Isabela Merced just had one of the biggest years of her career. Over the past 12 months, Merced has starred in two of the biggest projects in the entertainment industry: the TV show "The Last of Us" and the movie "Superman." Her role in the HBO series was particularly impactful, with her playing Dina, one of this season's key characters, sharing screentime alongside stars like Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, and Gabriel Luna.
"In this world of entertainment, everybody wants to tell you who you are, and my goal is to be present and live moment to moment. Be grateful and make sure that I'm really taking advantage of every opportunity that comes up.”
Merced’s rise to fame began far from Hollywood, in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was born, as the daughter of a mother from Lima and a father from Louisiana. Having grown up between two cultures, she learned Spanish at home as a second language, a skill that has enriched her career as an actress and allowed her to proudly represent her Latin heritage.
In March of this year, the actress gave an exclusive interview to ¡HOLA! in which she revealed that it was after losing her home in a fire that her parents encouraged her to try out local theater. Her natural talent helped her land early roles in productions like "The Wizard of Oz," and at just 10 years old, she made her Broadway debut as a singer in "Evita," sharing the stage with Ricky Martin.
Now 23 years old, Isabela Merced has become one of the most influential Peruvian personalities of the past decade. Her career also includes a standout role in the Nickelodeon series "100 Things to Do Before High School," and in 2019, she starred in "Dora and the Lost City of Gold." In the following years, Merced starred in "Turtles All The Way Down," based on the John Green novel of the same name, and "Madame Web," alongside Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, and more.
Despite the fame and media attention brought on by her numerous appearances in notorious productions, Merced has remained grounded thanks to the love and values she received at home, which have become her anchor.
“My family are the most supportive people and they're my reason. I have a lot of family that lives in the United States, but I would love one day to have a premiere in Peru. I would have all of my 50 cousins and their kids attend a premiere. We would fill that theater instantly."
Merced shared with us that she found her greatest source of inspiration for creating the character of Dina in her own mother, drawing on her strength and leadership to bring the role to life, catapulting her career to international fame.
In the coming years, we can expect much more of Merced, who'll be returning to play Dina for another season. She's also a big part of the new DC Universe, playing the character of Hawkgirl, and is currently featured in the second season of "Peacemaker." She's scheduled to be featured on "Man of Tomorrow," the "Superman" sequel planned to come out in 2027.