Melissa Barrera

1994–2017: Rise to prominence

Melissa Barrera's early career in childhood was marked by her passion for theater and performance. She began her journey in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, where she discovered her love for the arts at the young age of 4 years old.^[8]

In 2004, Barrera starred in school plays and musicals while attending the American School Foundation of Monterrey, such as The Wizard of Oz, Aida, and Romeo and Juliet. Her performance in a stage production of Romeo and Juliet secured her lead role, and she later portrayed Ariel in Footloose. Her early involvement in theater and musicals laid the foundation for her future success in the entertainment industry. In 2010 she moved from Monterrey to Mexico City.

Her television debut was on the Mexican reality show La Academia in 2011, where she showed off her talent for singing, and earning a multi year deal contract with TV Azteca.^[9]

In 2010, while still in college, she starred as Kennedy in the film L for Leisure. In 2012, she had recurring roles in the telenovelas La mujer de Judas and La otra cara del alma.^[10] In 2014, she landed her first starring role in the telenovela Siempre tuya Acapulco as Olvido Pérez.^[11]

In 2015, she starred in her last telenovela Tanto amor as Mia González, officially ending her contract with TV Azteca,^[12] and in 2016, she joined the recurring cast of Imagen Televisión's Perseguidos as Laura Solis. In 2017, she moved to Los Angeles to transition to Hollywood.

2018–2023: Transition to Hollywood

Barrera had her international breakthrough playing Lyn Hernandez in the Starz original comedy drama series Vida (2018–2020).^[13] The show ran for three seasons and holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.^[14] In 2021, In the Heights was released with Barrera co-starring in the Jon M. Chu-directed musical film, an adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights.^[15] The film earned widespread critical acclaim, with Monica Castillo of The Wrap praising Barrera's performance:

In 2022, Barrera starred as Sam Carpenter in the fifth Scream film, which was directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.^[17] The film was released on 14 January 2022.^[18][19] It was a box-office success that reinvigorated the franchise.^[20] She then starred in Keep Breathing, a six episode survival drama released on Netflix on June 28, 2022. That same year, she starred as the title character in Benjamin Millepied's Carmen co-starring Paul Mescal. The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.^[21] She also starred in Bed Rest, quietly released with limited promotion on Tubi in December 2022.^[22][23]

In early 2023, Barrera reprised her role as Sam Carpenter in Scream VI, which scored the highest opening weekend of the franchise.^[24]

2024–present: Career expansion

It was announced in 2024 that Barrera teamed up again with the directors of Scream V and Scream VI to star in the vampire horror comedy film Abigail, where she played former army medic Joey. Barrera found success and critical acclaim for her role as Laura Franco in the indie film Your Monster. Barrera's performance in the film was deemed by some critics to be the best performance of her career.^[25] The performance led Melissa to receive the Sundance London Audience Award.^[26] The film led to Barrera being nominated for Best Actress at the Imagen Awards,^[27] and a win at The Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Film Awards.^[28]

In October 2024, Melissa was cast alongside Simu Liu in James Wan's Peacock spy thriller The Copenhagen Test.^[29] Melissa plays Michelle Cyr, who is a spy and the girlfriend of Simu Liu's character, Alexander Hale.^[30] The show aired on 27 December 2025, securing the number one spot on Peacock's streaming platform alongside being in the top 3 of HBO Max's international streaming charts.^[31]

For her portrayal as Michelle Cyr in The Copenhagen Test, Jeff Ewing of Collider praised her performance:

"[Melissa Barrera] adeptly handles Michelle's complex emotional landscape and good-natured (but not totally trustworthy) company woman vibes. As a dancer and Scream queen, she's also believable when it comes to the series' big action moments."

In October 2025, it was announced that Melissa would co-star alongside John Travolta in Renny Harlin's orca survival film Black Tides.^[33] In 2026, it was announced she would make her Broadway debut portraying Rose DeWitt Bukater in the musical Titanique.^[34]

Musical career

During her career as a telenovela actress, in 2013, she was part of the duet Melissa y Sebastian with Sebastian Martingaste, with whom she released her first album and had her first top ten radio hit with their debut single "Mamma Maria", which is a cover of Ricchi e Poveri's 1982 song of the same name under the TV Azteca label. In 2015, she released the theme song "Volver a caer" alongside Kalimba for Tanto amor.^[35]

In 2020, she joined Gracias Uniwerso, which she released her debut single as a solo artist, ''Stay Home With Me''. The song was born during the quarantine period when Barrera found herself with unexpected time for self-reflection. The lyrics reflect on how lives returned to a different pace "faster than we thought" and offers a message of finding magic and a "second chance" despite the pain and fear of the dark. She shared it on Instagram with the note, "I wrote a song. I hope you like it". Thematically, it captures the feeling of life abruptly shifting from a fast-paced career to a sudden standstill.^[36]

In 2021, she released ''Una y Otra Vez'' which features her sisters, Rosanna, Regina and Mayelah. Written by Melissa and Marcela De La Garza, the lyrics focus on the enduring nature of love and choice, with the title translating to "Again and Again" or "Over and Over". Melissa has noted that if she had to choose her life or family again, she would choose them "una y otra vez". It was released shortly before her breakout international film role in In the Heights, marking a moment where she returned to her musical roots in Mexico before her global stardom accelerated. Three months later, she starred in and released her debut soundtrack album In the Heights under Atlantic Records. The same year, she recorded the soundtrack album Carmen, in collaboration with composer Nicholas Britell and singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas, and was released on 21 April 2023 under Sony Masterworks.

On February 2023, she recorded the soundtrack album Your Monster, and a year later, it was released on 25 October 2024 under Vertical.

Activism and philanthropy

In November 2023, it was reported that Barrera had been dropped from her lead role in the upcoming sequel Scream 7. The firing was a result of social media posts she had made which described Gaza as a "concentration camp" and the Israeli government's actions in the Gaza war as "genocide and ethnic cleansing". In addition, she shared a magazine article^[37] from Jewish Currents, penned by Israeli historian and genocide scholar Raz Segal, alleging the Israeli government was distorting “the Holocaust to boost the Israeli arms industry”, which was deemed antisemitic by Spyglass.^[38][39] In late 2023, a Spyglass spokesman told Variety "Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”^[40] Following her firing, Barrera released a statement which denounced antisemitism and Islamophobia and said criticism of a government should not be conflated with attacks on the people of a country.^[41][42] Barrera described the year following the firing to be a downturn in opportunities to work, and stated:

In January 2024, she participated in a protest against the genocide in Palestine at the Sundance Film Festival.^[44]

She amplified her advocacy by encouraging donations to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), that raised over $60,000 for Palestinian refugees drawing both support and controversy.^[45] She also uses her platform to promote Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children, and she is a recurring volunteer at the Central Texas Food Bank, where she helps address local food insecurity. Staff and community members have praised her for being a hands-on volunteer who seeks to help rather than just appear for "photo ops".^[46]

In September 2025, Barrera was among more than 5,000 film industry professionals to sign a pledge organized by Film Workers for Palestine. The signatories committed to a boycott of Israeli film and television institutions accused of being "complicit in the occupation" of Palestine. The pledge specifically includes a refusal to collaborate with production companies, film festivals, and distributors that are funded by the Israeli government or that "whitewash" its policies. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the boycott targets state-linked institutions rather than individual Israeli filmmakers.^[47]

Screenwriting and directing

In April 2025, Barrera revealed she had completed the screenplay for a lesbian romantic comedy, which she also intends to direct. She has expressed a desire to move beyond her established "scream queen" reputation to focus on original content and indie cinema.^[48] Her expanding role behind the camera includes serving as an executive producer with John Leguizamo on the documentary Traces of Home (2025).^[49]

Endorsements

In June 2021, Barrera was named the first Latina Global Ambassador for the cosmetics company Clinique.^[50] She has also participated in campaigns for skincare brand Kiehl's.^[51] In addition to her role with Clinique Barrera has established a consistent presence in high fashion through recurring collaborations with several luxury houses. She has been frequently styled in Versace, notably wearing the brand for the 2023 CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards and during her press tour for Scream VI. Additionally, she has a long-standing relationship with the luxury footwear brand Aquazzura, which has provided custom footwear for her international film premieres, including the 2023 Scream VI tour. Her fashion choices are often documented by industry outlets such as Red Carpet Fashion Awards, which track her transition toward high-luxury labels for her public appearances. Barrera has maintained a long-standing relationship with the luxury fashion house Chanel, frequently appearing as a guest at the brand's fashion shows and events. In late 2025, Barrera significantly expanded her fashion portfolio by becoming a central figure for the Italian luxury house Roberto Cavalli. She was selected as the face of the brand's Fall/Winter 2025-26 campaign, appearing in global advertisements and digital content. Her partnership with the house was further highlighted during the press tour for The Copenhagen Test, where she was exclusively dressed by the brand for the New York City premiere. Industry analysts have noted that her association with Cavalli aligns with her transition from "scream queen" to a high-fashion red carpet fixture.^[52]

Barrera has maintained a long-standing partnership with Armani Beauty, serving as a frequent brand partner for their global cosmetics campaigns. She has prominently featured in promotions for the brand’s signature products, including the Luminous Silk Foundation and Eye Tint lines. In December 2024, she detailed her extensive history with the brand in a profile for Into The Gloss, noting that Armani has been her primary beauty collaborator for her international film press tours and festival appearances, including the Sundance Film Festival, and a long-standing association with NARS Cosmetics, often featuring the brand's products as staples in her professional and personal beauty routines.^[53][54][55]

Relationships and family

Barrera met musical artist Francisco Xavier Zazueta on the set of La Academia in 2011, and performed a rendition of Enrique Iglesias' "Cuando Me Enamoro" for its fourth episode.^[56][57] They began dating in September that year,^[57] and announced their engagement via Instagram in June 2017.^[58] Barrera and Zazueta married in February 2019.^[59][60]

Religion

She was raised in a Catholic, matriarchal household in Monterrey, Mexico. She has noted that her upbringing and personal belief in spirits influence her professional choices, specifically leading her to avoid horror projects involving occult or satanic themes. In an interview with Dazed, she explained her refusal to appear in "demonic possession" films, stating that her Catholic background instilled a respect and fear for such subject matter and a desire not to "open doors and portals" to the supernatural,^[61] and that her upbringing initially influenced her to feel a sense of shame or embarrassment regarding certain aspects of her womanhood and professional risks, but she eventually chose to prioritize her personal and artistic growth over those traditional judgments.^[62]

Her faith continues to inform her personal values; she has described having a strong "moral compass" rooted in her upbringing and has publicly stated that she prays "day and night" for peace and an end to violence during times of global conflict.^[43]

Studio albums

• Melissa & Sebastian (2013)

Soundtrack albums

• In the Heights (2021)
• Carmen (2022)
• Your Monster (2024)