Latina singer and actress Isabela Merced, 22, is set to portray Dina in the second season of HBO's series "The Last of Us," an adaptation of the popular video game created by Druckmann and developed by Naughty Dog.
Merced, a proud Peruvian American, joins Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in this second installment, "The Last of Us Part II," taking on the role of Dina, previously played by Shannon Woodward in the video game.
The character is described as a multifaceted woman who is "warm, brilliant, wild, funny, moral, dangerous, and instantly lovable."
The role in The Last of Us marks a significant opportunity for Merced to showcase all her talent. In addition to this project, she also has the upcoming release of "Madame Web," a film within the Spider-Man universe. Here are 5 things you may not know about the actress who will soon be appearing on The Last of Us.
The Last of Us: Who is Isabela Merced, the Latin Actress Portraying Dina
Isabela Merced Is Not her Real Name
The actress who will join The Last of Us was born on July 10, 2001, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her real name is Isabela Yolanda Moner, but in 2019, she changed her name to honor her grandmother, Mercedes, and her Latino heritage.
Broadway Debut with Ricky Martin and Elena Roger
She made her Broadway debut at the age of 10 alongside Ricky Martin and Elena Roger. Isabela debuted in Evita at just 10 years old. Since then, she has showcased her talent not only in acting but also in music, having released several songs. "I've always thought Broadway wasn't for me," she mentioned in an interview with EFE.
"CJ" Was her First Starring Role in TV
One of her most popular starring roles was as Caroline June "CJ" Martin, the main character in the Nickelodeon television series '100 Things to Do Before High School,' which aired from 2014 to 2016. CJ, a 12-year-old, was always up for all kinds of fun adventures with her best friends.
She also featured in additional children's and youth productions on the network, including the films "Cloning Adam" and "Legends of the Hidden Temple."
Her Career as a Singer
Isabela Merced is not only a talented actress but also an accomplished singer, with over half a million subscribers on Spotify and collaborations with prominent Latino stars like Sebastián Yatra. Her debut single, "PAPI," released in 2019, continues to be one of her major hits, amassing over 22 million views on YouTube.
Hollywood and a Strong Connection with Peru
Transitioning to Hollywood happened swiftly as she secured a role in a film from the "Transformers" franchise. She also took on one of the leading roles in "Rosaline" (2022) and starred in a live-action adaptation of the beloved "Dora the Explorer." In the movie "Dora and the Lost City of Gold," the actress shared that she felt a strong connection to the story.
"Dora (in this movie) is almost a story of an immigrant in the United States. Dora comes to the U.S. to study and socialize in the sense of being a foreigner in a very strange country for her," she stated in an interview with the Agencia EFE. "My mother also came to the U.S. when she was about Dora's age (16 years in the film). And she had to assimilate that without losing core parts of herself," she added.
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