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Who Is Camila Mendes?
Camila Mendes, born on June 29, 1994, in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a Brazilian American actress best known for her breakout role as Veronica Lodge in the acclaimed teen drama Riverdale, a contemporary adaptation of the Archie Comics series.
Early Life and Family
Mendes was raised in a culturally rich environment, being the second child of Brazilian parents, Victor, a business executive, and Gisele, a flight attendant. Following her parents’ divorce when she was eight, Mendes and her older sister were primarily raised by their mother. Their upbringing was characterized by a nomadic lifestyle, moving frequently across the southern United States and spending a year living in Brazil.
Eventually, the family settled in South Florida during Mendes’ middle school years. She reflects fondly on her time in Brazil, expressing a sense of longing for the close-knit community and familial connections she experienced there. “I do really get sad because my entire extended family is in Brazil, and they’re all hanging out with each other every day and they have such a sense of family and community,” Mendes shared in an interview with W Magazine. She graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2016, where she honed her acting skills.
Movies and TV Shows
Prior to landing the role of Veronica Lodge, Mendes had limited acting experience. Her audition process for Riverdale was notably challenging. “I had the most harrowing audition process,” she recounted in 2018. “They were like, ‘You’re our top choice, but we want to open up a new search, and we want someone that can compete with you.’ I lost sleep, I was crying every night because it felt like I was so close to something that could be big, and like my life and career changing, but in the end, it all worked out.”
Mendes takes pride in portraying a Latina character, stating, “I’m so happy…and it’s not just Veronica; it’s the whole Lodge family being all Latino… portraying Latinos as a strong, powerful, intelligent family. We do well; we’re go-getters.” The cast of Riverdale also features emerging talents like Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse.
In addition to her television success, Mendes has appeared in several films, including The Stand In (2018), Coyote Lake (2018), and Palm Springs (2020).
Personal Life
Mendes has been open about her struggles with an eating disorder and utilizes her significant social media presence to advocate for body positivity. In an interview with Nylon, she remarked, “I’ve been kinder to myself because of all the positive feedback. I think all the encouragement from fans, and how much I see that they’re going through the same thing, has shown me I actually could make a difference in someone’s life.”
From 2018 to 2019, Mendes dated her Riverdale co-star Charles Melton, highlighting her connection to her work and colleagues.