Melissa Barrera
Melissa Barrera Martínez (born 4 July 1990) is a Mexican actress and singer. Her career began with roles in the telenovelas "Siempre tuya Acapulco" (2013), "Tanto amor" (2015), and Netflix produced series "Club de Cuervos" (2017). She gained further recognition for her lead role in the Starz drama series "Vida" (2018–2020). Barrera earned praise starring as Vanessa in the musical drama film "In the Heights" (2021) based on the Lin-Manuel Miranda stage musical. She also starred as Sam Carpenter in the slasher horror film "Scream" (2022). Early life. Barrera was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico. She  studied musical theater at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Career. Music. She attended the American School Foundation of Monterrey where she appeared in the school's musical productions including MUN's Voices, Grease, Aida and Footloose. Her television debut was on the Mexican reality show "La Academia" in 2011, where she showed off her talent for singing. 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". Acting. 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". In 2014, she obtained her first starring role in the telenovela "Siempre tuya Acapulco". In 2015, she starred in the last telenovela produced by TV Azteca, "Tanto amor". Barrera was cast in the lead role of Lyn on the Starz drama series  Vida in 2018. In August 2020, Barrera was cast as Sam Carpenter on the fifth "Scream" film, which was directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The film was released on 14 January 2022. In 2021, Barrera starred as Vanessa, an aspiring fashion designer and love interest of the narrator, Usnavi, in the Jon M. Chu directed musical film "In the Heights", an adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's stage musical. 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." Upcoming projects. In November 2019, Barrera was cast in a musical film adaptation of the Frank Wildhorn musical based on the novella "Carmen". Barrera was cast in the title role of Carmen. The film will be directed by French choreographer and dancer Benjamin Millepied in his directorial film debut. Personal life. Barrera married longtime boyfriend and musical artist Paco  Zazueta, in February 2019. The pair first met on the set of "La Academia" in 2011, and performed a rendition of Enrique Iglesias' "Cuando Me Enamoro" for its fourth episode. They shortly began dating in September of that year. The pair announced their engagement via Instagram in June 2017.