Mexican-American actress and singer. Her career began with roles in the telenovelas Siempre tuya Acapulco (2013), Tanto amor (2015), and Club de Cuervos (2017). She gained further recognition for her lead role in the Starz drama series Vida (2018–2020). Barrera earned praise starring as Vanessa in the critically acclaimed musical drama film In the Heights (2021) based on the Lin-Manuel Miranda Tony Award winning stage musical. She is also set to appear in the upcoming slasher horror film Scream (2022)[2][1] and to star in the title role of the musical film Carmen alongside Paul Mescal.

Early life[]

Melissa Barrera is from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She studied musical theater at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.[2]

Career[]

Music[]

She attended the American School Foundation of Monterrey where she appeared in the school's musical productions including MUN's Voices, Grease, Aida and Footloose. Her television debut was on the Mexican reality show La Academia in 2011, where she showed off her talent for singing.[3] In 2013 she was part of the duet "Melissa y Sebastian" with whom she recorded her first album and had her first top ten radio hit with their first single "Mamma Maria," a cover of the Ricchi e Poveri song from the 1980s. In 2015, she recorded the theme song "Volver a caer" alongside the Mexican singer Kalimba.[4] for her telenovela "Tanto Amor."

Acting[]

In 2012 she participated in two telenovelas, La mujer de Judas and La otra cara del alma.[5] In 2010 while still in college (New York University) she participated in the film L for Leisure. In 2014 she obtained her first starring role in the telenovela, Siempre tuya Acapulco with the Venezuelan actor Daniel Elbittar.[6] In 2015, she starred in the last telenovela produced by TV Azteca, Tantor amor.[7] Barrera was cast in the lead role of Lyn on the Starz drama series Vida in 2018.

In 2021, Barrera starred as Vanessa, an aspiring fashion designer and love interest of the narrator, Usnavi, in the Jon M. Chu directed musical film In the Heights, an adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning stage musical.[8] The film earned widespread critical acclaim with The Hollywood Reporter film critic David Rooney writing, "The movie glows with an abundance of love for its characters, their milieu and the pride with which they defend their cultural footprint against the encroaching forces of New York development that continually shove the marginalized further into the margins. The resilience with which the characters claim their place in the fabric of city life is exhilarating."[9] Monica Castillo of The Wrap praised Barrera's performance writing, "Vanessa’s upbeat salsa anthem, “It Won’t Be Long Now,” is perhaps one of the more underrated sequences: It's an impressive showcase for Barrera's talents, giving her a wide range of emotions to move through in one number and one of the few moments in the musical to belt out"[10]

Upcoming projects

In November 2019, Barrera was cast in a musical film adaptation of the Frank Wildhorn musical based on the novella Carmen. Barrera was cast in the title role of Carmen alongside Irish actor Paul Mescal who is set to play the male lead. The film will be directed by French choreographer and dancer Benjamin Millepied in his directorial film debut.[11]

In August 2020, Barrera was cast in an undisclosed role on the fifth Scream film, which was directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.[12] The film will be released on January 14, 2022.[13][14]

Personal life[]

Barrera married long time boyfriend, musical artist Paco Zazueta, in February 2019.[15][16] The pair first met on the set of La Academia in 2011, and performed a rendition of Enrique Iglesias' "Cuando Me Enamoro" for the fourth episode.[17][18][19] They shortly began dating in September of that year.[18] The pair announced their engagement via Instagram in June 2017.[20]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
2014 L for Leisure Kennedy
2016 Manual de principiantes para ser presidente Brisa Carreiro
2016 El Hotel Karina
2018 Sacúdete las penas Luisa Martin Del Campo
2018 Dos Veces Tú Daniela Cohen
2021 In the Heights Vanessa
2022 Scream Samantha Carpenter[21] Post-production
TBA Carmen Carmen Filming

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
2011 La Academia Herself 14 episodes
2012 La mujer de Judas Zulamita Recurring role
2012–2013 La otra cara del alma Mariana Durán Recurring role
2014 Siempre tuya Acapulco Olvido Pérez Main role; 124 episodes
2015 Tanto amor Mía González Main role; 119 episodes
2016–2017 Perseguidos Liliana Rincón 11 episodes
2017 Club de Cuervos Isabel Cantú 8 episodes
2018–2020 Vida Lyn Hernandez Main role; 22 episodes
2020 Acting for a Cause Elizabeth Bennet Episode: "Pride and Prejudice"

Music videos[]

Year Title Artist Notes
2021 "Say Less" Anthony Ramos

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Mariana Rosas. "Melissa Barrera, le sonríe el éxito". Estilo DF (in Spanish). Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Shapiro, Bee (October 4, 2019). "Melissa Barrera Goes from Mexican Telenovelas to 'Vida' Star". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  3. ^ "¡Está insoportable! Aseguran que a Melissa Barrera ya se le subió la fama". TVNotas (in Spanish). Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "Kalimba cantará con Melissa Barrera el tema de la telenovela Tanto Amor". Tvyespectaculos (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  5. ^ Elena Gómez Poncet. "Melissa Barrera asegura que no es una improvisada". TVNotas (in Spanish). Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "Melissa Barrera protagonizaría telenovela con Daniel Elbittar". TVNotas (in Spanish). Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "Melissa Barrera y Leornardo García protagonizarán "Tanto amor"". Informador México (in Spanish). Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  8. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (April 11, 2019). "Lin-Manuel Miranda & Jon M. Chu Find Their Nina & Vanessa For 'In The Heights' Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  9. ^ "Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'In the Heights': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "'In the Heights' Film Review: Lin-Manuel Miranda's Stage Hit Becomes a Screen Celebration". The Wrap. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  11. ^ "'Normal People' Star Paul Mescal Joins Melissa Barrera in Benjamin Millepied's 'Carmen' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  12. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (August 17, 2020). "'Scream': 'Vida' & 'In The Heights' Star Melissa Barrera Set For Key Role In Spyglass & Paramount Slasher Movie Relaunch". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  13. ^ Miska, Brad (August 28, 2020). "Relaunch of 'Scream' Slashing Into Theaters on January 14, 2022!". BloodyDisgusting. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  14. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 24, 2020). "New Scream Movie From Spyglass Media Will Be Released by Paramount (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  15. ^ "XavierZazuetaOfficial • Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Paco Zazueta". Spotify. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  17. ^ Melissa Barrera y Paco Zazueta - Cuando Me Enamoro, retrieved April 15, 2021
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b "Melissa Barrera Bio: Married Or Still Dating? Husband, Boyfriend To Family Details". LIVERAMPUP. May 6, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  19. ^ "La academia" 4° Concierto (TV Episode 2011) - IMDb, retrieved April 15, 2021
  20. ^ "XavierZazuetaOfficial • Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  21. ^ Kurtz, Rodrigo (January 10, 2021). "The Carpenters". HelloSidney.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.

External links[]

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