An Inspired Chat with Melody Parra of Los Angeles

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Melody Parra. Check out our conversation below.

Melody , so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Anytime I am in nature, on a walk with my little senior pup or have an iced coffee and a good book in my hand, I feel so much joy and gratitude to be alive, happy and healthy. It’s the simple pleasures that go such a long way

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi there!
I am an actress born and raised in LA, completely native in both English and Spanish.
I studied literature and acting at UCLA and consider myself lucky in that my background helps me see a story from both its inception on the writing side and what it transforms into on screen. As far as branding goes, I would say I most often play good girls with grit; sassy and strong, yet vulnerable and empathetic at the same time.

In 2025, I booked my first wonderful co-star cast by the amazing Carla Hool (Jurassic World, Emilia Perez, Coco, Black Panther) in the series Un Abogado en Nueva York (A New York Lawyer). I have played both leads and villains in over 20 hit vertical series aka mini soap operas which are making their mark and super fun to film because they bring ALL the drama. Verticals are what I call mental gymnastics as far as how fast-paced the filming process is.

In addition to acting, I’ve also been blessed with the opportunity to write, direct and produce in film.
I have fully produced one dramatic feature and helped produced two horror features. One of these horror films- Bampire- premiered this year at festivals across the country in major cities including LA, Atlanta, & Houston. Bampire was extremely well-received, winning best horror, best cinematography, & best direction among other awards! So I now have the good fortune of saying I helped produce a multi-award winning film and am excited for what’s next.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Lies, lack of truth or false appearances- being who you think someone wants you to be rather than who you truly are.. In the same way that that gives way to a lack of authenticity, I would say that trust, openness and empathy restore connection. I think above all, it’s important to know what brings you joy because that helps you be the best version of yourself and to live a life you’re happy about and proud of. If you’re doing that, the right bonds find their way to you.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Heartache, heartbreak, love, loss, the usual haha
In all seriousness though, I would say we end up wounded when we not only have to let go of people, but the shared life lived with them and the future we envisioned.
Meditating and seeing the positivity in every outcome has really helped me heal, along with knowing that we outgrow versions of ourselves and what we needed or desired then is not who we are now.
Sometimes, we see the good in people and we give the best of ourselves back and then when things don’t go the way we would hope, we blame ourselves for the outcome.
Life happens. And I think rather than blaming ourselves, it’s important that we forgive ourselves, forgive them and honor our truths whether we knew what those truths were before or after the experience that wounded us. To me, that is the path to joy, resistance and, ultimately, alignment, for the most beautiful life we can lead.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
100%
What you see is what you get lol and oddly enough, I’ve had several close friends tell me that & how refreshing is one of the kindest compliments I’ve ever gotten
I think we all have a private life reserved for those closest to us but the idea that our public self could be so far removed from that or be a finely tailored image in direct contrast to the real you, that makes me a little sad
I think when you are the real you, the right people enter your circle

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I think ever since I was a kid, I’ve been super aware of my own mortality.
Even though it’s something we all know, I’m like hyper-conscious that we’re all running on a clock.
It’s something I would always think about when we went to the movies, probably because I would think to myself “This a moment of someone’s life captured as it will never be again- and I’m talking about the actors, not the characters in the film, Though film captures someone’s essence at that time of their life, we all will age and pass on eventually,
This awareness makes me view life and all of its experiences as an investment of time that we can never get back, so I think it really puts into perspective for me what I choose to prioritize and what I will not accept in my own life.

I try to lead with kindness, empathy and grace and to leave people better than I found them even if our interaction is as simple as a “Hello.” It costs nothing to be kind and a lot of times, you don’t know what someone is going through, especially when it comes to the emotional life they’re living in the moment you cross paths. Sometimes a kind word makes all the difference, so I think I understand we’re here for a short while, a lot shorter than we realize and if you can choose between being a healing or harmonious energy in someone’s life vs a destructive or combative one, always choose the former.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6311459/
• Instagram: @parra.melody
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parra.melody/

Image Credits
Taylor Morden
OpenVision Entertainment
Robert Christopher Smith