Linedy sits down with the incredibly versatile Melissa Barrera. The two start their conversation with a fun game of dominoes, discussing their love for spicy salsa from NYC’s Mexican restaurant Cuerno, and debating the age-old question of whether Jack could have fit on the door in the movie Titanic. Melissa also explains why filming slasher movies is essentially just playing pretend, though she actively avoids supernatural horror films due to her upbringing. Backstage at her current Broadway show Titanique, Melissa shares hilarious stories about her castmates, from Frankie Grande’s pre-show ritual of blasting Celine Dion in the dressing room to Constantine “Connie” Rousouli’s “attempt” at speaking Spanish with her..
Moving into the "in between" moments of her career, Melissa gets incredibly vulnerable about facing rejection and navigating systemic racism in Hollywood. She reveals how she combats these industry barriers, and strives to open doors for herself and her community. Melissa also opens up about overcoming singing trauma from a past reality show to land her current Broadway role, a journey that involved canceling a Zoom audition and flying herself to New York to prove her dedication. Offering profound advice for artists dealing with the negative outside noise, she shares a powerful quote about how a boat only sinks from the water it lets in, reminding listeners to value the opinions of loved ones over internet critics and trolls .
Melissa Barrera is a global powerhouse actress and singer whose dynamic career spans from Mexican telenovelas to massive Hollywood franchises. She captured audiences globally with her stunning portrayal of Vanessa in the film adaptation of In the Heights. Since then, she has dominated the screen, surviving Ghostface in the Scream films, leading the Netflix survival hit Keep Breathing, and starring in the cult favorite horror rom com Your Monster. Currently having a massive 2026, Melissa leads the Peacock spy thriller The Copenhagen Test and is making her highly anticipated Broadway debut starring as Rose in the hit musical comedy Titanique.
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