In The Heights‘ disappointing performance at the box office, admitting she “took it personally”.Released in 2021, the movie-musical version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway show was Barrera’s first major film.
She starred as lead character Vanessa, the love interest Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) who works at Daniela’s salon.The big screen adaptation was well-received by critics, but suffered at the box office due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when people weren’t going to theatres.
While Barrera conceded that such circumstances were beyond her control, it still took its toll on her.“At the time, I did take it very personally,” she told NME. “I don’t anymore.
But it was my first big movie, everybody was saying it was going to be this huge hit, and it meant a lot to have a big studio movie with an all-people-of-colour cast.“The reviews were great, and the movie was fantastic – I’m proud of it – but then it didn’t do well because of COVID and it was released simultaneously on HBO Max when people weren’t going to theatres.
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