Camila Carraro Mendes Bio
Camila Carraro Mendes (born June 29, 1994) is an American actress and producer known for portraying Veronica Lodge on The CW’s teen drama series Riverdale from 2017 to 2023. Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, to Brazilian parents, Mendes spent much of her formative years moving across the Southern United States before settling in Florida. She studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 2016, and made her professional acting debut the same year. Mendes won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Scene Stealer in 2017 for her Riverdale performance and has since built a diverse career in both television and film. She serves as an executive producer on her recent projects and continues to expand her presence in the entertainment industry through her production company Honor Role.
Early Life and Background
Camila Carraro Mendes was born on June 29, 1994, in Charlottesville, Virginia, to Brazilian parents. Her father is a business executive, and her mother is a flight attendant. She has an older sister. Shortly after her birth, the family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, then returned to Virginia, and eventually settled in Orlando, Florida. Due to her father’s career and later her parents’ divorce, Mendes moved 16 times throughout the Southern United States during her childhood, though she lived primarily in Florida. At the age of 10, she spent a year living in Brazil, maintaining a connection to her heritage.
Mendes attended the Fine Arts program at American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida, and graduated in 2012. Her passion for acting developed during her school years, and she pursued formal training at the collegiate level. In May 2016, Mendes earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, equipping herself with professional skills in performance. Prior to her acting breakthrough, she worked as a commercial model, including a notable advertising campaign for IKEA.
Path to Actress
Mendes began pursuing professional acting opportunities upon completing her studies at NYU. In 2016, she auditioned for the role of Veronica Lodge in The CW’s upcoming teen drama series Riverdale, a subversive reimagining of the classic Archie Comics characters. Despite initial challenges in the casting process, she secured the role of the silver-tongued high school sophomore. The series premiered in January 2017 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon among young adult audiences.
Her portrayal of Veronica Lodge, a wealthy and ambitious student at Riverdale High School, earned immediate recognition from audiences and critics alike. For her debut performance, Mendes received her first major industry award, winning the Teen Choice Award for Choice Scene Stealer in 2017. This early success established her as a rising talent in the television industry and provided a platform for her subsequent career transition into feature films.
Camila Carraro Mendes Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Mendes commenced her professional acting career with her starring role in Riverdale in 2017. The series ran for seven seasons until 2023 and became one of The CW’s most-watched programs. Her performance as Veronica Lodge showcased her ability to portray complex characters balancing sophistication with vulnerability. During this period, she was represented by the Carson Kolker Organization before transitioning to CAA.
Mendes simultaneously pursued feature film opportunities to diversify her portfolio. She made her feature film debut as Morgan in The New Romantic, which premiered at the SXSW Festival in March 2018. That same month, she joined the cast of the romantic comedy The Perfect Date. The film was released globally on Netflix on April 12, 2019, introducing her to a broader international audience. She also starred as the lead in Coyote Lake in 2019, further establishing her presence in the film industry.
Breakthrough (2020–2024)
In 2020, Mendes appeared in two notable films that demonstrated her versatility as an actress. She starred in the critically acclaimed sci-fi romantic comedy Palm Springs, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released on Hulu in July 2020. The film received widespread praise for its innovative storytelling and Mendes’ performance. She subsequently headlined the Netflix thriller film Dangerous Lies, released the same year, showcasing her ability to handle dramatic material.
Mendes continued building her filmography with prominent streaming projects. In 2022, she co-starred opposite Maya Hawke in the teen black comedy Do Revenge for Netflix. She portrayed Drea, a popular student at an elite high school seeking revenge on her ex-boyfriend. The film earned critical acclaim, with Adrian Horton of The Guardian praising her performance and noting how six years on Riverdale had refined her ability to portray a popular character with secret vulnerability to a compelling degree.
Notable Works and Milestones
In February 2024, Mendes starred as Ana Santos, an ambitious art world intern, in the Amazon Prime romantic comedy film Upgraded. The film also starred Archie Renaux, Lena Olin, and Marisa Tomei. It received positive reviews, with Courtney Howard of Variety describing it as a clever and charming romantic comedy and praising the on-screen chemistry between Mendes and Renaux. That same year, she appeared in another Amazon romantic comedy titled Música, which premiered at the SXSW Festival. Rafael Motamyer of IndieWire praised the film for its subversion of the musical comedy genre and highlighted the charming chemistry between the two leads.
Expanding Influence (2024–Present)
Beyond her acting career, Mendes has ventured into producing. In June 2024, she co-founded the production company Honor Role alongside actress Rachel Matthews. The company aims to develop and produce content across film and television. In February 2026, Honor Role hired Meredith Ditlow, formerly of Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, to run their film and television division. This move signals Mendes’ commitment to building a sustainable production enterprise.
Looking ahead, Mendes has secured several high-profile projects. In July 2024, she was cast in the reboot of the horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer. In August 2024, it was announced she had been cast as Teela in the live-action film Masters of the Universe, co-starring Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man. This role marks her entry into a major franchise property and led her to depart from the I Know What You Did Last Summer project due to scheduling conflicts.
Camila Carraro Mendes Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Camila Carraro Mendes has received recognition for her performances in both television and film. Her nomination history reflects her standing as a notable young actress in the industry. In addition to her win at the Teen Choice Awards, she has been acknowledged for her work on Riverdale and her subsequent film projects.
Camila Carraro Mendes Awards Won
Mendes won her first major industry award in 2017 for her debut performance in Riverdale. This recognition established her as a promising newcomer in the television industry.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Teen Choice Awards – Choice Scene Stealer | 1 | 2017 |
Camila Carraro Mendes Family
Mendes was born to a Brazilian family with strong cultural ties. Her father worked as a business executive, and her mother served as a flight attendant. She has an older sister. The family resided in various locations throughout the Southern United States before her parents divorced. Mendes maintains connections to both American and Brazilian cultures, having spent part of her childhood in Brazil.
Personal Life
Mendes was previously in a relationship with photographer and director Ian Wallace from 2013 to 2017. She subsequently began dating her Riverdale co-star Charles Melton around October 2018, and they remained together until December 2019. In July 2023, Mendes revealed she had been in a relationship with actor and content creator Rudy Mancuso for approximately one year. They met while working together on the film Música. The couple announced their engagement in October 2025.
Mendes identifies as Brazilian American and speaks Portuguese fluently. She has spoken openly about navigating her multicultural identity, noting that she appreciates how both American and Brazilian cultures have shaped who she is. In interviews, she has described feeling Brazilian when in the United States and recognizing her Brazilian qualities when visiting America. She was also an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, having disclosed that she was assaulted during her freshman year at NYU. This experience inspired her to get a tattoo above her rib that reads “to build a home” in cursive lettering, representing her commitment to building stability and safety for herself.