Melina Matthews

Melina Matthews
Matthews in 2018
Born1986[1]
Barcelona, Spain[1]
Alma materRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActress
Years active2005–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,[1] in Barcelona; she is the daughter of a Welsh father and a French mother,[2] who were both interpreter/translators.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] Her initial involvement in theatre, was as an accent trainer and dialogue coach, helping American actors to polish their English and Spanish accents.[1]

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,[2] whom she purportedly met while filming Negotiator in 2014.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Ref.
2007 Savage Grace Lorna Moffat
2008 Sing for Darfur Isabelle
2013 Mama Mama (voice)
Panzer Chocolate Julie Levinson
The Returned Eve
2014 Negociador (Negotiator) Sophie
[13]
2015 Don't Speak Samantha
The Gunman Cox's Secretary
2016 Realive Technician
Nick Amber
Lucas Jane Lipkiss
2017 Rex Lopez
El jugador de ajedrez (The Chess Player) Marianne Latour
2018 Silencio Ana
My Masterpiece Verdulera
XConfessions Web Series (video) Olivia
2019 El Cerro de los Dioses (The Hill of the Gods) Melina Matthews
An Affair to Die For Lydia 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 Competition Directora de fotografía
2022 Lucas Jane Lipkiss
2024 The Room Next Door Lawyer

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 Aída — El imperio (de la morcilla) contraataca
2014–2015 The Refugees Victoria Episodes: "Sacrificio" and "El éxodo"
2015 Vis a vis (Locked Up) Locutora Episode: "La cruda realidad"
Magnum Opus Allie Berg 3 episodes
2015–2016 El Príncipe Sophie 12 episodes
2016 Thirteen Sofía Marín 4 episodes
2017 Playground Laurence 10 episodes
2018 Fugitiva Isabel Lafuente 7 episodes
2019 La peste (The Plague) Juana 6 episodes
La otra mirada (A Different View) Carmen 8 episodes
2020–present Warrior Nun Sister Shannon Masters 3 episodes
2021 Santuario Valle Podcast series; 12 episodes
L'última nit del karaoke Eli 3 episodes
2022 The Girls at the Back (Spanish: Las de la última fila) Girl at the Back 1 episode
Apagón Marina Episode: "Emergencia"
2023 A Town Called Malice Lola 6 episodes
Cristo y Rey Mireilla Darc Episode: "A un rey no se la deja"
2022–2023 Sentimos las molestias Victoria 12 episodes

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Melina Matthews". aisge.es. 5 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Todo lo que no sabes de Melina Matthews, la novia de Raúl Arévalo". revistalove.es. 18 February 2017. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Savage Grace (18-May-2007)". nndb.com. 18 May 2007.
  4. ^ a b "Who is Melina Matthews?". hitc.com. 7 July 2020.
  5. ^ "BBC Three announces cast for Thirteen, original drama series by Marnie Dickens". BBC. 28 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Marc Clotet and Melina Matthews - El Jugador de Ajedrez - Festival Malaga". fotogramas.es. 24 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Silencio cast and crew". silencio2018.com. 26 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Moviestar+ La Peste". elespanol.com. 2019.
  9. ^ "La otra mirada Season 2". vimeo.com. 2019.
  10. ^ "Interview with Cláudia Bassols and Melina Matthews, who present at the Sitges Film Festival". barnafotopress.com. 18 October 2013.
  11. ^ "Sitges 50: Entrevista con Melina Matthews". goliathisdead.com. 27 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Premier Goya Awards Raúl Arévalo y Melina Matthews". elespanol.com. 2017.
  13. ^ Young, Neil (2 October 2014). "'Negotiator' ('Negociador'): San Sebastian Review". The Hollywood Reporter.