Isabela Merced: From Young Star to Franchise Actress

Isabela Merced has been acting professionally since she was a child but the scale of her recent projects has brought her to a much larger audience

Born Isabela Yolanda Moner, she first became known through Nickelodeon before moving into major Hollywood films.

Her early screen work included 100 Things to Do Before High School, Transformers: The Last Knight, Sicario: Day of the Soldado and Instant Family.

She then took the lead in Dora and the Lost City of Gold. Her career entered a new phase in the 2020s.

Her filmography now includes superhero stories, science fiction, horror, adventure films and dramatic television.

As of 2026, Merced is 25 years old and has already worked in several major entertainment franchises.

Her recent career also shows how quickly a young performer can move from children’s television to large studio productions and high-profile streaming series.

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Who Is Isabela Merced?

Isabela Merced is an American actress and singer who was born on July 10, 2001, in Cleveland, Ohio.¹

Her birth name is Isabela Yolanda Moner. She began using the professional name Isabela Merced in 2019.

Merced began performing at a very young age. Before becoming widely known on screen she worked in theater and made her Broadway debut in Evita at age 10.

She later moved into television and film. Her early television credits included Growing Up Fisher and Nickelodeon’s 100 Things to Do Before High School. She also voiced Kate in Dora and Friends: Into the City!.

This early experience gave Merced a useful foundation. She was not introduced to Hollywood as an adult newcomer.

Instead she spent years learning how to perform in front of audiences and cameras. Her Nickelodeon years were especially important because they introduced her to a younger audience.

100 Things to Do Before High School gave her a leading television role as CJ Martin. The series ran from 2014 to 2016.

Merced also explored music during her early career. In 2015 she released her debut album Stopping Time. This added another part to her creative background before her film career became her main focus.

Early Acting Career

Merced’s transition from television to film happened gradually. One of her early film credits was The House That Jack Built in 2013.

She then appeared in Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life in 2016. Her first major franchise exposure came with Transformers: The Last Knight in 2017.

She played Izabella Yeager in the science fiction action film. The following year brought two important projects.

She appeared in Sicario: Day of the Soldado and Instant Family. These films gave her opportunities to work in very different genres.

Sicario: Day of the Soldado was a darker crime thriller while Instant Family was a family comedy-drama. Moving between these types of stories helped show that Merced could handle more than one style of performance.

IMDb lists both films among the projects that helped establish her profile. In 2019 she reached another major milestone with Dora and the Lost City of Gold.

Merced played Dora Márquez in the live-action adaptation of the popular children’s character. The role was particularly important because it placed her at the center of a studio adventure film.

Instead of being part of an ensemble she was the lead character. The movie also connected her with a recognizable international children’s franchise.

Around this period she adopted the professional name Isabela Merced. Her filmography therefore includes credits under both Isabela Moner and Isabela Merced.

This Friday 🔥 #Apocalipsis Presave here👇https://t.co/5888BTb8p5 pic.twitter.com/jauBaJoGDb

— isabela merced (@isabelamerced) August 14, 2025

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From Teen Roles to More Mature Characters

After Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Merced continued moving toward more mature material.²

She appeared in the Netflix film Sweet Girl in 2021 opposite Jason Momoa. She also voiced Lucky Prescott in Spirit Untamed. In 2022 she appeared in Father of the Bride and Rosaline.

These projects were useful stepping stones because they allowed her to move away from the image of a former Nickelodeon performer.

Another significant project was Turtles All the Way Down, released in 2024. Merced played Aza Holmes in the film adaptation of John Green’s novel.

The movie gave her a central dramatic role and required a different emotional approach from her earlier franchise work.

Her ability to move between mainstream entertainment and more character-driven stories became an important part of her career.

Isabela Merced in Alien: Romulus

One of the biggest steps in Merced’s recent career came with Alien: Romulus. Released in 2024, the movie became part of the long-running Alien franchise.

Merced played Kay Harrison. The film was directed by Fede Álvarez and was designed as a new chapter within the established Alien universe.

TIME described it as the seventh installment in the franchise and noted its connections to earlier films. Joining the Alien franchise was significant because it placed Merced inside one of the most recognizable science fiction horror series in cinema.

Her role also helped change how audiences viewed her career. She was no longer simply the young actress from Dora or Nickelodeon.

She was now appearing in major genre productions aimed at broad international audiences. Merced later described her career as continuing to expand across different types of projects.

Her work in Alien: Romulus became especially relevant because it was followed closely by two major franchise roles.

Isabela Merced as Dina in The Last of Us

In 2025 Merced joined the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us as Dina. The series is based on the acclaimed video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog.

Dina is an important character in The Last of Us Part II and becomes closely connected with Ellie. Merced’s casting attracted attention because the series already had a large international fan base.

Vogue reported that Merced was brought into the project after meeting with creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann.

She was told about the role after the meeting and eventually joined the cast as Dina. The role gave Merced one of her most prominent television opportunities.

Dina is not simply an action character. The role requires humor, emotional vulnerability and complicated relationships.

Entertainment Weekly discussed how the television adaptation expanded Dina’s backstory and gave Merced more material to explore. The show also allowed audiences to see a different side of Merced.

Her earlier projects often placed her in adventure or action settings. The Last of Us gave her more room for interpersonal drama.

Her performance became one of the talking points around the second season. Forbes published an article specifically discussing Merced’s Dina and the attention the character received during the season.

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Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl in Superman

Another major career milestone came with Superman in 2025.³

Directed by James Gunn, Superman launched a new era for DC Studios. Merced was cast as Kendra Saunders, also known as Hawkgirl.

DC’s official movie page lists Merced among the film’s principal cast and identifies Hawkgirl as one of the characters featured in the movie. Hawkgirl is a long-standing DC Comics character.

DC describes Kendra Saunders as one of the identities connected to the Hawkgirl mantle. The character is traditionally portrayed as a warrior with flight and combat abilities.

For Merced, the role represented another move into a major franchise. The timing was notable because Superman arrived after her appearances in Alien: Romulus and The Last of Us.

In a relatively short period she became part of several established fictional universes. DC also featured Merced’s Hawkgirl in promotional material for the movie.

The studio’s coverage of the film’s teaser highlighted her character alongside other heroes including Guy Gardner and Mister Terrific. Her Hawkgirl role also continued into the DC television universe through Peacemaker.

IMDb lists Merced as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl in the series. This is an important development for her career because modern superhero franchises often connect films and television.

A character can potentially appear across multiple projects instead of being limited to one movie.

Isabela Merced’s Major Movies and Shows

Merced’s career is notable for the variety of roles she has taken. These credits show the gradual development of Merced’s career from children’s television to major studio franchises.

Her filmography includes family entertainment, action films, science fiction, horror, romantic stories and television drama.

Why Is Isabela Merced Appearing in So Many Major Franchises?

There are several clear reasons her recent career stands out.

First, Merced has experience with different genres. Her credits include Transformers, Sicario, Dora, Alien: Romulus, The Last of Us and Superman.

These projects require different types of performances.

Second, she has already worked as both a lead and supporting performer. She carried Dora and the Lost City of Gold while also playing supporting roles in larger ensemble movies.

Third, her television work has expanded alongside her film career. Her role as Dina gave her a major part in a prestige television adaptation with an established fan base.

Finally, her recent roles have placed her inside multiple established universes. Alien: Romulus connected her to the Alien franchise.

The Last of Us connected her to a major video game adaptation. Superman placed her inside DC’s new shared universe.

Entertainment Weekly described her as a 23-year-old actress making a major impact through both The Last of Us and Superman in 2025.

What Is Next for Isabela Merced?

Merced’s career continues to include franchise-related work. IMDb currently lists Man of Tomorrow among her upcoming credits with Merced returning as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl.

It also lists projects including The House of the Dead and Psyche at different stages of development. Because some upcoming projects can change during production, release information should be treated as subject to change.

Her Hawkgirl role is particularly notable because DC is building a connected universe around its characters. DC’s own coverage has emphasized that characters introduced in Superman could become part of future DC Studios stories.

This gives Merced an opportunity to continue developing a character across multiple projects rather than appearing in a single standalone movie.

Isabela Merced’s Acting Style and Career Development

One interesting part of Merced’s career is the gradual increase in the complexity of her characters. Her Nickelodeon roles were designed for younger audiences.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold was a family adventure. Her later work became more dramatic and intense.

Alien: Romulus required her to operate inside a science fiction horror story. The Last of Us demanded more emotional depth because Dina’s relationships are central to the story.

Superman then gave her the chance to play a comic book superhero. This variety can be important for a young actor.

It allows an actor to avoid being identified with only one genre. Merced has also spoken about wanting to explore different kinds of projects.

In her Entertainment Weekly interview she discussed an interest in varied creative work and a desire not to be limited to one type of character. Her career therefore has two parallel sides.

One is the large-scale franchise work that has increased her visibility. The other is the smaller character-focused work that demonstrates her range.

 

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FAQ’s

How old is Isabela Merced?

Isabela Merced was born on July 10, 2001. She is 25 years old in 2026.

What is Isabela Merced’s real name?

Her birth name is Isabela Yolanda Moner. She has professionally used the name Isabela Merced since 2019.

What is Isabela Merced famous for?

She is known for Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Transformers: The Last Knight, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Alien: Romulus, The Last of Us and Superman.

Who does Isabela Merced play in The Last of Us?

Isabela Merced plays Dina in the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us. Dina is an important character in the story and has a close relationship with Ellie.

Who does Isabela Merced play in Superman?

Merced plays Kendra Saunders, also known as Hawkgirl, in James Gunn’s Superman. DC officially lists Merced among the film’s cast and Hawkgirl among its featured characters.

Conclusion

Isabela Merced’s career is a good example of a young performer gradually moving from children’s entertainment into major Hollywood productions.

She started with theater and television before taking on increasingly visible film roles. Her early work in 100 Things to Do Before High School and Dora and the Lost City of Gold introduced her to younger audiences.

At only 25 she already has experience across film, television, theater and music. More importantly her recent roles have placed her inside several well-known entertainment franchises.

Her next stage will show how those opportunities develop. For now her filmography tells a clear story.

Isabela Merced began as a young performer on Nickelodeon and has steadily built a career that now reaches some of Hollywood’s biggest fictional worlds.

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1. wiki
2. forbes
3. vogue