Melissa Barrera#Scream VII firing
{{Short description|Mexican actress (born 1990)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Barrera|Martínez|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Melissa Barrera
| image =
Melissa Barrera 2023.jpg
| caption = Barrera in 2023
| birth_name = Melissa Barrera Martínez
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|7|4|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| spouse = {{Marriage|Paco Zazueta|2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/melissa-barrera-and-paco-zazueta-pictures-48369549|title=Just an Appreciation Post of Melissa Barrera and Paco Zazueta's Swoon-Worthy Romance|work=PopSugar|first=Monica|last=Sisavat|date=6 March 2023|access-date=25 October 2021|quote=Off screen, though, Barrera is happily married to musician Paco Xavier Zazueta. According to Variety, the couple first met while they were contestants on a Mexican reality musical talent show called "La Academia" in 2011 ... Eight years later, Barrera and Zazueta tied the knot, and they've been going strong ever since.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307012154/https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/melissa-barrera-and-paco-zazueta-pictures-48369549|archive-date=7 March 2023|url-status=live}}
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2011–present
}}
Melissa Barrera Martínez (born 4 July 1990) is a Mexican actress. She began her career playing roles in the Mexican telenovelas Siempre tuya Acapulco (2013) and Tanto amor (2015), and then the series Club de Cuervos (2017). Barrera transitioned to Hollywood in 2018, earning recognition with the series Vida (2018–2020) and the musical film In the Heights (2021). For playing Sam Carpenter in the slasher films Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023), as well as leading the horror-comedies Abigail and Your Monster (both 2024), she established herself as a scream queen.{{cite web |url=http://www.estilodf.tv/noticias/melissa-barrera-le-sonrie-el-exito/|title=Melissa Barrera, le sonríe el éxito|author=Mariana Rosas|work=Estilo DF|date=18 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425031818/http://www.estilodf.tv/noticias/melissa-barrera-le-sonrie-el-exito/|archive-date=25 April 2018|access-date=4 August 2015|language=Spanish|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=10 May 2022 |title=Scream Sequel Seeing Return of Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding & Jenna Ortega |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/scream-sequel-jenna-ortega-melissa-barrera-mason-gooding-jasmin-savoy-brown-1235020399/ |access-date=19 May 2022 |website=Deadline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510192804/https://deadline.com/2022/05/scream-sequel-jenna-ortega-melissa-barrera-mason-gooding-jasmin-savoy-brown-1235020399/ |archive-date=10 May 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Shapiro|first=Bee|date=4 October 2019|title=Melissa Barrera Goes from Mexican Telenovelas to 'Vida' Star|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/04/style/melissa-barrera-goes-from-mexican-telenovelas-to-vida-star.html|access-date=28 June 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118191157/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/04/style/melissa-barrera-goes-from-mexican-telenovelas-to-vida-star.html|archive-date=18 January 2022|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}
Early life
Barrera was born and raised in Monterrey, Nuevo León. She studied musical theater at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
Career
= Early career in Mexico (2011–2017) =
File:Actriz mexicana Melissa Barrera en 2013.jpg
Her television debut was on the Mexican reality show La Academia in 2011, where she showed off her talent for singing.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvnotas.com.mx/2014/01/20/C-58311-esta-insoportable-aseguran-que-a-melissa-barrera-ya-se-le-subio-la-fama.php |title=¡Está insoportable! Aseguran que a Melissa Barrera ya se le subió la fama|work=TVNotas|access-date=4 August 2015|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208001748/http://www.tvnotas.com.mx/2014/01/20/C-58311-esta-insoportable-aseguran-que-a-melissa-barrera-ya-se-le-subio-la-fama.php|archive-date=8 February 2014|url-status=dead|date=20 January 2014}} 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 debut single "Mamma Maria", a cover of Ricchi e Poveri's song from the 1980s. In 2015, she recorded the theme song "Volver a caer" alongside the Mexican singer Kalimba, for her telenovela Tanto amor.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvyespectaculos.com/2015/07/30/kalimba-cantara-con-melissa-barrera-el-tema-de-la-telenovela-tanto-amor/|title=Kalimba cantará con Melissa Barrera el tema de la telenovela Tanto Amor|first=Alma|last=Rangel|date=30 July 2015|work=TVyEspectáculos|access-date=4 August 2015|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054956/http://www.tvyespectaculos.com/2015/07/30/kalimba-cantara-con-melissa-barrera-el-tema-de-la-telenovela-tanto-amor/|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
In 2010, while still in college (New York University), she participated in the film L for Leisure. In 2012, she participated in two telenovelas, La mujer de Judas and La otra cara del alma.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvnotas.com.mx/2012/02/26/C-27972-melissa-barrera-asegura-que-no-es-una-improvisada.php|title=Melissa Barrera asegura que no es una improvisada|first=Elena|last=Gómez Poncet|work=TVNotas|access-date=4 August 2015|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831065133/http://www.tvnotas.com.mx/2012/02/26/C-27972-melissa-barrera-asegura-que-no-es-una-improvisada.php|archive-date=31 August 2012|date=26 February 2012|url-status=dead}} In 2014, she obtained her first starring role in the telenovela Always yours Acapulco/A Love To Remember (Siempre tuya Acapulco).{{cite web |url=http://www.tvnotas.com.mx/2013/11/16/C-56205-melissa-barrera-protagonizaria-telenovela-con-daniel-elbittar.php|title=Melissa Barrera protagonizaría telenovela con Daniel Elbittar|work=TVNotas|access-date=4 August 2015|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021946/http://www.tvnotas.com.mx/2013/11/16/C-56205-melissa-barrera-protagonizaria-telenovela-con-daniel-elbittar.php|archive-date=3 December 2013|date=16 November 2013|url-status=dead}} In 2015, she starred in the last telenovela produced by TV Azteca, So Much Love (Tanto amor).{{cite web |url=http://www.informador.com.mx/entretenimiento/2015/592339/6/melissa-barrera-y-leonardo-garcia-protagonizaran-tanto-amor.htm|title=Melissa Barrera y Leonardo García protagonizarán "Tanto amor"|work=Informador México|access-date=4 August 2015|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924081135/http://www.informador.com.mx/entretenimiento/2015/592339/6/melissa-barrera-y-leonardo-garcia-protagonizaran-tanto-amor.htm|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead|date=16 May 2015}}
=Breakthrough (2018–present) =
Barrera was cast in the lead role of Lyn on the Starz drama series Vida in 2018. In 2019, she was signed to WME, a major acting agency, following castings in lead roles in In the Heights and Carmen.[https://deadline.com/2019/06/wme-signs-vida-star-melissa-barrera-recently-cast-in-warner-bros-in-the-heights-spcs-carmen-1202626914/ WME Signs ‘Vida’ Star Melissa Barrera, Recently Cast In Warner Bros’ ‘In the Heights’ & SPC’s ‘Carmen’]
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 stage musical.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/in-the-heights-casting-leslie-grace-melissa-barrera-lin-manuel-miranda-1202593869/|title=Lin-Manuel Miranda & Jon M. Chu Find Their Nina & Vanessa For 'In The Heights' Movie|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=11 April 2019|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105113021/https://deadline.com/2019/04/in-the-heights-casting-leslie-grace-melissa-barrera-lin-manuel-miranda-1202593869/|archive-date=5 January 2022|url-status=live}} The film earned widespread critical acclaim, with Monica Castillo of The Wrap praising Barrera's performance: "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."{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/in-the-heights-film-review-lin-manuel-miranda-anthony-ramos-movie/|title='In the Heights' Film Review: Lin-Manuel Miranda's Stage Hit Becomes a Screen Celebration|website=The Wrap|access-date=14 June 2021|date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611220804/https://www.thewrap.com/in-the-heights-film-review-lin-manuel-miranda-anthony-ramos-movie/|archive-date=11 June 2021|url-status=live|first=Monica|last=Castillo}}
In 2022, Barrera starred as Sam Carpenter on the fifth Scream film, which was directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/scream-vida-star-melissa-barrera-joins-courteney-cox-movie-spyglass-media-group-paramount-1203015161/|title='Scream': 'Vida' & 'In The Heights' Star Melissa Barrera Set For Key Role In Spyglass & Paramount Slasher Movie Relaunch|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=17 August 2020|access-date=17 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719105902/https://deadline.com/2020/08/scream-vida-star-melissa-barrera-joins-courteney-cox-movie-spyglass-media-group-paramount-1203015161/|archive-date=19 July 2022|url-status=live}} The film was released on January 14, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3629595/scream-5-slashing-theaters-january-14-2022/|title=Relaunch of 'Scream' Slashing Into Theaters on January 14, 2022!|last=Miska|first=Brad|work=BloodyDisgusting|date=28 August 2020|access-date=28 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903041754/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3629595/scream-5-slashing-theaters-january-14-2022/|archive-date=3 September 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=24 June 2020|title=New Scream Movie From Spyglass Media Will Be Released by Paramount (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/paramount-and-spyglass-scream-1234648119/|access-date=24 June 2020|work=Variety|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819022015/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/paramount-and-spyglass-scream-1234648119/|archive-date=19 August 2020|url-status=live}} It was a huge box office success that reinvigorated the franchise.{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title=Small Movies, Big Profits: An Oscar Winner And Horror Hits Among Overachievers In Deadline's 2022 Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/most-profitable-movies-2022-highest-return-1235324425/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 13, 2023 |access-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-date=April 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413214318/https://deadline.com/2023/04/most-profitable-movies-2022-highest-return-1235324425/ |url-status=live }} She then starred in Keep Breathing, a six episode survival drama released on Netflix on June 28, 2022 to negative reviews.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} That same year, the film musical Carmen, co-starring Paul Mescal, was released. The film directed by Benjamin Millepied and had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.{{cite web|website=Collider|url=https://collider.com/carmen-movie-trailer-paul-mescal/|access-date=3 March 2023|title=Paul Mescal and Melissa Barrera Are Drawn Together in First 'Carmen' Trailer|date=22 February 2023|first=Hilary|last=Remley|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301200004/https://collider.com/carmen-movie-trailer-paul-mescal/|archive-date=1 March 2023|url-status=live}} She also starred in Bed Rest, quietly released with limited promotion on Tubi in December 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.losbingers.com/noticias/todo-sobre-bed-rest-la-nueva-pelicula-de-terror-de-melissa-barrera |title=Todo sobre Bed Rest, la nueva película de terror de Melissa Barrera |trans-title=All about Bed Rest, the new horror movie by Melissa Barrera |date=22 April 2022 |access-date=25 February 2023 | first= Sara |last= González |quote=Nos emociona mucho ver a Melissa Barrera como la "scream queen" mexicana, ya que su papel en Scream (2022) nos mostró todo su potencial para destacar en el género. |trans-quote= We are very excited to see Melissa Barrera as the Mexican "scream queen", since her role in Scream (2022) showed us her full potential to stand out in the genre. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203095931/https://www.losbingers.com/noticias/todo-sobre-bed-rest-la-nueva-pelicula-de-terror-de-melissa-barrera |archive-date=3 December 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://wsvn.com/entertainment/deco-drive/horror-and-scream-queen-melissa-barrera-talks-about-new-chilling-movie-on-tubi-bed-rest/ |title=Horror and "Scream" queen Melissa Barrera talks about new chilling movie on Tubi "Bed Rest" |date=6 December 2022 |access-date=25 February 2023 | first= Shireen |last= Sandoval |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229123016/https://wsvn.com/entertainment/deco-drive/horror-and-scream-queen-melissa-barrera-talks-about-new-chilling-movie-on-tubi-bed-rest/ |archive-date=29 December 2022 |url-status=live}}
In early 2023, Barrera reprised her role as Sam Carpenter in Scream 6, which scored the highest opening weekend of the franchise.{{Cite web |author1=Brendan Morrow |date=2023-03-12 |title=Scream VI scores the biggest opening weekend of the franchise |url=https://theweek.com/culture/1021726/scream-6-box-office-biggest-opening-weekend-franchise |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=theweek |language=en}}
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 the Israeli government's actions in the Gaza war as "genocide and ethnic cleansing". 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.{{Cite news |date=2023-11-23 |title='Silence is not an option': Melissa Barrera responds to being fired from Scream VII over Israel-Hamas posts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/23/melissa-barrera-fired-from-scream-vii-over-israel-hamas-posts-responds-silence-is-not-an-option#:~:text=I%20believe%20a%20group%20of,Read%20more |access-date=2024-11-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{cite web|title= Every Celeb Other Than Jenna Ortega Who Supported Melissa Barrera after Scream 7 Firing Due to Controversial Israel-Palestine Com |url= https://fandomwire.com/every-celeb-other-than-jenna-ortega-who-supported-melissa-barrera-after-scream-7-firing-due-to-controversial-israel-palestine-com/|work=Fandom Wire|date=24 November 2023}} Barrera described the year following the firing to be a downturn in opportunities to work, and stated that "For the longest time, I gave myself value as a human because of my work. So when I saw it potentially ending, I was like, who even am I? And I realized that I'm so much more than just an actor – I'm a great sister, a great daughter, a great friend. And I’m very capable of finding success in something else if I wanted it."{{Cite web |last=White |first=Adam |date=November 26, 2024 |title=Scream's Melissa Barrera on her year in Hollywood exile: 'I felt like my life was over' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/melissa-barrera-palestine-your-monster-interview-b2653157.html |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=The Independent}}
Barrera starred in the 2024 vampire film Abigail, reuniting with Scream directors Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett,{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2023-04-13 |title='Scream' Star Melissa Barrera Reunites With Radio Silence On Secret Monster Movie For Universal |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/scream-melissa-barrera-radio-silence-secret-monster-movie-universal-1235324422/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} as well as the indie film Your Monster; the latter was hailed by some critics as the best performance of her career.{{Cite web |last=Mazz |first=Daniel |date=2024-10-30 |title=Melissa Barrera's Fantastic Performance in 'Your Monster' (Review) |url=https://chatterboxfilm.com/melissa-barreras-fantastic-performance-in-your-monster-review/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Chatter Box Film |language=en-GB}} She left WME in late 2024.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2024-12-05 |title=Melissa Barrera & WME Part Ways |url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/melissa-barrera-wme-1236195749/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Barrera will next co-star alongside Simu Liu in a Peacock original series produced by James Wan.{{Cite web |last=Cordero |first=Rosy |date=2024-10-02 |title=Melissa Barrera & Sinclair Daniel Among Five Joining Peacock's James Wan-Simu Liu Series |url=https://deadline.com/2024/10/melissa-barrera-sinclair-daniel-cast-peacock-james-wan-simu-liu-project-1236106205/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Personal life
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.{{Citation|title=Melissa Barrera y Paco Zazueta – Cuando Me Enamoro|url=https://soundcloud.com/melissabarrera/melissa-barrera-y-paco-zazueta|language=en|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=19 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719105904/https://soundcloud.com/melissabarrera/melissa-barrera-y-paco-zazueta|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=18 September 2018|title=Melissa Barrera Bio: Married Or Still Dating? Husband, Boyfriend To Family Details|url=https://liverampup.com/entertainment/melissa-barrera-married-husband-boyfriend-dating-family-bio.html|access-date=15 April 2021|website=LIVERAMPUP|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428184711/https://liverampup.com/entertainment/melissa-barrera-married-husband-boyfriend-dating-family-bio.html|archive-date=28 April 2022|url-status=live}} They began dating in September of that year, and announced their engagement via Instagram in June 2017.{{Cite web|title=XavierZazuetaOfficial • Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BVNSKt_h67H/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BVNSKt_h67H |archive-date=24 December 2021 |url-access=registration|url-status=live|access-date=15 April 2021|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}} Barrera and Zazueta married in February 2019.{{Cite web|title=XavierZazuetaOfficial • Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BtYqqIaFHpE/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BtYqqIaFHpE |archive-date=24 December 2021 |url-access=registration|url-status=live|access-date=15 April 2021|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web|title=Paco Zazueta|url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/2hG5Znu8tAQ2OCS9aduTU5|access-date=15 April 2021|website=Spotify|language=en|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415132402/https://open.spotify.com/artist/2hG5Znu8tAQ2OCS9aduTU5|url-status=live}} Barrera has publicly advocated for an end to the Israeli military's bombing and blockade of the Gaza Strip. In January 2024, she participated in a protest against the Gaza war at the Sundance Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Chris Gardner, Mia |date=2024-01-21 |title=Melissa Barrera, Indya Moore Among Fiery Palestinian Protesters During Sundance, Chanting "End the Genocide" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/sundance-pro-palestine-protest-melissa-barrera-indya-moore-1235794310/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Artist |
| 2021
| "Say Less" |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Notelist}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{La Academia}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrera, Melissa}}
Category:Actresses from Monterrey
Category:Mexican telenovela actresses
Category:21st-century Mexican actresses
Category:21st-century Mexican singers
Category:21st-century Mexican women singers
Category:Tisch School of the Arts alumni