As she gears up for the release of Road House, her next big Hollywood project, Portuguese actress Daniela Melchior takes us through her life journey.
Turtleneck, Wolford; earring, Swarovski. Photo: Paulo Meixedo
Her calming, doe eyes and her charming smile speak volumes of her laid-back approach to life. Daniela Melchior is both the endearing woman next door and the dazzling box office star. A masterful chameleon who captivates a diverse spectrum of audiences from all corners of the world, be they those who enjoy their evening soap operas or those who can name each superhero and their origin stories. The young woman who started acting during her teenage years to get the attention of her classmates is now Hollywood’s brightest next big thing.
After portraying The Suicide Squad’s Ratcatcher and Guardians of the Galaxy’s Ura, Portugal’s first DC and Marvel star is now Road House’s Ellie. For her debut leading role in Hollywood, Melchior shares the screen with none other than Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor in the reimagination of the 1989 popular thriller. Premiering worldwide this month, the film follows former UFC fighter Dalton as he takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse before the plot starts to unfold dramatically. “I am very excited for the world to watch Road House. I had a lot of fight training for this movie, and I learned a lot of new skills too,” says Melchior. “I had scuba diving classes and boat driving lessons. I also worked with a dialect coach to master an American accent. It is with such an interesting cast – Conor and Jake. It is a very fun and exciting movie to watch.”
Dress, Jacquemus; headpiece, Roger Vivier; necklace, vintage. Photo: Paulo Meixedo
The actor also found she has quite a lot in common with Ellie. “She is very laid back, she is thoughtful, and she is deep, but at the same time nothing is too deep in her life. It is like nothing is a big deal [for her]. She is open to anything that comes into her life but at the same time, she has a soft spot – I would say – for the right things. Something else that I have in common with Ellie is being attracted to bad boys,” says Daniela Melchior with a mischievous giggle.
Rewinding back a decade or so, it was in fact boys who put a young Daniela on her path to global stardom. “My passion for acting started when I was very, very little. I discovered that whenever I was on stage acting, I felt the most listened to and I had everyone’s attention. Basically, I remember being very little, very skinny – I did not have the attention of the boys in my class. But when I was on stage, none of that mattered. I was funny, and everyone gave me attention.” Soon enough, the hobby turned into a meaningful profession built with the intention to understand human psychology. “As I grew older, I made peace with myself and I started doing it [acting] for the sake of the characters themselves. My perspective became more about telling stories and telling the characters’ stories instead of using acting in my favor,” she explains.
Dress, Balmain; turtleneck, Wolford; socks, Falke. Photo: Paulo Meixedo
Launching her career at the age of 17, Daniela Melchior rapidly became a staple in Portuguese soap operas – something that taught her independence, flexibility, and proactivity on both personal and professional levels. “I started working at a young age and it gave me a sense of responsibility. I remember, in high school, I began studying drama and I booked my first role. I remember seeing my classmates spending time with each other and going out while I did the opposite; I had to work.” The actor continues with a warm smile, “In parallel, starting my career working as an actor doing soap operas in Portugal was very decisive of the type of actor that I am today. In Portugal, the industry is very small. We do not have much time and we do not have big budgets. It made me become an actor that is always ready for anything. I am ready for the director to make a suggestion or to change his mind and ask me for something in the moment. In fact, this was instrumental when I did my audition for my first international movie.”
With her global debut being in The Suicide Squad (2021), Daniela Melchior still remembers the details of a random email from a manager in Los Angeles asking for self-tapes (a pre- recorded video audition). He believed that there was space for an actor like her in LA, and days later, a Zoom meeting followed. Sooner than expected the words The Suicide Squad were uttered, and the rest is now history. “People always ask me how did it happen? How did you get there? I really did not fight to be where I am because I was never the actor that had that ambition. Portugal is so small that we really did not have the space to dream and to manifest, or to see ourselves doing such a thing. I was still shooting soap operas at that moment,” she recalls. Between roles in Marlowe (2022), Guardians of the Galaxy 3 (2023), and Fast X (2023) as well as numerous parts in domestic films and TV productions, Melchior has had a slew of eventful years, catapulting her career at home and abroad.
Dress, Valentino. Photo: Paulo Meixedo
While juggling shooting schedules and movie premieres across the world, the star remains loyal to another life-long passion of hers. Fashion has always been present in Daniela Melchior’s life. She became a Balmain muse last September in time for the maison’s womenswear Spring/Summer 2024 show at Paris Fashion Week. “Before I started working as an actor, I tried to be a model. But my first agency told me, ‘You are very pretty, but you are too short.’ So, I ended up with small jobs as a commercial model, and I never dreamt of bigger opportunities.” A smile starts to overtake her features. “I remember the launch event of the H&M and Balmain collaboration in Portugal. At the time, I was still starting as an actor, so, of course I was not invited to the event. But I recall all the well-established models and actors that were there and me wishing I was invited because I really loved the pieces. There was a dress that Kendall Jenner wore, a long sleeve mini dress, which inspired many fast fashion designs, one of which I ended up getting – a red version with pearls and an open back. I felt like Kendall every time I wore the dress. And then a few years later, I was invited to the show, and it was like a dream come true.” With oversized T-shirts and stilettos her favorite fashion combination, Melchior is already notorious for making headlines with her choices, including the Saint Laurent belted cropped leather jacket that she chose for one of Fast X’s international premieres. “A few years ago, I would have said that my everyday style is all about comfort and I would be in a tracksuit, leggings, and all. But since I started working with my stylist Nelly Gonçalves, we have been having a lot of fun, playing with clothes, with concepts, and telling different stories with clothes.” Among her recent fashion escapades is attending the Elie Saab Spring 2024 show. “I have previously worn Elie Saab’s ready-to- wear designs like short, cocktail dresses, but I have not yet worn a gown and I am sure that if I do wear one, one day, I will feel like a goddess because that is the energy that I had when I was watching the show.”
Shirt, Dior. Photo: Paulo Meixedo
Not planning to slow down anytime soon, the always-busy actor is already deep into her next project. Viana the Legend of the Golden Hearts is Melchior’s latest passion project, a Portuguese animation movie depicting a powerful love story. After lending her voice to the lead role in English, she will soon head back to the recording studio for the Portuguese dubbing. “From the progress I have been seeing, I believe it can win a Golden Globe or an Oscar for the best international animated movie. From the sketches to the music, I have never seen anything like a Disney production made in Portugal and by Portuguese people.”
Aside from her work schedule, on a personal level the actor is also excited about the latest chapter she has embarked on as a homeowner. “Settling in the house has been amazing. Even though it is not in Lisbon and most of my friends live there, it is only a 15 to 20-minute drive. It has been great to have my own place where I can invite my friends for game nights.” With a warmth overtaking her doll-like features, Daniela Melchior continues, “I live with my dog Heidi Maria, and I basically live my life around her schedule and her needs. At the same time, I have been trying to find discipline and to find a way to make the most out of any downtime. I use the time to take care of my body, to take care of my mind, and to be with my friends.”
Dress, Valentino. Photo: Paulo Meixedo
Naturally, traveling is also on the itinerary. While many countries and cities are on the list, Saudi Arabia and Dubai are at the very top thanks to a certain Netflix production. “I have been to Dubai, but just to the airport. I would also love to go to Saudi Arabia.” Laughter takes over as she shares, “I love movies, but I also love to watch reality TV because as an actor it gives us a sense of normal people and real characters. I watched the two seasons of Dubai Bling. The lifestyle, the stories… I just loved it – it is super interesting. It certainly made me curious to go there and experience the city.”
Photography: Paulo Meixedo
Video: Tiago Ribeiro
Style: Nelly Goncalves
Hair: Claudio Pacheco
Makeup: Sara Fonseca
Digitech: Luis Pedro
Producer: Maison Yauno
Fashion assistant: Giulianna Mancuso
Originally published in the March 2024 issue of Vogue Arabia
