Isabela Merced

Merced was born in Cleveland, Ohio.{{cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |title=Isabela Moner is a Cleveland native with two Nickelodeon shows |url=http://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2014/08/isabela_moner_is_a_cleveland_native_with_two_nickelodeon_shows.html |work=Cleveland Plain Dealer |date=August 14, 2014 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |quote=Her parents, Patrick and Katherine Moner [...] She turned 13 on July 10. |archive-date=December 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204063505/https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2014/08/isabela_moner_is_a_cleveland_native_with_two_nickelodeon_shows.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.nickelodeon.ro/stiri/afla-totul-despre-isabela-moner/zgisc1 |title=Află totul despre Isabela Moner |work=Nickelodeon Romania |language=ro |trans-title=Learn all about Isabela Moner |date=March 29, 2016 |archive-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416084804/http://www.nickelodeon.ro/stiri/afla-totul-despre-isabela-moner/zgisc1 |url-status=dead}} She is the daughter of Katherine, who was born in Lima, Peru, and Patrick Moner, who was born in Louisiana.{{cite news |type=interview |url=http://www.latina.com/entertainment/celebrity/isabela-moner-dishes-100-things-do-high-school-exclusive |title=Exclusive: Isabela Moner Dishes On '100 Things To Do Before High School' Before Season Premiere |first=Celia |last=Fernandez |work=Latina |date=June 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607212919/http://www.latina.com/entertainment/celebrity/isabela-moner-dishes-100-things-do-high-school-exclusive |archive-date=June 7, 2015 |url-status=dead}} Merced has stated that Spanish was her first language, and she struggled with English when she first started grade school, adding that she considers herself "half Peruvian and half from Ohio. I wish I could say I'm 100% Peruvian; I've always felt that way."{{cite web |url=http://la.eonline.com/andes/2016/esta-nina-peruana-de-14-anos-sera-la-nueva-megan-fox-fotos/ |title=Esta niña peruana de 14 años será la nueva Megan Fox (+Fotos) |trans-title=This 14-year-old Peruvian Girl Will Be the Next Megan Fox (+ Photos) |author= |language=es |work=E! Online Latinoamerica |date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415141410/http://la.eonline.com/andes/2016/esta-nina-peruana-de-14-anos-sera-la-nueva-megan-fox-fotos/ |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |url-status=dead}} She has two brothers. At age 15, she was accepted into college.{{Cite web |last=Delgado |first=Sara |date=March 15, 2023 |title='Madame Web' Star Isabela Merced Talks Child Stardom and Living Fearlessly |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/new-hollywood-isabela-merced-interview-2023 |access-date=May 12, 2025 |website=Teen Vogue}}{{Cite news |last=Maldonado |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.m-magazine.com/posts/isabela-moner-writes-a-heartfelt-message-after-she-gets-accepted-into-college-123032 |title=Isabela Moner Writes a Heartfelt Message After She Gets Accepted Into College |date=January 12, 2017 |work=M Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328212129/http://www.m-magazine.com/posts/isabela-moner-writes-a-heartfelt-message-after-she-gets-accepted-into-college-123032 |archive-date=March 28, 2017 |url-status=dead}}

Merced began acting after her family's Cleveland home was destroyed by a fire. She was a Judy Garland fan, so her parents, in an attempt to distract her from the loss, encouraged Merced to audition for a local production of The Wizard of Oz. She agreed and was cast as a Munchkin. She attended the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory, led by Broadway producer Fred Sternfeld, who tried to persuade Merced's mother into taking her to New York to pursue auditions. After some reluctance, her mother agreed, and the family moved to New York City for a month to help Merced pursue a career on Broadway.{{Cite web |last=Carreon |first=Justine |date=September 7, 2021 |title=A House Fire Led Isabela Merced To A Life On Stage And Screen |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a37288147/0176-0176-isabela-merced-september-2021/ |access-date=November 23, 2021 |website=Elle Magazine |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123040747/https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a37288147/0176-0176-isabela-merced-september-2021/ |url-status=live}}

Merced has said that she wanted to be an actress from a young age, inspired by movies featuring Shirley Temple and Judy Garland and starting in local community theatre at age six.{{cite news |url=https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/kidsday/nickelodeon-star-isabela-moner-talks-to-kidsday-1.10343411 |title=Nickelodeon star Isabela Moner talks to Kidsday |first1=Sarah |last1=Katzman |first2=Nora |last2=Kirshnitz |first3=Karthhika |last3=Nair |work=Newsday |date=May 1, 2015 |access-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107104438/https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/kidsday/nickelodeon-star-isabela-moner-talks-to-kidsday-1.10343411 |url-status=live}} Merced booked her first job, a Claritin commercial, on what was supposed to be her last day in New York City during the summer she spent auditioning there. She made her Broadway debut at age ten in a production of Evita,{{cite magazine |last=Calvario |first=Liz |title=Getting to Know Isabela Moner From '100 Things To Do Before High School' [Interview] |url=http://varietylatino.com/english/2015/tv/noticias/isabela-moner-100-things-to-do-before-high-school-interview-165146/ |magazine=Variety Latino |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=May 12, 2025 |archive-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020233003/http://varietylatino.com/english/2015/tv/noticias/isabela-moner-100-things-to-do-before-high-school-interview-165146/ |url-status=live}} in which she sang in Spanish with Ricky Martin.

Merced's first starring performance was as CJ Martin, the lead role on the Nickelodeon television series 100 Things to Do Before High School,{{cite news |last=Lloyd |first=Robert |title=Review '100 Things to Do Before High School' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-review-100-things-to-do-before-high-school-20150606-column.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 6, 2015 |access-date=June 30, 2015 |archive-date=June 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623141730/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-review-100-things-to-do-before-high-school-20150606-column.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} from 2014 to 2016. That same year, she began providing the voice of Kate, one of the main characters in the Dora the Explorer spin-off, Dora and Friends: Into the City!, a role she performed from 2014 to 2017.{{cite news |last=Davids |first=Brian |title='Dora' Star Isabela Moner on Playing an All-Too-Rare Happy Teenager and the 'Sicario' Scene That Made Josh Brolin Cry |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dora-star-isabela-moner-sicario-scene-made-josh-brolin-cry-1230508 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=August 9, 2019 |access-date=August 26, 2019 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107232717/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dora-star-isabela-moner-sicario-scene-made-josh-brolin-cry-1230508 |url-status=live}} In 2015, she appeared as Lori Collins in the Nickelodeon Original Movie Splitting Adam,{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Baron |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/09/nickelodeon-stars-unite-in-splitting-adam-premiering-monday-february-16th/361149/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209224938/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/09/nickelodeon-stars-unite-in-splitting-adam-premiering-monday-february-16th/361149/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2015 |title=Nickelodeon Stars Unite in 'Splitting Adam' Premiering Monday, February 16th |date=February 9, 2015 |work=TV by the Numbers}} and was cast as Sadie, one of the leading roles, in the 2016 Nickelodeon Original Movie Legends of the Hidden Temple.{{cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/nickelodeon-legends-of-the-hidden-temple-hey-arnold-2016-tv-upfront-1201719422/ |title=Nickelodeon to Revive 'Legends of the Hidden Temple' as TV Movie (Exclusive) |work=Variety |date=March 1, 2016 |access-date=August 5, 2016 |quote=Isabela Moner, known from her role on Nick's '100 Things to Do Before High School,' will star. |archive-date=March 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301234809/https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/nickelodeon-legends-of-the-hidden-temple-hey-arnold-2016-tv-upfront-1201719422/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |type=press release |author= |url=http://www.nickpress.com/press-releases/2016/03/01/nickelodeon-greenlights-legends-of-the-hidden-temple-live-action-tv-movie-inspired-by-nets-hit-90s-game-show |title=Nickelodeon Greenlights Legends of the Hidden Temple Live-Action TV Movie |publisher=Nickelodeon |date=March 1, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713182945/http://www.nickpress.com/press-releases/2016/03/01/nickelodeon-greenlights-legends-of-the-hidden-temple-live-action-tv-movie-inspired-by-nets-hit-90s-game-show |archive-date=July 13, 2016}} Merced's debut album Stopping Time (2015) was produced by Broadway Records.{{cite web |url=http://www.thereviewshub.com/cd-review-isabela-moner-stopping-time/ |title=CD Review: Isabela Moner – Stopping Time |first=Helen |last=Jones |work=The Reviews Hub |date=September 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070210/http://www.thereviewshub.com/cd-review-isabela-moner-stopping-time/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}

In May 2016, Merced was cast in the film Transformers: The Last Knight, which was released in June 2017.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/28/transformers-5-last-knight-teaser-cryptic-message |title=Transformers: The Last Knight releases viral teaser with cryptic message |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |last=Romano |first=Nick |date=May 28, 2016 |access-date=June 8, 2016 |archive-date=May 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531064926/https://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/28/transformers-5-last-knight-teaser-cryptic-message |url-status=live}}{{cite web |first=Bryan |last=Alexander |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/06/22/who-is-transformers-last-knight-kid-meet-isabela-moner/103081276/ |title=Who's the new kid in 'Transformers: The Last Knight'? Meet Isabela Moner |work=USA Today |date=June 22, 2017 |access-date=July 4, 2017 |archive-date=June 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624071250/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/06/22/who-is-transformers-last-knight-kid-meet-isabela-moner/103081276/ |url-status=live}} She voiced Heather in the animated film The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature, which was theatrically released on August 11, 2017.{{cite web |last=Robbins |first=Caryn |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Open-Road-Films-Acquires-Animated-Feature-Film-PLAYMOBIL-Based-on-Iconic-Toy-Brand-20160525 |title=Open Road Films Acquires Animated Feature Film Playmobil Based on Iconic Toy Brand |website=BroadwayWorld.com |date=May 25, 2016 |access-date=May 12, 2025 |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821193536/http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Open-Road-Films-Acquires-Animated-Feature-Film-PLAYMOBIL-Based-on-Iconic-Toy-Brand-20160525 |url-status=live}}

File:Isabela-Moner interview3.jpg

In 2018, Merced had a major role in Sicario: Day of the Soldado, playing the daughter of a drug cartel head,{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/sicario-sequel-soldado-benicio-del-toro-isabela-moner-1201867541/ |title='Sicario' Sequel 'Soldado' Adds Isabela Moner |work=Deadline Hollywood |first=Amanda |last=N'Duka |date=December 9, 2016 |access-date=April 14, 2017 |archive-date=December 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210141739/https://deadline.com/2016/12/sicario-sequel-soldado-benicio-del-toro-isabela-moner-1201867541/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/03/18/sicario-sequel-sneak-peek-benicio-del-toro-returns/427174002/ |title=Exclusive trailer: Benicio Del Toro's killer returns in 'Sicario: Day of the Soldado' |first=Bryan |last=Alexander |work=USA Today |date=March 18, 2018 |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-date=March 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318225235/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/03/18/sicario-sequel-sneak-peek-benicio-del-toro-returns/427174002/ |url-status=live}} in a performance lauded by critics. The New Yorker{{'}}s Anthony Lane wrote "Moner is terrific, and her character's fortunes can be read in her eyes—blazing to begin with, as she scraps with another girl in a schoolyard, but dark and blank by the end, their youthful fire doused by the violence that she has seen."{{cite magazine |last=Lane |first=Anthony |author-link=Anthony Lane |date=July 16, 2018 |title=The Borderland Brutality of 'Sicario 2: Soldado' |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/07/09/the-borderland-brutality-of-sicario-2-soldado |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907200911/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/07/09/the-borderland-brutality-of-sicario-2-soldado |url-status=live}}

In the same year, she played the adopted daughter of the characters played by Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne in the comedy film Instant Family,{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/octavia-spencer-tig-notaro-isabelle-moner-iliza-shlesinger-join-mark-wahlberg-comedy-instant-family-1087985 |title=Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro Join Mark Wahlberg Comedy 'Instant Family' |first=Mia |last=Galuppo |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 23, 2018 |access-date=July 9, 2018 |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619012732/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/octavia-spencer-tig-notaro-isabelle-moner-iliza-shlesinger-join-mark-wahlberg-comedy-instant-family-1087985 |url-status=live}} for which she also wrote and sang the song "I'll Stay".{{cite news |last1=Sneider |first1=Jeff |title=Up-and-Comer of the Month: 'Instant Family' Star Isabela Moner |url=https://collider.com/isabela-moner-instant-family-interview/ |access-date=May 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827130948/https://collider.com/isabela-moner-instant-family-interview/ |archive-date=August 27, 2021 |work=Collider |date=November 16, 2018 |language=en |url-status=live}}[https://www.soundtrack.net/movie/instant-family/ Instant Family (2018)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827130948/https://www.soundtrack.net/movie/instant-family/ |date=August 27, 2021 }}, Soundtrack.net In 2019, Merced starred as the title character in Dora and the Lost City of Gold, a live action film adaptation of the animated series,{{Cite news |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/942955-isabela-moner-dora-the-explorer |title=Isabela Moner Cast as Dora the Explorer in Live-Action Film |first=Kylie |last=Hemmert |work=ComingSoon.net |date=May 2, 2018 |access-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-date=October 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018012708/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/942955-isabela-moner-dora-the-explorer |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/08/10/first-look-at-live-action-dora-the-explorer-released/ |title=First Look At Live Action Dora The Explorer Released |first=James |last=Viscardi |work=ComicBook.com |date=August 10, 2018 |access-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107185331/https://comicbook.com/movies/2018/08/10/first-look-at-live-action-dora-the-explorer-released/ |url-status=live}} and was cast in the Christmas romantic comedy ensemble film Let It Snow.{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/kiernan-shipka-isabela-moner-shameik-moore-odeya-rush-netflix-film-let-it-snow-1202536870/ |title=Kiernan Shipka, Isabela Moner, Shameik Moore, Odeya Rush & More To Star In Netflix YA Film 'Let It Snow' |work=Deadline Hollywood |first=Amanda |last=N'Duka |date=December 17, 2018 |access-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129065940/https://deadline.com/2019/01/kiernan-shipka-isabela-moner-shameik-moore-odeya-rush-netflix-film-let-it-snow-1202536870/ |url-status=live}} The same year, she was cast opposite Jason Momoa in the film Sweet Girl for Netflix.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/isabella-moner-jason-momoa-sweet-girl-netflix/ |title=Exclusive: 'Dora' Star Isabela Merced Joins Jason Momoa in Netflix Movie 'Sweet Girl' |website=Collider |first=Jeff |last=Sneider |date=October 21, 2019 |access-date=May 12, 2025 |archive-date=October 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022010437/https://collider.com/isabella-moner-jason-momoa-sweet-girl-netflix/ |url-status=live}}

On October 14, 2019, Merced announced to her fans via a post on her Instagram account that she had decided to change her stage name to Isabela Merced in memory of her late grandmother.{{Cite web |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8570753/why-isabela-moner-merced-new-song-name-papi |title=Isabela Moner To Isabela Merced: Inside The Let It Snow Star's First Single & New Name |website=Refinery29 |last=Romero |first=Ariana |date=October 14, 2019 |access-date=May 12, 2025 |archive-date=October 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015093449/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8570753/why-isabela-moner-merced-new-song-name-papi |url-status=live}} Her first single, "Papi", was released in 2019,{{r|Roiz 2020}} followed by her first music video released on November 6, 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B3sotPnAoKk/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B3sotPnAoKk |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration |author=isabelamerced |title=Papi Oct 25th Pre-save Link in Bio |via=Instagram |date=October 16, 2019}}{{cbignore}}{{Failed verification|date=May 2025}} Merced released her debut EP The Better Half of Me in 2020 through Republic Records{{Cite web |author=isabelamerced |date=May 21, 2020 |title=We Out Here Man #TheBetterHalfofMe Is Out Now Everywhere Big Thanks to Everyone Who Made This Happen. This Ain't a One Man Job ♥️ |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CAedt1xAwxO/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CAedt1xAwxO |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration |via=Instagram |language=en |access-date=May 12, 2025 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}{{Independent source inline|date=May 2025}} and was named one of Billboard's top 15 new Peruvian artists to listen to in July 2020.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/peruvian-artists-keep-on-radar-isabela-moner-more-9425851/ |title=15 Peruvian Artists to Have on Your Radar: Isabela Merced, Renata Flores & More |magazine=Billboard |first=Jessica |last=Roiz |date=July 28, 2020 |access-date=May 12, 2025 |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311115115/https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/peruvian-artists-keep-on-radar-isabela-moner-more-9425851/ |url-status=live}}

In 2024, she starred in Turtles All the Way Down, a film adaptation of the 2017 novel by John Green,{{cite news |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |title=Isabela Merced to Star in John Green's 'Turtles All the Way Down' for New Line, HBO Max (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/isabela-merced-john-green-turtles-all-the-way-down-hbo-max-1235107743/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 9, 2022 |access-date=March 9, 2022 |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421131205/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/isabela-merced-john-green-turtles-all-the-way-down-hbo-max-1235107743/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Kiesewetter |first=John |date=April 26, 2022 |title='Turtles All The Way Down', based on John Green's bestseller, films in Cincinnati this week |work=WVXU |url=https://www.wvxu.org/media/2022-04-26/turtles-all-the-way-down-movie-cincinnati-isabela-merced-john-greene-tvkiese |url-status=live |access-date=June 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427042455/https://www.wvxu.org/media/2022-04-26/turtles-all-the-way-down-movie-cincinnati-isabela-merced-john-greene-tvkiese |archive-date=April 27, 2022}} and Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus.{{Cite web |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3753349/isabela-merced-joins-the-cast-of-new-alien-movie-from-evil-dead-director-fede-alvarez/ |title=Isabela Merced Joins New 'Alien' Movie from 'Evil Dead' Director Fede Alvarez |work=Bloody Disgusting |first=John |last=Squires |date=March 2, 2023 |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=March 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309202823/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3753349/isabela-merced-joins-the-cast-of-new-alien-movie-from-evil-dead-director-fede-alvarez/ |url-status=live}} In July 2023, Merced was cast as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl in the DC Universe (DCU) film Superman (2025).{{Cite web |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=July 11, 2023 |title=Superman Legacy Cast Adds Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi and Nathan Fillion: EXCLUSIVE |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/07/superman-legacy-cast |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=Vanity Fair |language=en-US |archive-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711215342/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/07/superman-legacy-cast?utm_brand=vf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_social-type=owned&mbid=social_twitter |url-status=live}} In January 2024, Merced was cast as Dina in season 2 of The Last of Us.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/the-last-of-us-isabela-merced-cast-dina-season-2-hbo-1235715456/ |title='The Last Of Us': Isabela Merced Cast As Dina In Season 2 Of HBO Series |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=January 11, 2024 |accessdate=January 12, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111170728/https://deadline.com/2024/01/the-last-of-us-isabela-merced-cast-dina-season-2-hbo-1235715456/ |archivedate=January 11, 2024 |url-status=live}}

Merced describes herself as having "been queer my whole life",{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/arts/television/isabela-merced-last-of-us.html |title=Isabela Merced Is Ready to Slay (and Not Just Zombies) |access-date=April 14, 2025 |date=April 14, 2025 |work=The New York Times |first=Robert |last=Ito |url-access=limited}} and has "been in queer relationships".{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-last-of-us-isabela-merced-dina-ellie-sex-scene-1236385268/ |title='The Last of Us' Star Isabela Merced on Dina and Ellie's Romance, Getting That Sex Scene Right and LGBTQ Representation: 'No One Actually Thinks I'm Queer' |access-date=May 5, 2025 |date=May 4, 2025 |work=Variety Magazine |first=Kate |last=Aurthur}} Merced stated that Emily Estefan motivated her with her example "to live her truth" and that she aims to "do her part" for the queer community in American popular culture.{{Cite web |url=https://peopleenespanol.com/celebridades/isabela-merced-nominada-por-emily-estefan-para-25-mujeres-mas-poderosas-de-people-en-espanol-entrevista/ |title=Exclusive: Isabela Merced, nominated by Emily Estefan to enter Poderosas, talks about living her truth |access-date=May 2, 2025 |date=January 31, 2022 |work=People en Espanol |first=Lena |last=Hansen}}

She grew up Catholic. She describes her Catholic upbringing as "being closeted out of being complicit and somebody who has accepted, maybe suppressing their queerness for their environment, basically, and to adapt."{{Cite web |title=The Last of Us' Isabela Merced Talks Dina and Ellie and Peacemaker Season Two |url=https://www.gq.com/story/the-last-of-us-isabela-merced |last1=Goodman |first1=William |access-date=May 13, 2025 |work=GQ|date=May 11, 2025 |url-access=limited}}

She has polycystic ovary syndrome,{{Cite web |title=Isabela Merced Instagram post |url=https://www.instagram.com/isabelamerced/p/DCildckxRP_/?img_index=7 |access-date=November 20, 2024 |website=Instagram}} and has attended therapy and openly discussed her struggles with anxiety.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thecut.com/article/lili-reinhart-isabela-merced-in-conversation.html |title=As Young Actors, We're Encouraged Not to Have Boundaries |last1=Ware |first1=Asia Milia |date=April 15, 2024 |work=The Cut |access-date=April 16, 2024 |archive-date=April 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416210513/https://www.thecut.com/article/lili-reinhart-isabela-merced-in-conversation.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Bahr |first1=Sarah |title=Isabela Merced Has a Trick to Keep Herself Off Her Phone |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/17/arts/isabela-merced-madame-web.html |access-date=May 12, 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=February 17, 2024 |url-access=limited}}

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Category:2001 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:21st-century American singers

Category:21st-century American women singers

Category:Actresses from Cleveland

Category:American child actresses

Category:American film actresses

Category:American people of Peruvian descent

Category:American queer actresses

Category:American queer musicians

Category:American television actresses

Category:American voice actresses

Category:American video game actresses

Category:Hispanic and Latino American actresses

Category:Hispanic and Latino American women singers

Category:Republic Records artists

Category:Singers from Cleveland