In 2006 Melnikova debuted. She played the main role in the film Cinderella 4×4. Everything starts with desire. It was released in 2008. Her performance in this film earned her two nominations. The aspiring actress played 14-year-old Cinderella — an ordinary teen who is a little bit strange, dreamy and always gets into strange and unusual situations. For this role Melnikova was awarded the prize for the Best Female child role at the XVII Open Film Festival of CIS countries "Kinoshock - 2008" and Best Actress in a children’s movie at XII All-Russian Festival of Visual Arts.
But the real fame came to the actress in 2007. She played the role of Eugenia "Zhenya" Vasnetsova, the most athletic of the daughters, in the TV series Daddy's Daughters.
In 2009, Darya starred in the film Ash Waltz and in two series: The rules of theft and That's Life. In the same year she entered Shchukin Theater School in Moscow.
Melnikova has become the face of L’Oréal. The actress starred in a L’Oréal Paris Pure Zone commercial.
Darya enjoys photography and she is going to release the book of her stories and photos titled Pictures to attract attention.
Personal life
Melnikova had a son on October 27, 2015 with her husband, Artur Smolyaninov.[3] In December of 2018 they had a second son, Mark.[4] On June 6, 2021, the actress announced her divorce from Artur Smolyaninov.[5]