# Melina Matthews

Melina Matthews (born 1986) is a Spain-born actress and presenter, known as a host for the Sitges Film Festival, and for her acting roles as Ana in the 2018 film Silencio, as Juana in season 2 of La peste (2019), as new teacher Carmen in season 2 of A Different View, and as Sister Shannon Masters in Warrior Nun.

## Early life

Melina Matthews was born in 1986, in Barcelona; she is the daughter of a Welsh father and a French mother, who were both interpreter/translators. At the age of 19, Matthews moved to London to study for a BA Hons degree in Investigative Journalism at the University of Westminster, graduating in 2009. During her time as a student in London, Matthews studied theatre at the Central School of Speech and Drama working at The Old Vic theatre and at the Southbank Centre, with hopes of pursuing an acting career. Her initial involvement in theatre, was as an accent trainer and dialogue coach, helping American actors to polish their English and Spanish accents.

## Acting career

Matthews debut appearance on the big screen was as Laura Moffat in the film Savage Grace in 2007, opposite Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne. In 2013, Matthews played the voice of 'Mama' in horror film Mama.
In 2016, Matthews landed a role as Sofía Marín alongside Jodie Comer in the BBC television miniseries Thirteen. Melina Matthews co-starred alongside Marc Clotet as lovers in the film El jugador de ajedrez (The Chess Player), which featured at the Málaga Film Festival 2017. Matthews played the lead actress role as 'Ana' in the Mexico-based 2018 film Silencio.
In 2019, Matthews starred as Juana in season 2 of La peste (The Plague) set in bubonic plague ridden 16th century Seville. Matthews was a replacement for Cecilia Freire playing a main character of new teacher Carmen in season 2 of La otra mirada (A Different View) in 2019. Matthews had a short guest role as Sister Shannon Masters, the former 'Halo-bearer' in Warrior Nun in 2020.

## Non-acting

For many years, Matthews has been a presenter at the Sitges Film Festival, which is a film festival based in Catalonia specialising in fantasy and horror films. In 2017, Matthews was reported to be in a relationship with film actor and director Raúl Arévalo, whom she purportedly met while filming Negotiator in 2014.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2007 | Savage Grace | Lorna Moffat |
| 2008 | Sing for Darfur | Isabelle |
| 2013 | Mama | Mama (voice) |
| 2013 | Panzer Chocolate | Julie Levinson |
| 2013 | The Returned | Eve |
| 2014 | Negociador (Negotiator) | Sophie |
| 2015 | Don't Speak | Samantha |
| 2015 | The Gunman | Cox's Secretary |
| 2016 | Realive | Technician |
| 2016 | Nick | Amber |
| 2016 | Lucas | Jane Lipkiss |
| 2017 | Rex | Lopez |
| 2017 | El jugador de ajedrez (The Chess Player) | Marianne Latour |
| 2018 | Silencio | Ana |
| 2018 | My Masterpiece | Verdulera |
| 2018 | XConfessions Web Series (video) | Olivia |
| 2019 | El Cerro de los Dioses (The Hill of the Gods) | Melina Matthews |
| 2019 | An Affair to Die For | Lydia Alan |
| 2020 | Black Beach | Susan |
| 2021 | Battle in Space: The Armada Attacks | Lt. Arsys |
| 2021 | More the Merrier (formerly: Donde caben dos (Where two fit)) | Belén |
| 2021 | Official Competition | Directora de fotografía |
| 2022 | Lucas | Jane Lipkiss |
| 2024 | The Room Next Door | Lawyer |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005–2006 | El Cor de la Ciutat (The Heart of the City) | Fadila Choukri | 6 episodes |
| 2011 | Arròs covat | (voice) | Episode: "Arròs d'Arenys amb mostassa a la mel" |
| 2013 | Aída | — | El imperio (de la morcilla) contraataca |
| 2014–2015 | The Refugees | Victoria | Episodes: "Sacrificio" and "El éxodo" |
| 2015 | Vis a vis (Locked Up) | Locutora | Episode: "La cruda realidad" |
| 2015 | Magnum Opus | Allie Berg | 3 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | El Príncipe | Sophie | 12 episodes |
| 2016 | Thirteen | Sofía Marín | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Playground | Laurence | 10 episodes |
| 2018 | Fugitiva | Isabel Lafuente | 7 episodes |
| 2019 | La peste (The Plague) | Juana | 6 episodes |
| 2019 | La otra mirada (A Different View) | Carmen | 8 episodes |
| 2020–present | Warrior Nun | Sister Shannon Masters | 3 episodes |
| 2021 | Santuario | Valle | Podcast series; 12 episodes |
| 2021 | L'última nit del karaoke | Eli | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | The Girls at the Back (Spanish: Las de la última fila) | Girl at the Back | 1 episode |
| 2022 | Apagón | Marina | Episode: "Emergencia" |
| 2023 | A Town Called Malice | Lola | 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Cristo y Rey | Mireilla Darc | Episode: "A un rey no se la deja" |
| 2022–2023 | Sentimos las molestias | Victoria | 12 episodes |