Season 2 of The Last of Us is truly something. Okay, we’re a little disappointed that Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) died in episode 2 (but that’s expected), but this character, played by Isabela Merced, made up for that. Especially the lesbian love-making she did with Lyanna Mormont, err Ellie Williams (Bella Ramsey).
Oh, and she playing Dora the Explorer in 2019 is something, huh? Yup, now that she’s 23, she deserves a feature. And yes, it’s a Friday Feature!
Who is Isabela Merced
Isabela Merced is an American actress who got her big break as the star of Nickelodeon’s 100 Things to Do Before High School (2014–2016)—basically a guide to middle school survival with a side of chaos. She then leveled up to the big screen with roles in Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Instant Family (2018), and Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)—because nothing says “career range” like jumping from family comedy to cartel drama.
In 2019, she put on her explorer hat and became the live-action Dora in Dora and the Lost City of Gold, proving she could survive both the jungle and awkward teen years. Fast forward to 2024, and she’s still going strong with major roles in Turtles All the Way Down and Alien: Romulus—so yes, she’s doing both emotional depth and fighting extraterrestrials.
And in 2025? She’s starring in season two of HBO’s The Last of Us. Zombies, drama, and heartbreak—yep, she’s officially made it.
Her Early Life
Isabela Merced was born on July 10, 2001, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her mom is from Lima, Peru, and her dad hails from Louisiana—so right from the start, she had a pretty unique blend of cultures. Spanish was actually her first language, and she’s admitted that learning English in grade school wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Her acting journey began under pretty dramatic circumstances: her family’s house in Cleveland burned down. To cheer her up, her parents encouraged her to audition for a local production of The Wizard of Oz, knowing she was a huge Judy Garland fan. Isabela went for it and landed the glamorous role of… a Munchkin. Hey, everyone starts somewhere!
She later trained at the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory, run by Broadway producer Fred Sternfeld, who saw something special in her. He urged her mom to take her to New York for auditions. After a bit of hesitation, her mom gave in, and the family packed up and moved to NYC for a month so Isabela could chase her Broadway dreams. Turns out, it was the right move.
Career Journey
Isabela’s first big break came when she starred as CJ Martin in Nickelodeon’s 100 Things to Do Before High School (2014–2016)—basically a to-do list with more chaos and way fewer adult responsibilities. Around the same time, she also lent her voice to Kate in Dora and Friends: Into the City! (2014–2017), proving she could handle both live-action hijinks and animated adventures.
In 2015, she played Lori Collins in the Nickelodeon movie Splitting Adam, and a year later, she suited up for jungle-themed excitement as Sadie in Legends of the Hidden Temple. Clearly, if Nickelodeon needed a star, Isabela was on speed dial.
Oh—and because acting and voice work weren’t enough, she also dropped her debut album, Stopping Time in 2015, produced by Broadway Records. So yeah, she was juggling TV, movies, and music at that age while most of us were just trying to finish our homework.
In May 2016, Isabela landed a role in Transformers: The Last Knight, which hit theaters in June 2017—because nothing says “made it” like being part of a blockbuster robot apocalypse. That same year, she also voiced Heather in The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature, bringing sass and heart to a squirrel-filled animated sequel released in August.
Then, in October 2019, Isabela took to Instagram with some personal news: she was changing her stage name to Isabela Merced, as a tribute to her late grandmother. It was a meaningful moment—and also the start of a new chapter.
Shortly after, she dropped her first single, “Papi,” in 2019, followed by a music video that showed she could definitely hold her own in the pop world. In 2020, she released her debut EP, The Better Half of Me, through Republic Records, earning her a spot on Billboard’s list of top 15 new Peruvian artists to check out. Actress, singer, robot-fighter—Isabela really does it all.
In 2024, Isabela took on two major roles: she starred in Turtles All the Way Down, the movie adaptation of John Green’s 2017 novel (cue the tears), and battled aliens in Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus—because emotional depth and outer space horror are just part of her range.
Then came some seriously big news. In July 2023, she was cast as Hawkgirl (a.k.a. Kendra Saunders) in the upcoming Superman movie, set to hit theaters in 2025—yep, she’s officially joining the DC Universe. And in January 2024, she scored another major gig: playing Dina in season 2 of The Last of Us. From superheroes to survival horror, Isabela’s schedule is basically booked solid with epic.
Facts and Trivia
Isabela has openly described herself as someone who’s “been queer [her] whole life” and shared that she’s “been in queer relationships.” She credits singer Emily Estefan as a big source of inspiration, saying Emily’s example encouraged her to live her own truth. Now, Isabela hopes to pay it forward and “do her part” to represent and support the queer community in American pop culture—one honest step (and bold role) at a time.
Isabela grew up Catholic and has reflected on that experience as feeling like she had to stay “closeted” to fit in—describing it as adapting to her environment by suppressing parts of herself, including her queerness, to keep the peace.
She’s also been open about her health and mental well-being. Isabela has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and has talked candidly about going to therapy and dealing with anxiety. She’s not afraid to get real about the tough stuff—and that honesty is part of what makes her so relatable.
Her Body Measurements
Isabela stands 5 feet, 1 inch and she rocks a 36-27-35 figure.
Isabela Merced Photos
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