As she graced the blue carpet in Malta, preceding the prestigious Golden Bee Awards ceremony at the Mediterrane Film Festival on Sunday, Barbie Ferreira admitted to feeling a twinge of shyness at the prospect of taking the stage later that evening. The breakout star of 'Euphoria' had been honored with the Rising Star Award, one of the coveted trophies bestowed during a glamorous program that also celebrated luminaries such as Russell Crowe and producer Jeremy Thomas. After calming her jittery nerves, Ferreira gazed upon the gleam of her accolade, seeing it as affirmation that she was embarking on the right path.
"I'm truly elated that others have noticed my willingness to take risks, delve into indie films, and tread the boards," she beams. "I'm delighted they appreciate my endeavors. I've been engaging in projects that nourish my soul." Her resume boasts appearances in the Broadway show 'Cult of Love' and recent cinema ventures like 'House of Spoils,' opposite Ariana DeBose, 'Bob Trevino Likes It,' sharing screen time with John Leguizamo, and Jordan Peele's thriller 'Nope.' Up next, she stars in a contemporary adaptation of the cult horror classic 'Faces of Death.' Ferreira reveals her heart yearns to collaborate with "individuals who possess fresh ideas, a unique style, and possess a remarkable knack for crafting their own perspective and worldview."
Currently, Ferreira is experiencing a sense of "freedom" in her career, empowered to produce content and pursue narratives that creatively fulfill her. This liberty would not have been hers without the meteoric success of 'Euphoria,' created by Sam Levinson, where she portrayed high school cam girl Kat. (Recently, she shared with People magazine that her departure from the show was a "mutual" decision, contrary to fan speculation.)
"It shaped every aspect of my journey," she confides to The Hollywood Reporter. "It was my maiden venture, and I gained profound insights into myself, my identity as an actor, and my aspirations. It was exhilarating yet surreal to be part of a show that skyrocketed to fame. Suddenly, I was 22, wondering, 'What now?' I was clueless about how to navigate the spotlight and fans approaching me. Initially, it was quite disconcerting. Nowadays, I feel liberated, empowered to pursue my passions, produce content I cherish, and star in stories I might have missed out on had I stayed with the show. It's been a remarkable journey."
