Melissa Barrera’s Dream Directors: Her Ultimate Collaboration Wishlist
Melissa Barrera reveals the five directors she’s most keen to work with, from acclaimed European auteurs to celebrated filmmakers like Denis Villeneuve and Boots Riley.
Anyone who’s ever had a toddler knows they can be downright unsettling, especially when they appear at your bedside in the dead of night, whispering your name until you’re wide awake and rattled. It’s no wonder filmmakers tap into this for inspiration, as seen in the 2024 horror-comedy Abigail, starring Melissa Barrera. The film’s got its laughs, but at its core, it’s about a bloodthirsty vampire kid—enough to make anyone think twice about leaving the nightlight off.
Barrera, a Mexican actor, has carved out a niche for herself in the horror genre over recent years. After making waves in the cult series Vida, she’s gone on to headline Scream VI and the indie comedy Your Monster. The latter, which earned her critical praise and an award nod, follows a young performer grappling with a cancer diagnosis who finds comfort in a literal monster hiding in her closet. Directed by Caroline Lindy in her feature debut, Barrera said she relished the chance to work with someone at the start of their directing journey.
Chasing New Creative Partnerships
That said, Barrera’s got her sights set on collaborating with some of the industry’s most respected names.
“I actually have a wishlist on my phone of directors that I’d love to work with, that I actually just shared with my manager. I have a lot of European directors on there.”
She’s especially keen on Céline Sciamma, the French filmmaker behind Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which she counts among her top picks.
Another name high on her list is Belgian director Lukas Dhont, known for the 2022 coming-of-age drama Close.
“That movie killed me. They (Sciamma and Dhont) both speak French, and I’m learning French right now because I want to work with them so badly that I’m like, ‘I need to speak French so I can be in their movies.’”
International Influences and Local Legends
Canadian director Denis Villeneuve also features on Barrera’s dream team, with his 2010 thriller Incendies ranking as one of her all-time favourites. She’s equally enthusiastic about working with Fernando Frias, the Mexican director behind the 2019 musical drama I’m No Longer Here.
“He’s very talented and cool, and I hope that we can find something that we can do together.”
Boots Riley, the American behind the acclaimed black comedy Sorry to Bother You, rounds out her top five.
“I was actually supposed to be in his last movie, and it didn’t work out scheduling-wise, but I am sure that I’m going to work with him at some point. I will beg him to put me in another one of his movies.”
What’s Next for Barrera
Looking ahead, Barrera’s got a couple of new projects on the boil. She’s starring alongside John Travolta in Black Tides, a Renny Harlin-directed thriller about a group stranded at sea. She’ll also appear in The Collaboration, sharing the screen with Paul Bettany as Andy Warhol. With her growing reputation and a clear vision for future collaborations, Barrera’s career looks set to keep punters guessing—and watching.
Melissa Barrera’s Top Five Directors to Work With
- Boots Riley (USA)
- Lukas Dhont (Belgium)
- Fernando Frias (Mexico)
- Céline Sciamma (France)
- Denis Villeneuve (Canada)