Isabela Yolanda Moner (born July 10, 2001), known professionally as Isabela Merced since 2019, is an American actress and singer. She played the lead role of CJ Martin on the Nickelodeon television series 100 Things to Do Before High School (2014-2016).
Isabela Merced at the premiere of Instant Family in November 2018.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Merced began acting after her family's Cleveland home was destroyed by a fire. Her father was the firefighter on call that night. 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.
Her first starring performance was as CJ Martin, the lead role on the Nickelodeon television series 100 Things to Do Before High School, from 2014 to 2016.
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Breakthrough Roles
She went on to feature in the films Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Instant Family (2018), and Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018). In 2018, Merced had a major role in Sicario: Day of the Soldado, playing the daughter of a drug cartel head, in a performance lauded by critics. She starred as the titular character in the adventure film Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019).
Isabela Merced as Dora in Dora and the Lost City of Gold.
Recent and Upcoming Projects
She played main roles in the films Madame Web, Turtles All the Way Down, and Alien: Romulus (all in 2024). In 2025, she had a starring role in the second season of the HBO series The Last of Us and played Hawkgirl in the DCU film Superman and series Peacemaker.
She also voiced Kate in Nickelodeon's animated spinoff series Dora and Friends: Into the City! (2014-2017).
Characters from Dora and Friends: Into the City!
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Personal Life and Background
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." She has two brothers.
In 2019, she announced that she was changing her stage name to Isabela Merced in honor of her late grandmother.
She was born and raised in Cleveland to parents Patrick and Katherine Moner. She is the middle child in between brothers Jared and Gyovanni.
Isabela Merced: From Instant Family to Rising Star In Hollywood
Filmography Highlights
Here are some of Isabela Merced's notable film and television roles:
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | 100 Things to Do Before High School | CJ Martin |
| 2017 | Transformers: The Last Knight | Izabella |
| 2018 | Sicario: Day of the Soldado | Isabel Reyes |
| 2018 | Instant Family | Lizzy |
| 2019 | Dora and the Lost City of Gold | Dora |
| 2024 | Madame Web | Anya Corazon / Spider-Girl |
| 2025 | The Last of Us (Season 2) | Dina |
| 2025 | Superman | Hawkgirl |
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