Melissa Barrera is “trying to change [her] Mentality”.
The 32-year-old actress is starring in the ‘Scream’ franchise but Melissa hasn’t found time to enjoy her recent success.
She told PEOPLE: “Living in the moment is something I struggle with.
“My mom is always there to remind me to pat myself on the back, hug me and talk to myself in the mirror to congratulate myself on how far I’ve come. I’m trying to change my mentality.”
Despite her recent success, Melissa has admitted to being “painfully shy” when she was younger.
The actress, who grew up in Monterrey, Mexico, said, “I grew up watching my classmates perform in the theater and I always wanted to be a part of it because it felt so cool.
“I would be a little fan in the hallways watching the middle school and high school seniors that were on the show.”
Melissa eventually found the courage to take part in school plays.
She recalled, “I just fell in love with the whole process of auditioning and bonding with theater people. They became my friends.”
Meanwhile, Melissa admitted she was devastated by the box office performance of the musical-drama film “In the Heights.”
The film flopped at the box office — but that disappointment taught the actress an important lesson.
She explained: “It really affected me.
“[But] It also taught me a big lesson — that when a movie comes out or when a show comes out, I don’t have control over what happens. The only thing I have control over is my experience and how I feel while doing it and if I’m proud of it. I can’t let the stars not align or whatever happens to the world take that away from me.”
