Barbie Ferreira on Feeling 'Broken'—And Finding Healing Through Acting - INTERVIEW

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Brazilian American actress Barbie Ferreira filmed 'Bob Trevino Likes It,' two years ago but both the movie and her character, Lily, remain deeply present in her life. One of her most emotionally charged roles to date, the experience not only challenged her artistically—it also helped her reconnect with long-buried parts of herself.

In many ways, it also prepared her for what was to come.

The indie drama, inspired by a real-life story, follows Lily Trevino, a young woman with a traumatic childhood who forms an unlikely bond with a stranger on Facebook who shares her father's name. For Ferreira, the role was more than just a gig—it was a mirror.

"I grew up in a way where I was just told that every reaction, every emotion that I have is wrong," Ferreira told the Latin Times in an interview promoting the film's DVD release. "So when you're told that you are a bad kid... it just makes you think that you ruin everything."

Ferreira related deeply to Lily's feelings of unworthiness, especially in a standout scene at a dog shelter. Lily, paralyzed by self-doubt, hesitates to adopt a puppy because she believes she's incapable of caring for something so innocent. It's a moment that resonated with Ferreira on a personal level.

"There's just something about... the feeling of everything you touch, you're inherently a bad person," she said. "So like, having a puppy is outside of the scope. Everyone else can have a dog, but I can't because I can't take care of anything... because I've been told my whole life there's something wrong with me."

That vulnerability is precisely what gives Ferreira's performance its weight—and it didn't go unnoticed. Critics at SXSW 2024, where the film premiered, praised her work alongside John Leguizamo, calling it a breakout moment that showed a new layer to her talent.

Though Ferreira humbly deflects credit—"I also love taking a step back and just chilling, you know," she laughed—'Bob Trevino Likes It' marks her first project as both lead actor and executive producer. Despite initial doubts about what that would entail, Ferreira said the process felt natural.

"It really came naturally because it just meant an effortless collaboration," she explained. "Making sure that it was good for the story... and Tracy [Laymon, the director] did a really good job of just always checking in with us."

Beyond the character of Lily, Ferreira's own journey echoes the film's themes: of reclaiming identity, confronting generational hurt, and rewriting the narrative society and family place upon us. She hopes the story resonates with others who've ever felt "less than."

"It's an act of love that I don't think Lily has ever had before," she said. "And to me, that was just a perfect encapsulation of that feeling... of someone finally being like, 'You are not less worthy than everyone else.'"

'Bob Trevino Likes It' is available now on DVD. And if Barbie Ferreira has her way, it won't be the last time she tells a story this personal—or this powerful.