Melissa Barrera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melissa Barrera
Barrera in 2023
Born	Melissa Barrera Martínez (1990-07-04) 4 July 1990 (age 34) Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Occupation	Actress activist
Years active	2011–present
Spouse(s)	Paco Zazueta ​ (m. 2019)​

Melissa Barrera Martínez (born on July 4, 1990) is a talented actress from Mexico. She started her acting journey in Mexican TV shows called telenovelas. Later, she moved to Hollywood and became well-known for her roles.

Melissa starred in the musical film In the Heights (2021). She also played Sam Carpenter in the scary movies Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023). Because of her roles in these horror films, she is now known as a "scream queen." This is a fun nickname for actresses who often star in horror movies! She also led the horror-comedies Abigail and Your Monster (both 2024).

Early life and education

Melissa Barrera was born and grew up in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. She loved performing from a young age. She went to New York University Tisch School of the Arts to study musical theater. This helped her learn how to sing, dance, and act.

Career beginnings

Starting in Mexico (2011–2017)

Barrera performing in 2013

Melissa first appeared on TV in 2011 on a Mexican reality show called La Academia. On this show, she showed off her singing skills. In 2013, she formed a singing group called Melissa y Sebastian. They released their first album and had a hit song called "Mamma Maria." This song was a cover of an old 1980s tune. In 2015, she sang the theme song "Volver a caer" for her telenovela Tanto amor. She sang it with the Mexican singer Kalimba.

While still in college in 2010, Melissa acted in a film called L for Leisure. In 2012, she appeared in two telenovelas: La mujer de Judas and La otra cara del alma. In 2014, she got her first main role in the telenovela Siempre tuya Acapulco. In 2015, she starred in Tanto amor, which was the last telenovela made by TV Azteca.

Becoming famous in the USA (2018–2023)

In 2018, Melissa moved from Mexico to Los Angeles. She wanted to try acting in American movies and TV shows. She used her savings from her work in Mexico to help her. In just three months, she got a main role as Lyn in the TV series Vida. This show was very popular and got great reviews. Melissa was even nominated for an award for her role in 2021.

In 2021, Melissa co-starred in the musical movie In the Heights. This film was based on a popular stage musical. Critics loved the movie, and many praised Melissa's performance. One critic said her song "It Won't Be Long Now" was an amazing showcase of her talents.

In 2022, Melissa starred as Sam Carpenter in the fifth Scream movie. This film was a huge success and brought the Scream series back to life. Later that year, she starred in Keep Breathing. This was a survival drama released on Netflix. It quickly became the most popular show on the platform in August 2022. She also appeared in the musical film Carmen and the movie Bed Rest.

In early 2023, Melissa played Sam Carpenter again in Scream VI. This movie had the biggest opening weekend for the Scream series. After this, Melissa was called a modern-day "scream queen." She became one of the most recognized actresses in horror movies during the 2020s.

In late 2023, Melissa was removed from her role in the next Scream movie. This happened because of things she posted online where she shared her strong feelings about important world events. She later explained her views, saying she stands against hate of any kind. Many fans and other actors supported her, saying artists should be free to express themselves. Melissa shared that the months after this were very difficult for her, and acting offers stopped coming for about ten months. However, she said things eventually turned around, and she started getting new roles with people she respected.

New projects and continued success (2024–present)

Melissa continued her work in horror films. She starred in the vampire comedy Abigail, which came out in April 2024. The film did well in theaters and became very popular on streaming services. It was even called a "hidden gem."

Her next film in 2024 was the horror romantic comedy Your Monster. In this movie, Melissa plays an actress named Laura Franco who falls in love with a monster in her closet. The film was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival and received great reviews. Critics praised Melissa's performance, with some saying it was "Oscar level." She won several awards for her role, including an Audience Award at Sundance London. Melissa also won the "Sin Fronteras" award for her acting and for moving from Mexican TV to big Hollywood films.

Melissa has also been cast in new projects. She will be in an espionage thriller TV series called Copenhagen. She is also set to star in a western thriller movie called In the Cradle of Granite.

Activism and helping others

Melissa is a strong supporter of many important causes. She has spoken out about her desire for peace and human rights around the world. She joined a march at the Sundance Film Festival to support people's lives and has joined groups advocating for peace. Melissa also supports freedom for people in Congo and has spoken up for the Black Lives Matter movement.

She is a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community. She also consistently speaks out about issues happening in her home country of Mexico. Melissa has partnered with Feeding America to help people who are homeless in Texas. She has also taken part in an annual food drive.

Melissa's activism extends to Hollywood. She, along with other actors, signed a letter asking SAG-AFTRA (the actors' union) to protect actors, writers, and directors. This letter aimed to make sure artists are not punished for speaking out on human rights issues.

Personal life

Melissa Barrera met musical artist Francisco Xavier Zazueta in 2011. They met on the set of La Academia, the reality show where she first appeared. They started dating in September 2011 and announced they were getting married in June 2017. Melissa and Francisco got married in February 2019.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Melissa Barrera para niños