Posted in : HBO , TV| Tagged : the last of us
Isabela Merced on cover the mankind of HBO ’s The Last of Us - from playing the video games to joining the 2nd season ’s cast as Dina .
Article Summary
Isabela Mercedis certainly no stranger to the pressure of tackling franchise with her time onDora , Transformers : The Last Knight(2017 ) , Alien : Romulus ( 2024 ) , and Marvel withMadame Web(2024).Her vocation has n’t even peak yet as she soars her direction into the upcomingJames GunnSupermanreboot as Hawkgirl and season two of HBO’sThe Last of Us , play Dina , the love interest of Ellie ( Bella Ramsey).The actress verbalize toEntertainment Weeklyabout prepping for the role , howAlien : RomulusdirectorFede Álvarez’sinspiration for Kay came from his playthrough ofThe Last of Us Part II , and how fate played a paw in her eventual casting as Dina , meeting original Dina vox actorShannon Woodward , and embracing the culture of the biz .
The Last of Us Star Isabella Merced on Filling in the Backstory
Season two ofThe Last of Uswill parallel the 2020 Naughty Dog video game , where eld have passed since Joel ’s ( Pedro Pascal ) fateful determination to save Ellie ( Bella Ramsey ) from an data-based disastrous operating theater that could have potentially saved humanity . The two find themselves estranged , live in Jackson , Wyoming , alongside Joel ’s buddy Tommy ( Gabriel Luna ) and his wife Maria ( Rutina Wesley ) . Ellie is sink into life , growing up into maturity , trying to make the best of it , and come down in love with Dina in the process .
Before getting wander on the HBO series , Álvarez revealed that he cast Merced asAlien : Romuluswhile playingThe Last of Us : Part II , publish onsocial mediaof her casting declaration , " Fun fact : I was playing # TheLastOfUs2 while writing # AlienRomulus The floor of a meaning Dina made me call back of possess the character of Kay be meaning too . Then I swan Isabella Merced to bring Kay … . A twelvemonth later , she gets purge to toy Dina on the HBO show … . truthful story . " In the biz , Dina is significant from her ex - boyfriend Jesse and reveals that to Ellie when they start on their " risky venture . "
Merced was ab initio unbelieving before at last getting roll . She reflected on her take her first scene with Ramsey , " Whatever you see there , it was just what was , " Merced said . " We did n’t function on it or do any special sessions . " It was a similar approach that showrunnersCraig MazinandNeil Druckmanndid for Pascal and Ramsey when they started filming season one .
" Dina in the biz does n’t really have a deal of backstory , " Merced point out . She does point to a scene in which the character explores an abandoned synagogue with Ellie , incite her to give up more about her Jewish heritage and stories from her past times . " It ’s devastating and it ’s also inspiring , like , ' My people make it , so I can survive this . ' It ’s really beautiful , " Merced remarks of that bit . " We get to dilate upon her story a trivial bit more in this time of year . "
Ever cautious of spoilers , Merced draw what exploring Dina ’s Jewish inheritance inPart IImeant , " I will say , though , I really appreciated that sequence in the game because it revealed so much , and it made her multi - dimensional and superimposed and vulnerable . I think the creators , Neil and Craig , will be giving us more of that . I just ca n’t say how . "
Merced admits she move over it her all , crediting Woodard for allow for that introduction for Dina , say , " I did not neglect a single bit of what she brought to Dina in the process of finding the live - action [ interpretation ] , " and it did n’t injure to have her ringing imprimatur , " On top of that , " she extend , " I think I brought maybe a vulnerability that you ca n’t really feel in a telecasting game , and an openness . I wanted to check that she was n’t just the in force friend , that she had a little minute more deepness . I cerebrate Craig did a nifty job with the composition , but then all I had to do was make indisputable my nub was open . "
you could ascertain outthe entire interviewfor more , include her embracing the franchise ’s embracement of LGBTQ narratives , taking a stand , and her career . Season two ofThe Last of Uspremieres on April 13th on HBO and Max .
Enjoyed this ? Please share on social media !
