Who is Dina in The Last of Us season 2? Isabela Merced's character explained

It was announced back in January 2024 that Merced had joined the cast of the show, with showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann saying in a new joint statement: "Dina is warm, brilliant, wild, funny, moral, dangerous, and instantly lovable. You can search forever for an actor who effortlessly embodies all of those things, or you can find Isabela Merced right away.

"We couldn’t be prouder to have her join our family."

The Last of Us premiered on HBO back in January 2023, becoming an instant success for the network, marking its second-largest debut after House of the Dragon.

A season two renewal was announced after only two episodes of the first season had aired.

Read on for everything you need to know about Merced's character, Dina.

Who is Dina in The Last of Us? Isabela Merced's character explained

In both the TV series and the original video game, Dina is Ellie's love interest.

While little information has been revealed about the character by the end of the season 2 premiere, in The Last of Us Part II video game, which was released in 2020, the character (who is voiced by actress Shannon Woodward) is a few years older than Ellie and is in her early 20s.

She was raised by her older sister, Talia, after her parents died when she was very young.

Dina is described as "a free-wheeling spirit whose devotion to Ellie will be tested by the brutality of the world they inhabit," by HBO.

Who is Isabela Merced?

Age: 22

Instagram: @isabelamerced

Isabela Merced is an American actress best known for roles in Transformers: The Last Knight and Madame Web.

What else has Isabela Merced starred in?

Alongside Transformers: The Last Knight and Madame Web, Merced has previously appeared as Dora in Dora and the Lost City of Gold.

She also starred as Lizzy in Instant Family, Hawkgirl in Superman Legacy and Rachel in Sweet Girl on Netflix.

The actress also bagged a small role in Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover as the voice of Ava.

Did Dina secretly appear in The Last of Us season 1?

Fans previously speculated that Dina had already appeared on the show back in season 1.

In episode 6, when the show's leads Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal) arrive in the Jackson, Wyo. community, a girl (played by Paolina Van Kleef) is shown staring at Ellie in the cafeteria.

Speaking about the scene, Mazin and Druckman didn’t refute the fan theory that it could be Dina.

"In Part II, there is a story about the first time Dina met Ellie that is very similar to what happens here," Druckmann told EW at the time.

"That doesn't mean that that's Dina," Mazin added. "Doesn't mean it's not."

Meanwhile, Merced was recently asked about the fan theory during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

"I did see [the theory]" the star said. "And her outfit looks very similar to Dina's. I haven't actually had the opportunity to ask Craig [Mazin, the showrunner]."

"In my opinion, and the Dina that I've witnessed and seen, Dina wouldn't run away. Dina would be like, 'Who are you?'" Merced added.

"I don't think she would be scared of Ellie.... I don't think Dina would run away, scared with her tail between her legs."

While it’s unclear whether the girl in season 1 was Dina, it’s official that Kleef is not playing her in season 2.

The Last of Us season 1 is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Season 2 is released weekly.

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