Melissa Barrera Talks ‘Carmen,’ Taking On An Iconic Role & More [Interview]

“In the Heights” and “Scream VI” actress Melissa Barrera stars in “Carmen,” the directorial debut from choreographer Benjamin Millepied. Based on the classic opera, the musical is a modern-day adaptation that finds Barrera’s character on a quest for freedom in an immigrant story that follows her travels from Mexico to Los Angeles as she discovers herself. Paul Mescal stars opposite her as a star-crossed lover. 

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Barrera, since her breakout in the Starz series “Vida,” has been making a name for herself as a formidable singer and dancer, evident through her work in “In the Heights” and “Carmen.” We spoke to the actress about classifying herself as a dancer, the appeal of working with Millepied, and learning the strength of body language in the film.  

What first appealed to you about the story and this character in particular? 

It was a combination of a lot of things. When I first heard about the movie and got the breakdown for the self-tape it was basically saying Benjamin Millepied is going to make his directorial debut. Immediately I was like Benjamin Millepied, I know him. He’s the choreographer for “Black Swan,” I’m a huge fan, and he’s going to direct so I know this is going to be incredible. I know his style of dance and I know he’s been choreographing forever, and I just thought that the idea of a choreographer directing a movie is exactly the type of thing that I gravitate toward because I know it will be super different. 

Then obviously the property of “Carmen,” because the character is so iconic. I never thought in a million years I’d get the opportunity to play Carmen because I’m not an opera singer and I’m Mexican. They tell this story a lot in Europe and the story is French and it’s gone to Spain but I never thought as a Mexican actress that I’d get the opportunity. It was many things that I was attracted to. 

And then after I met with Benjamin and I got the script I saw that it was an immigration story. I’m always a little on the fence about immigration stories because we have a lot of them and, when I first moved to L.A., I’d only get called in for immigration stories or cartel-related stories and characters. And I was like okay, we’ve seen that before and it’s always so tragic and it’s always painted in a negative light and I don’t want to feed that stereotype. 

When I saw that this story of this Mexican immigrant woman was going to be told through dance and movement in such a beautiful, romantic, and epic way, I thought this is a way that I’ve never seen this done and maybe it’s a way to reach a wider audience who usually rejects how this story is done. It’s a way to get through to them because it doesn’t feel preachy, it isn’t like we’re trying to teach you the realities of the world. It’s asking that you go on this adventure with us, fall in love, and maybe have a conversation because it’s going on, it’s happening, and it’s affecting so many people. 

What did you enjoy most about working with Benjamin Milleipied, especially with this being his debut film and his background in dance? 

Ben was such a joy to work with. On set, he created the most beautiful and positive environment. This was his first movie so he was like a little kid in a candy store, every day, just smiling wide. Even in the stressful moments he would find the joke in it and keep everything light because it’s hard work and it’s long hours, and you’re running against the clock, and the light. It was a very ambitious shoot too. We were all so lucky and happy to be doing it and he was so grateful that everyone was there for his first feature. 

He is so collaborative and the epitome of the best idea wins. He’s down to experiment and so trusting. I became attached to the film in 2018 and I didn’t have a lot of credits in the U.S. aside from a season of “Vida” so I didn’t feel like my voice mattered to anyone and he was the first person to make me feel like my voice did matter and my opinion mattered. We’d go to lunch and talk about the script and he’d write down my suggestions and send me a new version of the scene where he’d incorporate my idea. I’d never felt listened to in that way and I felt very valued by him the whole time. He believed in me so much and I’m so grateful. 

Now that you’ve been involved in a couple of musicals, is there something in particular about them that you enjoy the process of? Or 

“Carmen” taught me a lot about body language. I’d done “In the Heights” before and had to dance in that film but it was very different from what I had to do in “Carmen.” The character Carmen dances her language; it’s literally how she expresses her feelings and it’s how she communicates. I got the chance to be in the dance rehearsal room for weeks and weeks before shooting and getting to know how Carmen moves every single inch of her body and that helped me find the character so much faster once I got to set. I wasn’t trying things out for the first few scenes and seeing what worked because I already knew who she was because I knew exactly where she carries her weight and exactly where she moves. It was such a beautiful experience for me and so different from anything I’d ever done. I wish I could do that for every character I play. 

I read in an interview you said that you’re “not a dancer.” Did you mean that you’re not professionally trained? Because you certainly seem like a dancer to those watching. 

The dance choreographers of “In the Heights” always get mad at me when I say I’m not a dancer. But when I say I’m not a dancer it’s exactly that. I’m not a professionally trained dancer. I have so much respect for dancers. What they put their bodies through, the long hours, and the sacrifices. Most professional dancers have been doing it since they were two years old. It’s their life and their bodies go through so much trauma because of it and they learn to live in pain because of it. And I’m not that. I went to musical theater school and I had to take dance lessons but I never considered myself a dancer, I just figured I had to know it since it’s part of musical theater and I can pick up choreography, so that’s what I mean when I say I’m not a dancer. 

Obviously, my job is to make you believe that I am a dancer in this movie. When I went to a film festival in Miami, at the Q & A panel after the screening and I said I wasn’t a dancer, everyone gasped and asked ‘what’ and people came up after me and told me not to say I’m not a dancer and that no one has to know that. But it’s not something I’m ashamed of, I just want to be truthful about it. I’m an actor who can dance and who can pick up choreography and if I rehearse long enough I can fool you into thinking I’m a dancer but I respect the profession too much for that. 

“Carmen” is in select theaters now.