Melissa Barrera, step by step towards the beginning of the ‘Hollywood’ dream

Mexican actress Melissa Barrera on the world premiere of ‘Scream VI’, at Lincoln Sq. in New York on March 6, 2023.ANGELA WEISS (AFP)

-What’s your favourite scary film?

I do not suppose I’ve one, however hereditary It is my favourite of the previous couple of years. Once I was little, between 10 and 13 years outdated, I beloved horror films. After which I had a time in my life the place I ended seeing them. I do not know if I turned scarier or what, however I fully dropped the style. I by no means imagined myself as an actress making horror films.

The query answered by actress Melissa Barrera (Monterrey, 32 years outdated) might sound unusual, however for a fan of the saga scream, It makes a number of sense. It’s a line that has been perpetuated within the imaginary of the horror style, just like the final phrases that the victims of the assassin of those movies, referred to as ghost faceThey hear earlier than one thing unhealthy occurs to them. In drive since 1996, the favored American horror franchise, created by Wes Craven, has marked completely different generations in several a long time. This isn’t the exception. The movie has returned with a brand new installment, Scream VIby which the Mexican interpreter as soon as once more places herself within the sneakers of her character, Samantha Carpenter, to attempt to survive once more the ravages of this well-known serial killer on the large display screen.

Barrera, on this new movie, follows up on the occasions of the fifth movie, scream (2022), which was a sort of reboot of the saga. Scream VI instantly picks up what occurred in Woodsboro. Sam (Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega) try to place the trauma behind them and begin new lives in New York, however the previous is not buried and that leaves them as soon as once more having to face their demons, and the enemy that desires to destroy them. .

Actresses Melissa Barrera (left) and Jenna Ortega (right) play Sam and Tara Carpenter in 'Scream VI'.
Actresses Melissa Barrera (left) and Jenna Ortega (proper) play Sam and Tara Carpenter in ‘Scream VI’.Philippe Bosse (AP)

She says that when she was chosen for the earlier installment, she needed to begin finding out the primary 4 installments, along with the truth that the administrators gave her a listing of horror films to encourage her. “I fell in love with the style once more. Now I am a horror fan once more, ”she tells EL PAÍS by means of a telephone name.

With this new movie, for a lot of followers, Samantha Carpenter follows within the footsteps and legacy of the opposite protagonists and survivors of the franchise, comparable to Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers, performed by Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox within the 5 earlier movies, respectively, and turns into a part of the so-called scream queens, which refers to an actress who turns into a benchmark of the style. Inside this distinction are interpreters comparable to Campbell and Cox themselves, in addition to legends comparable to Jamie Lee Curtis and Janet Leigh, amongst others.

“It’s an honor, as a result of that title for me is one thing that you need to earn. One thing that the general public has to grant you. Personally, I really feel that I nonetheless have a methods to go, however I actually recognize the gesture. I actually admire everybody scream queens [reinas del grito] iconic, together with Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox, who’re legendary,” says Barrera.

The killer known as 'Ghostface' in a still from 'Scream VI'.
The killer referred to as ‘Ghostface’ in a nonetheless from ‘Scream VI’.Photograph Credit score: Philippe Bossé (AP)

screamregardless of having touches of humor and parody of the serial killer style, is a saga that offers with trauma and choices from the previous. For Barrera it was a problem as an actress to face the duality of her character, as a result of inside battle that Sam has with mild and darkness, which she has dragged on because the earlier installment. “Entering into these psychological conflicts is troublesome, however they’re challenges which can be welcome for me. It makes the character extra layered and feels extra human. Every thing within the film feels extra harmful. The chase sequences are extra intense together with the power of New York. Every thing within the movie is rising in tone and is rather more brutal than earlier than,” she explains.

Barrera turned identified in 2011 on the actuality Mexican The academy —a singing contest for brand new skills—, and from that participation the doorways started to open. First in productions in Mexico. In cleaning soap operas like All the time yours Acapulco (2014), his first main function, or Netflix collection like crows membership, by which she performed Isabel Cantú throughout the third season. As soon as she made the leap to Los Angeles, USA, she started to land different main roles in collection like Life (2018-2020) and Preserve respiration (2022), the latter additionally from the research of the nice N.

Nevertheless, the second that marked a earlier than and after within the lifetime of the actress and singer, who on the age of 18 went to check on the Tisch College of the Arts at New York College, was in 2019, when she received a starring in within the heights, a musical for the cinema that adapts the Broadway play by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Now, in 2023, three of his skills and passions, dance, singing and performing, come collectively once more to Carmena movie based mostly on the opera by George Bizet, by which he shares the main function with the Irish actor Paul Mescal, a current Oscar nominee for aftersun. The movie, which nonetheless doesn’t have a distributor in Mexico, opens on April 21 in New York and Los Angeles; and in Could in the remainder of the US.

The Mexican actress Melissa Barrera and the Irish actor Paul Mescal in a still from 'Carmen'.
The Mexican actress Melissa Barrera and the Irish actor Paul Mescal in a nonetheless from ‘Carmen’.Sony Photos Classics

“The movie is visually like a poem. It’s a movie that’s mainly advised by means of dance. Music, performing and dancing are three disciplines that fill me up quite a bit and I’m all the time on the lookout for tasks that permit me to mix them. I studied musical theater and it is what I needed to dedicate myself to and now I discovered one other medium the place I can discover that and proceed. within the heights it was extra of a Broadway sort musical. Carmen it is one thing else fully. I prefer to search for tasks that really feel like they’re breaking the limitations of a style, ”she enhances.

The actress strikes between massive productions and decrease price range. She additionally has the premiere of All The World is Sleeping this coming March 17 additionally within the US. Ryan Lancen’s movie, in response to Barrera, was the primary function for which he auditioned and obtained in northern lands, which tells the story of Chama, who’s preventing for his personal life and that of their family members. She is a mom from New Mexico who sinks deeper into her habit as she struggles to floor for her daughter. “It’s a very troublesome story to see and I wish to honor the ladies who’ve gone by means of this case, particularly the seven who shared their story for the writing of the script, which I fell in love with,” says the royal actress.

When Barrera was a part of The academy, she was eradicated on the live performance 13 of the 18 it takes to win the competition. Nevertheless, she is a agency believer that life doesn’t finish and that it’s by no means too late to pursue a dream no matter age. “I’m very grateful to my inside little one, that she by no means stopped dreaming. That she pushed me to battle and take dangers. I by no means cease studying and knocking on doorways. I really feel very lucky for all the pieces I’ve carried out since I began with the theater in Monterrey till now, selling Scream. I hardly really feel that I’m starting, that’s, I really feel that the great is hardly coming ”, he concludes.

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