Melina Matthews Explained

Melina Matthews
Birth Date:1986
Birth Place:Barcelona, Spain
Occupation:Actress
Alma Mater:Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Years Active:2005–present

Melina Matthews (born 1986) is a Spain-born actress and presenter, known as a host for the Sitges Film Festival, and for her acting roles as Ana in the 2018 film Silencio, as Juana in season 2 of La peste (2019), as new teacher Carmen in season 2 of A Different View, and as Sister Shannon Masters in Warrior Nun.

Early life

Melina Matthews was born in 1986, in Barcelona; she is the daughter of a Welsh father and a French mother,[1] who were both interpreter/translators.[2] At the age of 19, Matthews moved to London to study for a BA Hons degree in Investigative Journalism at the University of Westminster, graduating in 2009.[2] During her time as a student in London, Matthews studied theatre at the Central School of Speech and Drama working at The Old Vic theatre and at the Southbank Centre, with hopes of pursuing an acting career.[2] Her initial involvement in theatre, was as an accent trainer and dialogue coach, helping American actors to polish their English and Spanish accents.[2]

Acting career

Matthews debut appearance on the big screen was as Laura Moffat in the film Savage Grace in 2007, opposite Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne.[3] In 2013, Matthews played the voice of 'Mama' in horror film Mama.[4]

In 2016, Matthews landed a role as Sofía Marín alongside Jodie Comer in the BBC television miniseries Thirteen.[5] Melina Matthews co-starred alongside Marc Clotet as lovers in the film El jugador de ajedrez (The Chess Player), which featured at the Málaga Film Festival 2017.[6] Matthews played the lead actress role as 'Ana' in the Mexico-based 2018 film Silencio.[7]

In 2019, Matthews starred as Juana in season 2 of La peste (The Plague) set in bubonic plague ridden 16th century Seville.[8] Matthews was a replacement for Cecilia Freire playing a main character of new teacher Carmen in season 2 of La otra mirada (A Different View) in 2019.[9] Matthews had a short guest role as Sister Shannon Masters, the former 'Halo-bearer' in Warrior Nun in 2020. [4]

Non-acting

For many years, Matthews has been a presenter at the Sitges Film Festival, which is a film festival based in Catalonia specialising in fantasy and horror films.[10] [11] In 2017, Matthews was reported to be in a relationship with film actor and director Raúl Arévalo,[1] whom she purportedly met while filming Negotiator in 2014.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
2007 Savage GraceLorna Moffat
2008 Sing for DarfurIsabelle
2013MamaMama (voice)
Panzer Chocolate Julie Levinson
The ReturnedEve
2014 Negociador (Negotiator)Sophie
2015 Don't SpeakSamantha
The Gunman Cox's Secretary
2016RealiveTechnician
NickAmber
LucasJane Lipkiss
2017RexLopez
El jugador de ajedrez (The Chess Player)Marianne Latour
2018SilencioAna
My MasterpieceVerdulera
XConfessions Web Series (video) Olivia
2019 El Cerro de los Dioses (The Hill of the Gods)Melina Matthews
An Affair to Die ForLydia Alan
2020 Black Beach Susan
2021 Battle in Space: The Armada Attacks Lt. Arsys
More the Merrier (formerly: Donde caben dos (Where two fit))Belén
Official CompetitionDirectora de fotografía
2022LucasJane Lipkiss
2024The Room Next DoorLawyer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005–2006 El Cor de la Ciutat (The Heart of the City)Fadila Choukri 6 episodes
2011 Arròs covat (voice)Episode: "Arròs d'Arenys amb mostassa a la mel"
2013 AídaEl imperio (de la morcilla) contraataca
2014–2015 The RefugeesVictoria Episodes: "Sacrificio" and "El éxodo"
2015 Vis a vis (Locked Up)Locutora Episode: "La cruda realidad"
Magnum OpusAllie Berg 3 episodes
2015–2016 El PríncipeSophie 12 episodes
2016 ThirteenSofía Marín 4 episodes
2017 Playground Laurence 10 episodes
2018 FugitivaIsabel Lafuente7 episodes
2019 La peste (The Plague)Juana 6 episodes
La otra mirada (A Different View) Carmen 8 episodes
2020–presentWarrior NunSister Shannon Masters3 episodes
2021Santuario Valle Podcast series; 12 episodes
L'última nit del karaokeEli3 episodes
2022 The Girls at the Back (Spanish: Las de la última fila)Girl at the Back1 episode
ApagónMarinaEpisode: "Emergencia"
2023 A Town Called MaliceLola6 episodes
Cristo y ReyMireilla DarcEpisode: "A un rey no se la deja"
2022–2023 Sentimos las molestias Victoria12 episodes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Todo lo que no sabes de Melina Matthews, la novia de Raúl Arévalo . revistalove.es . 18 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170221215019/https://www.revistalove.es/melina-matthews-raul-arevalo/ . dead . 2017-02-21.
  2. Web site: Melina Matthews . aisge.es . 5 April 2017.
  3. Web site: Savage Grace (18-May-2007) . nndb.com . 18 May 2007.
  4. Web site: Who is Melina Matthews? . hitc.com . 7 July 2020.
  5. News: BBC Three announces cast for Thirteen, original drama series by Marnie Dickens. BBC. 28 July 2015.
  6. Web site: Marc Clotet and Melina Matthews - El Jugador de Ajedrez - Festival Malaga . fotogramas.es . March 24, 2017.
  7. Web site: Silencio cast and crew. silencio2018.com . 26 October 2018.
  8. Web site: Moviestar+ La Peste. elespanol.com . 2019.
  9. Web site: La otra mirada Season 2. vimeo.com . 2019.
  10. Web site: Interview with Cláudia Bassols and Melina Matthews, who present at the Sitges Film Festival . barnafotopress.com . 18 October 2013.
  11. Web site: Sitges 50: Entrevista con Melina Matthews. goliathisdead.com . 27 September 2017.
  12. Web site: Premier Goya Awards Raúl Arévalo y Melina Matthews. elespanol.com . 2017.