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, who were both interpreter/translators. 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. 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. Her initial involvement in theatre, was as an accent trainer and dialogue coach, helping American actors to polish their English and Spanish accents.
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. In 2013, Matthews played the voice of 'Mama' in horror film Mama.
In 2016, Matthews landed a role as Sofía Marín alongside Jodie Comer in the BBC television miniseries Thirteen. 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. Matthews played the lead actress role as 'Ana' in the Mexico-based 2018 film Silencio.
In 2019, Matthews starred as Juana in season 2 of La peste (The Plague) set in bubonic plague ridden 16th century Seville. 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. Matthews had a short guest role as Sister Shannon Masters, the former 'Halo-bearer' in Warrior Nun in 2020.
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. In 2017, Matthews was reported to be in a relationship with film actor and director Raúl Arévalo, whom she purportedly met while filming Negotiator in 2014.
Filmography Film
Year Title Role 2007 Savage GraceLorna Moffat 2008 Sing for DarfurIsabelle2013MamaMama (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 MatthewsAn Affair to Die ForLydia Alan2020 Black Beach Susan2021 Battle in Space: The Armada Attacks Lt. Arsys More the Merrier (formerly: Donde caben dos (Where two fit))BelénOfficial CompetitionDirectora de fotografía2022LucasJane Lipkiss2024The Room Next DoorLawyer2026
Television Year Title Role Notes2005–2006 El Cor de la Ciutat (The Heart of the City)Fadila Choukri 6 episodes2011 Arròs covat (voice)Episode: "Arròs d'Arenys amb mostassa a la mel"2013 Aída El 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 episodes2015–2016 El PríncipeSophie 12 episodes 2016 ThirteenSofía Marín 4 episodes2017 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 2020–2022Warrior NunSister Shannon Masters3 episodes2021Santuario Valle Podcast series; 12 episodes L'última nit del karaokeEli3 episodes2022 The Girls at the Back (Spanish: Las de la última fila)Girl at the Back1 episodeApagónMarinaEpisode: "Emergencia"2023 A Town Called MaliceLola6 episodesCristo y ReyMireilla DarcEpisode: "A un rey no se la deja"2022–2023 Sentimos las molestias Victoria12 episodes 2025OlympoJana Castro6 episodes
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