Melissa Barrera (actress)


Melissa Barrera is a Mexican actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in the telenovelas Siempre Tuya Acapulco and Tanto Amor, and for portraying Isabel Cantú in Club de Cuervos. She has starred in the Starz series Vida since 2018.

Early life and education

Barrera was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico. She studied musical theater at NYU Tisch.

Career

Musical career

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 first single "Mamma Maria," a cover of the Ricchi e Poveri 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 2012 she participated in two telenovelas, La mujer de Judas and La otra cara del alma. In 2010 while still in college she participated in the film L for Leisure. In 2014 she obtained her first starring role in the telenovela, Siempre tuya Acapulco with the Venezuelan actor Daniel Elbittar. In 2015, she starred in the last telenovela produced by TV Azteca, Tantor amor. Barrera was cast in the lead role of Lyn on the Starz drama series Vida in 2018.
In April 2019, it was announced that Barrera would be starring as Vanessa in the upcoming film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights.

Filmography

YearTitleRolesNotes
2011La AcademiaHerself14 episodes
2012La mujer de JudasZulamitaRecurring role
2012–2013La otra cara del almaMariana DuránRecurring role
2014Siempre tuya AcapulcoOlvido PérezMain role ; 124 episodes
2015Tanto amorMía GonzálezMain role ; 119 episodes
2016–2017PerseguidosLiliana RincónRecurring role ; 11 episodes
2017Club de CuervosIsabel CantúRecurring role ; 8 episodes
2018VidaLyn HernandezMain role