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Etymologically, her name is associated with hard working people, making the comparison to bees and suggesting that Melissa Barrera’s destiny preordained this Latina’s success.
Originally from Monterrey and a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, the actress initiated her career on the small screen by participating in the reality show “La Academia”. She joined the project in 2011 as part of the ninth edition, demonstrating her talent for singing. However, it was her voice that built her career; instead, it was the acting skills she showcased in Mexican telenovelas like “Siempre tuya Acapulco” and later as a cast member of the streaming series “Club de Cuervos,” where she shared the spotlight with Luis Gerardo Mendez and Mariana Treviño in 2017.
A self-proclaimed fan of horror films, Melissa never imagined that this genre would propel her to stardom. It wasn’t until a year ago when the Monterrey native took a significant professional leap on the big screen with the movie “Scream V.” Although this was her first Hollywood project and seemed like a secondary character, it marked the beginning of her appearances in this legendary saga that released its sixth movie in 2023. At 32 years old, she is now considered one of the “Queens of Scream” alongside Jasmin Savoy and Jenna Ortega, her fictional sister.
That role helped propel her name to prominence among the thriving Latino talents in Hollywood. The Monterrey native is set to take the spotlight in the upcoming film release of “Carmen.” A project that allowed Barrera to delve into all her passions: music, acting and dance. The film is directed by Benjamin Millepied, who married to the acclaimed actress Natalie Portman.