Isabela Merced, cast as Dina in HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us, played the game prior to her audition, despite being advised otherwise. The creators, Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, wanted actors to avoid merely replicating the game characters, but Merced found gaming provided essential insights for her portrayal. Following her breakout role in the series, which has significantly outperformed HBO's prior hits, she notes her performance has been recognized by the game's original voice actor. The show has captivated a broad audience, exemplifying its status as a critical success.
I figured it was. I put two and two together. I'm like, 'Yeah, of course it is,'" she says, coolly. In one weekend, she binged the game and had the chat. "It was a blur. They chose me. I didn't even have to audition or anything.
Druckmann has said he doesn't want his actors to play so they aren't simply delivering a "poor imitation" of the game avatars. For Merced, playing was rather "such a good cheat sheet".
Currently best known for popcorn cinema efforts Transformers: The Last Knight and Dora and the Lost City of Gold, The Last of Us is easily the most esteemed role of the Peruvian-American actress's career.
The first season's premiere in 2023 racked up 40 million viewers, and the season as a whole became one of HBO's biggest all-time hits.
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