Isabela Merced is opening up about her role as Dina in The Last of Us Season 2.

In January 2024 it was announced that Merced will be playing Dina in The Last of Us Season 2. Introduced in The Last of Us Part II (where she was played by Shannon Woodward), Dina lives alongside Ellie at the Jackson settlement at the beginning of the game and is her romantic partner.

What did Isabela Merced say about Dina in The Last of Us Season 2?

Speaking with Total Film, Merced — who is also playing Hawkgirl in James Gunn’s forthcoming Superman movie — said of Dina’s role in The Last of Us Season 2, “[She is] sort of a light in Ellie’s life, in Ellie’s world. I think that’s the general consensus, because you look at the video game, too, and she is really the only one who actually gets sort of a decent ending. Everyone else gets kind of screwed or dies!”

She added, “I love, more than anything, to be that light for the people in my life. And I like to make them laugh, and I like to make them understand themselves more. I just like to help in general. I think Dina’s very close to my own personality. I think we’re both very silly, and I think I would maybe handle the apocalypse in a similar way if I were in it.”

Along with Merced, The Last of Us Season 2 stars Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Rutina Wesley as Maria, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Young Mazino as Jesse, Danny Ramirez as Manny, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac Dixon.

Additionally, Catherine O’Hara is playing an undisclosed role in the upcoming season of the hit HBO series.

A premiere date for The Last of Us 2 has not yet been announced.