Isabela Merced’s Dina Takes The Last of Us Into Uncharted Territory

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After last week’s heart-wrenching episode of “The Last of Us“, it was tough to find anything to be excited about. Joel met a gruesome end, his killers escaped, and the once safe sanctuary was overrun by a horde of frostbitten Infected. However, there’s a flicker of optimism in Isabela Merced’s character Dina as she steps into episode three, carrying the keys to Ellie’s vengeance: vital intel and a strategy, all while maintaining a flirtatious and lively demeanor that hints at the possibility of love blossoming even amidst the chaos of a zombie apocalypse.

In episode two, the creators made a significant change from the original source material by switching patrol pairs in The Last of Us, pairing Dina with Joel when he was killed. This alteration, as stated by actress Merced, was crucial for her character’s development and portrayal. Merced wanted to ensure that Dina’s unwavering loyalty towards Ellie was evident. As the narrative progresses in episode three, this expanded role of Dina gradually alters the storyline, making Dina an essential support system for Ellie’s journey ahead, while also hinting at more modifications to the story in the future.

How did you manage to add such a unique, humorous touch to your character of Dina? To prepare for this role, I initially got a feel for her from playing the game and watching some episodes from the first season. This helped me grasp the humor embedded within. Once I was confirmed for the part, my strategy was to remain anxious and draw inspiration from Shannon Woodward’s portrayal. After that, it was essential to learn to trust myself and believe in the faith that Craig and Neil had in me. Dina is a character that feels very authentic to me as an actor.

How did you end up landing the role of Dina in “The Last of Us”, considering you began playing the game without knowing this would be your character? The process seemed quite enigmatic: I received a strange phone call, hinting at a meeting with Craig and Neil. They wouldn’t reveal much, but the cryptic message suggested it was for “The Last of Us”. Initially, I assumed it might be for a lesser role. However, during our meeting, it became clear that they were referring to Dina, even though they couldn’t divulge too many details. This is why I started playing the second game.

When did you learn about getting the role following that meeting? It took around a week afterwards for the news to come through. The casting director, Mary Vernieu, played a pivotal role in this as she recommended me to Craig. I owe a significant part of my success to her, as she was instrumental in landing me my first major project.

In your work, were you asked to closely mimic the character from the game, or did you choose to add unique elements to the role that weren’t originally in the source material? When actors were hired, some would ask if they should play the game for research, and Craig would often respond with a no. He even expressed regret when someone told him they had played the game. However, everyone has their own approach to acting. Just like not everyone needs to attend the same classes or take the same tests to earn the same degree, actors don’t necessarily need to follow the same path. I found it fascinating watching Shannon Woodward’s performance because I wasn’t focused on creating an exact replica, and I trusted my skills as a performer to bring something fresh and potentially different for audiences who might be looking for something new. If they wanted to see Shannon’s original performance, they could always revisit the game. Does that make sense?

Inquired about discussing and developing the relationship between Joel and Dina for the show, as it’s not well-established in the game, but we didn’t have that opportunity. Instead, there was a strong chemistry between us, which underscores good writing and casting choices. Pedro had just won an award when I joined him on set, and he literally came straight from the ceremony to filming – he was memorizing lines on the plane over. From my perspective, this portrays Joel taking on another surrogate father role for a young woman, as he continually seeks that father-daughter bond he lost with anyone around him. Since he lost it with Ellie again, but now due to his own actions, he’s pursuing a more casual, transactional version of that relationship with Dina. That’s why he tells Gail in the therapy session, “Oh, Dina’s like my kid.” It’s fascinating to reflect on this now and realize that, in a sense, Ellie takes over his role, while Dina steps into Ellie’s position from the first season.

The fact that Dina is with Joel when he dies makes it a more crucial and sensitive situation for her. This event strengthens her resolve to go to Seattle. In the preparation process, I aimed to portray Dina as steadfast in her loyalty towards Ellie. I didn’t want any doubts about her allegiance to arise, making the final outcome even more heartbreaking. Furthermore, it is significant that Dina is present because she believes she understands the situation, but in reality, she does not. The writers cleverly had her pass out, which means she is there but not fully aware, yet conscious enough to hear the names of the WLF members during the initial parts of the scene.

It has been suggested that I wasn’t physically present during the filming of the scene where Joel is “unalived”, but I want to clarify that this is just a rumor. Some people believed I went to work on another project, like Superman, while they were shooting this scene because it took a week to film; they thought I left and had a stand-in take my place. However, during the times I wasn’t needed on camera or when I wasn’t visible, I was actually watching playback, observing Mark and Craig, and then a body double would step in for me just to match eye lines with other actors. To set the record straight, every time you see that beanie on screen, it was indeed me. It’s puzzling why such unfounded rumors about my absence started circulating.

In other words, having Dina present during Joel’s death implies that the game’s sex scene in the weed house doesn’t coincide with the show’s timeline, which can hinder the progression of Dina and Ellie’s relationship. During our discussions, Bella and I focused on the delicate balance between portraying grief and moments of happiness and affection, as excessive joy after mourning can evoke feelings of guilt. Both characters seem hesitant to acknowledge these emotions, which are evident but not explicitly discussed, likely due to their preoccupation with their mission. In episode three’s opening scene, Dina addresses Ellie by stating, “This is the situation, this is what happened. I know their names and I have a plan.” This statement was crucial in establishing their shared purpose and avoiding unnecessary conversations about their emotional state.

In our original plan, we filmed events in sequence, but later, we decided to reshoot that specific scene due to its choreography. During the initial filming of episode three, Ellie was sitting in the same chair, but I was seated at the head of the table. HBO suggested there was an issue with this scene and proposed changes. Being a genius, as Craig is, he felt we didn’t need significant alterations; instead, changing our seating arrangement made all the difference. This adjustment significantly enhanced the scene. For instance, the cookies being slid across the table have more visual impact. It was less compelling when we were seated on opposite sides of the table. It may seem simple, but it greatly improved the overall effect.

Originally, Dina disclosed a bit extra. However, during reshoots, they decided it was better to convey less information or make the information more ambiguous. This was because it’s unlikely that Dina, in her state of frostbite, meeting so many new people, being drugged, and under severe stress, could have absorbed all that information.

When exactly did you find yourself reshooting again? Well, it was at the end of the season. Initially, I had planned to chop off all my hair once the season was over! However, I decided to wait a while, and I’m glad I did because that day I would have only been wearing a wig. That experience was intriguing, considering we had already completed our journey and then came back for this reshoot. Reflecting on it now, I believe my patience and understanding of Ellie’s character after the fact significantly improved the scene during the reshoot.

In the tableau at the dinner, they maintained a composed and grave demeanor, yet resumed their playful banter on the journey. The atmosphere took a turn for the tense once again within the tent. Was there ever a moment in the tent that was more intimately charged between them?

We experimented with various renditions of this scene. The most challenging aspect was synchronizing the lighting, as the lamp played a significant role in creating the playful ambiance. However, we opted to exclude a scene where Ellie was openly appraising Dina, as we aimed to preserve the lighthearted and relatable nature without crossing into overtly sexual territory. Their bond is deeply heartfelt and sincere, which I believe justified this decision and leaves us yearning for more. Consequently, I’m relieved they removed the cannabis scene, even though it was one of my favorites due to its passionate intensity. It was truly captivating. Yet, I am grateful for the attention to detail being invested into this, as sapphic relationships are often portrayed in a sexually explicit manner in media. Instead, this portrayal focuses on their emotional bond and unfolds into a genuine love story.

In the context of their love story, Ellie finds Dina to be a source of life-giving energy. Dina represents for Ellie a pathway to experience joy, whimsy, camaraderie, and even innocent mischief. They have a knack for bringing out each other’s playful sides. Given that Ellie is heavily burdened by her past, this lighthearted connection with Dina is particularly crucial for her.

As a film enthusiast, I must admit that Bella Ramsey and I had no chance to conduct a chemistry reading before we landed our roles as Dina and Milda respectively. With both of us engrossed in arm training, horse-riding lessons, combat sessions, stunt rehearsals, hair and makeup trials, practical effects tests, wardrobe fittings, and more, there was barely any time for chit-chat!

The first scene we shared on screen was in the garage during episode one, but our initial encounter in character happened during the camera test. The room fell silent as we stepped into our roles, and I could sense a subtle relaxation between us – it was like a reassuring whisper that everything was falling into place. It felt secure, and having that immediate comfortability made those awkward camera tests a breeze.

Given your background with horror, sci-fi, stunts, and animations, what made The Last of Us stand out during filming?
What really caught my attention was the extensive use of practical effects. I assumed there’d be a lot more visual effects (VFX), but I appreciate the opportunity to work on projects that are as real-world as possible. Most VFX in this show are only for the backdrops when they use green screens, but surprisingly few for the Infected. In fact, I had an unusual chance to attend VFX meetings, which was a great experience! It’s intriguing to see how they incorporate everything, like adding hordes of people in scenes such as the battle run in episode two, where many infected were added digitally, but a significant number were actual people running. I’ve never been this close to the VFX process before. Moreover, the actors playing the Infected are professional dancers, which explains their unique movements. Watching them rehearse was like watching the “Thriller” music video!

Given that you debunked some rumors previously, I’m curious if you also enjoy participating in the lighter side of things. Do you check online during episode airings to see the responses and memes created?
Absolutely! I find humor incredibly enjoyable. Ariela Barer and I often share amusing TikTok videos with each other. For instance, there was a clip about the horse left behind in episode two when Jesse picks up Dina, where the horse is shown braving the blizzard to a sad tune. Another memorable one was an edit featuring Jesse, Dina, and Ellie set to the song “Jessie’s Girl,” which I really enjoyed.

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2025-04-28 07:00