Melissa Barrera is a Mexican actress and singer best known for her roles in both television and film. She was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Barrera gained early fame for starring in Mexican telenovelas such as Siempre tuya Acapulco and Tanto amor, before achieving international recognition for her lead role as Lyn Hernandez in the Starz series Vida (2018–2020). She later became widely known for her performance as Sam Carpenter in the Scream film franchise (2022–2023), solidifying her status as a modern “scream queen.” Melissa also starred as Vanessa in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical film In the Heights (2021), showcasing her singing and dancing skills.