‘Violent Night 2’ Star Daniela Melchior Offers a Peek Into Her Home Workout Routine as Her Holiday Action Sequel Nears
Daniela Melchior has built much of her Hollywood career on roles that demand more than a pretty face. Since breaking out as Ratcatcher 2 in James Gunn’s ‘The Suicide Squad,’ the Portuguese actress has landed parts in blockbusters, action movies and comedies.
She followed that breakout with ‘Fast X’ as Isabel and a small role in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,’ then went toe-to-toe with Jake Gyllenhaal in the ‘Road House’ remake, which broke streaming records when it premiered in March 2024. Her recent slate has included the thriller ‘American Sweatshop’ with Lili Reinhart, the ‘Anaconda’ reboot alongside Jack Black and Paul Rudd, and the Peter Farrelly comedy ‘Balls Up’ with Mark Wahlberg and Sacha Baron Cohen.
Now fans have a fresh look at what she’s up to away from the set. Recently, the actress shared new photos on her Instagram, showing her in a home gym working out on a mat beside a set of dumbbells while a dog lies nearby. A second image shows her in a black top posing with her hands behind her head in a dimly lit restaurant.
The workout shot is a relaxed, behind-the-scenes look at her routine. The room is stocked with weights and boxing gear, and her dog stretches out near the mat in the foreground.
It’s not the first time she has used social media to show off her training. Back in 2024, Celebwell noted that she had posted workout-gear photos and had made sure to get in shape to prepare for ‘The Suicide Squad.’
That history helps explain why the post resonated with fans. Her roles have increasingly asked her to be physical, from superhero-adjacent action to the tough, fast-moving scenes of a remake like ‘Road House.’
The timing also puts the spotlight on her next big release. ‘Violent Night 2’ arrives in theaters on December 4, with Melchior joining David Harbour, who returns as a hard-fighting Santa Claus, and Kristen Bell, who plays Mrs. Claus.
Deadline exclusively reported in August 2025 that she and Bell had joined the cast. Tommy Wirkola is back in the director’s chair, working from a script by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, and the sequel follows Santa as he takes on a ruthless gangster terrorizing the merchants of the Silver Bell Mall.
Jared Harris, Joe Pantoliano, Maxwell Friedman and Andrew Bachelor round out the ensemble. Details about her role have been kept under wraps, but the film is the kind of action comedy that tends to reward performers who are comfortable with stunts.
Melchior was born on November 1, 1996, in Almada, Portugal, and started her career in 2014. She made her film debut in 2018 with ‘The Black Book’ and was best known for Portuguese-language projects before Gunn cast her in ‘The Suicide Squad.’
For her audition, she took a darker, more eccentric approach to the character, which resonated with Gunn and ultimately led to her casting. That performance made her one of the film’s standouts and opened the door to the string of international roles that followed.
She has also spoken about her DC future. In an interview with Nestor Cine, she said she was open to exploring another character in Gunn’s DC Universe, although there are no confirmed plans for Ratcatcher 2 to return.
With a November birthday approaching and a holiday release around the corner, the next few weeks look busy. Fans can expect more promotion for ‘Violent Night 2’ as the date draws closer, and probably more glimpses of her life off camera.
For now, the home gym photos and the black-top snapshot are a reminder of how much of her success rests on commitment.
Which Daniela Melchior role is your favorite so far?
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