Isabela Merced

Isabela Merced is an American actress and singer who started as a Nickelodeon star and grew into a versatile performer across blockbuster films and prestige TV. Born Isabela Yolanda Moner in Cleveland, Ohio, she first connected with audiences as the bubbly lead in the Nickelodeon series 100 Things to Do Before High School (2014–2016). That role opened doors to feature films, and she quickly landed parts in big franchises like Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) and the gritty thriller Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018). Her big breakout came in 2019 when she starred as the iconic explorer in Dora and the Lost City of Gold, a live-action adventure that won over both kids and critics.

In 2024, Merced had a massive year with three very different movies: the superhero ensemble Madame Web, the intimate mental-health drama Turtles All the Way Down (based on John Green's novel), and the sci-fi horror Alien: Romulus. The following year, she joined the second season of HBO's hit series The Last of Us playing Dina, and took on the superhero role of Hawkgirl in James Gunn's DC Universe, appearing in both the film Superman (2025) and the series Peacemaker Season 2. With over a dozen film credits and a growing list of TV roles, she has proven she can handle everything from comedy to horror to prestige drama.

Merced also makes music, releasing pop and Latin-infused singles and an EP. She changed her professional surname from Moner to Merced in 2019 to honor her Peruvian mother. Known for her warm, grounded presence and openness about mental health, she has become a relatable figure for young fans navigating their own challenges. As of 2026, she continues to expand her reach, with upcoming projects including an untitled romantic comedy directed by Jon M. Chu.[edit]

Merced grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, in a bilingual household where she spoke both English and Spanish. Her mother, Katherine, is Peruvian and worked as a model, while her father, Patrick Moner, worked in construction. From age seven, she performed in local theater productions of The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music. At 11, she landed a role in the Broadway production of Evita in 2013, playing a child part. That experience led to a guest spot on the Nickelodeon series The Thundermans later that year.

In 2014, she won the lead role of CJ Martin in Nickelodeon's 100 Things to Do Before High School, a show that followed a girl determined to complete a list of adventures before starting high school. The series ran for two seasons and became her launchpad. During this time, she was homeschooled to balance her acting schedule. She has said that growing up in the spotlight was challenging but that her family kept her grounded. She attended a performing arts school in Cleveland before her career took off.[edit]

After 100 Things to Do Before High School ended in 2016, Merced moved into film. She voiced Kate in the animated The Legend of Tarzan (2016) and appeared in the Nickelodeon TV movie Splitting Adam. Her first major theatrical role came in 2017 as Izabella in Transformers: The Last Knight. The following year, she held her own alongside Benicio del Toro in Sicario: Day of the Soldado and starred with Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne in the comedy Instant Family.

Her career-defining moment arrived in 2019 when she played the title role in Dora and the Lost City of Gold. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $120 million worldwide. That same year, she legally changed her surname to Merced. In 2020, she released her debut EP The Better Half of Me and was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Hollywood and Entertainment. She also voiced the lead role in the Netflix series Mighty Little Bheem and starred in the film Let It Snow.

In 2021, she starred in the Netflix film The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (voice) and the drama Sweet Girl. In 2022, she appeared in Father of the Bride and the series Rosaline. In 2023, she starred in the horror film The Listener and the thriller The Grottoes. In 2024, she appeared in three major films: Madame Web (as Anya Corazon), Turtles All the Way Down (as Aza Holmes), and Alien: Romulus. In 2025, she joined The Last of Us Season 2 as Dina, a key character from the video game, and was cast as Hawkgirl in the DC Universe, debuting in Superman (2025) and continuing in Peacemaker Season 2.[edit]

Merced is known for her playful, colorful fashion sense, often mixing vintage-inspired pieces with modern streetwear. She is open about her mental health struggles, including anxiety and OCD, and uses her platform to promote self-acceptance, especially among young Latinx fans. Her social media voice is candid and unscripted, sharing both behind-the-scenes moments and personal reflections. Her fans, sometimes called Isabellas Army or Mercedians, are active on Instagram and TikTok, creating fan edits and rallying around her projects. She is seen as a relatable, grounded star who balances big-budget franchises with intimate, meaningful roles. She has been featured on magazine covers for Variety, Teen Vogue, and Cosmopolitan.[edit]

Isabela Merced commands a global stage where blockbuster franchises and prestige television converge, drawing audiences from the action sets of Cleveland to the digital frontiers of 2026. Her career trajectory has shifted from Nickelodeon darling to a defining voice in modern genre cinema, anchoring projects that span horror adaptations and superhero universes. Despite this high-profile ascent, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated her profile without assigning a placement in the published rankings. She currently holds no position within the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list, reflecting a status of immense cultural relevance that exists just outside the strict numerical hierarchy of current celebrity metrics. This absence of a rank does not diminish her impact; rather, it highlights a unique position where influence is measured by the sheer volume of upcoming projects like The House of the Dead adaptation and her role in Man of Tomorrow rather than a single aggregate score. Her audience remains vast and active across social platforms, yet research confirms no formal name documents their collective identity. While fans frequently engage with her content on Instagram and TikTok, creating a vibrant but unbranded community, there is no official moniker like an army or legion attached to her following. The lack of a specific fandom name distinguishes her from peers who have cultivated branded fanbases, leaving her supporters as a dispersed but devoted group united by appreciation for her work rather than a shared label.[edit]

Isabela Merced speaks fluent Spanish and frequently posts content in both English and Spanish, bridging her American upbringing with her Peruvian heritage. In 2019, she legally changed her surname from Moner to Merced to honor her mother. Her debut EP, The Better Half of Me, arrived in 2020, fusing pop melodies with Latin rhythms. A dedicated dog named Koda keeps her company at home, and she was homeschooled starting at age twelve to prioritize her demanding acting schedule. Her accolades include a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite TV Actress in 2015, an Imagen Award for Best Actress in 2019, a Young Artist Award in 2015, and a Hollywood Critics Association Creative Arts Award in 2024. She set a Guinness World Record in 2020 for the most Instagram followers held by a Peruvian-born actor and served as an honorary ambassador for the Peruvian tourism board that same year. Standing at five feet one inch tall, she drew upon personal struggles with anxiety and OCD to inform her performance in Turtles All the Way Down. Recent developments include her casting in the live-action film adaptation of Sega's The House of the Dead, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, and her return as Hawkgirl in the DC film Man of Tomorrow. Fans continue to follow her dynamic with Bella Ramsey in The Last of Us, though no specific viral folklore or legendary crowd incidents have been documented surrounding these appearances.[edit]

Merced's mother, Katherine, is a former model from Peru, and her father, Patrick Moner, worked in construction. She has German and Irish ancestry on her father's side. She is a dual citizen of the United States and Peru. Merced is very close with her mother, who often accompanies her to red carpet events. She does not have any siblings. As of 2026, she lives in Los Angeles with her dog Koda. She has described her family as supportive and grounded, helping her navigate fame from a young age. She was born on July 10, 2001, in Cleveland, Ohio.[edit]

Merced has worked with a range of notable actors and directors. She co-starred with Mark Wahlberg in Instant Family and Transformers: The Last Knight, and with Benicio del Toro in Sicario: Day of the Soldado. She collaborated with author John Green on the adaptation of Turtles All the Way Down. In the DCU, she works under director James Gunn in Superman and Peacemaker. She also co-starred with Cailee Spaeny in Alien: Romulus and with Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us Season 2.[edit]

Merced was rumored to have dated actor and singer Joshua Bassett in late 2020. The two were seen together and posted photos on social media, but neither confirmed a serious relationship. They reportedly split amicably in early 2021. Since then, she has not been publicly linked to anyone. As of 2026, Merced is single and focused on her career, with major projects in The Last of Us and the DC Universe.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates Isabela Merced's net worth at $5 Million as of 2026. This valuation reflects her steady rise through major studio productions and strategic career moves since her breakout success. For significant films such as Madame Web and Alien: Romulus, she reportedly commanded between $500,000 and $1 million per project. Her participation in The Last of Us Season 2 generated an estimated $200,000 to $300,000 for each episode filmed. Additional revenue streams include music streaming and sales from her EP The Better Half of Me, alongside endorsement partnerships with Neutrogena and American Eagle. She maintains a residence in Los Angeles valued at approximately $1.2 million. This financial growth has accelerated consistently since 2019, fueled by a series of high-profile roles and calculated professional decisions. Research by the iFANN Editorial Team places her total assets firmly around the $5 million mark, aligning with broader industry assessments that range between $4 million and $6 million.[edit]

Merced won a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award in 2015 for Favorite TV Actress for 100 Things to Do Before High School. She earned an Imagen Award in 2019 for Best Actress in a Feature Film for Dora and the Lost City of Gold. She also won a Young Artist Award in 2015 for Best Performance in a TV Series – Leading Young Actress. In 2024, she received the Hollywood Critics Association Creative Arts Award for Best Young Performer for Turtles All the Way Down.[edit]