The Last of Ushas brought several great actors into the fold forSeason 2, includingCatherine O’Hara,Kaitlyn Dever,Young Manzino, andIsabela Merced, who was the standout of the season premiere with her performance as Dina. Just one episode in, Merced’s strong screen presence and chemistry withBella Ramseyare on full display. While she may be a new face to a lot of audiences, sci-fi/horror lovers may remember her from her impressive performance in last year’sAlien: Romulus. Before what will likely be a career-defining role inThe Last of Us, Merced was mostly known for her more family-friendly performances in films likeInstant FamilyandDora and the Lost City of Gold.Her performance as Kay inAlien: Romulusallowed her to show off her range and prove she has what it takes to make an impact insuch a high-octane film franchise.
‘Alien: Romulus’ Is Unlike Any of Isabela Merced’s Other Roles
At 23 years old, Isabela Merced has been working in the industry for over a decade, but2024 was arguably her biggest year so far,starring in Marvel’sMadame Web, the coming-of-age John Green adaptationTurtles All the Way Down, and the latest installment in theAlien franchise. Taking place between the events ofAlienand its first sequel,Aliens,Romulusfollows Rain (Cailee Spaeny), a young woman working in one of Weyland-Yutani’s bleak mining colonies, Jackson’s Star. After putting in thousands of hours of work, her request to leave for Yvaga is denied, so Rain and her android half-brother Andy (David Jonsson) join forces with her ex-boyfriend Tyler (Archie Renaux) and his crew to covertly escape. They plan to hijack an abandoned Weyland-Yutani vessel and use its cryo chambers to travel to the idyllic Yvaga III planet in search of a better life,where they run into a pack of xenomorphs.
From ‘Last of Us’ to ‘Alien,’ Isabela Merced Has Always Been Ready to Grind This Hard
Merced also talks about how much she loves her ‘Turtles All the Way Down’ character, flaws and all.
Merced plays Tyler’s sister Kay, who reveals to Rain that she’s in the early stages of pregnancy, so she stays behind while the rest of the crew explores the vessel. But once the xenomorphs make their first appearance and attack Navarro (Aileen Wu), Kay is left to fend for herself and becomes a pivotal character as they attempt to escape.Though herscreen time is limited, Merced is one of the definite highlights ofAlien: Romulusand is responsible for carrying some of the film’s most intense scenes, including the final, horrifying twist.
Isabela Merced Makes the Most of Her Limited Screen Time in ‘Alien: Romulus’
OfAlien: Romulus’s ensemble cast, Jonsson shines as Andy, and Spaeny does a fine job as our protagonist, but Merced is tasked with the most excruciating performance of the movie. In her first horror role,Merced delivers an impeccable,blood-curdling screamas she watches an infant xenomorph violently burst through Navarro’s chest, setting the tone for the rest of the horrors yet to unfold. Her performance is much more emotive than Spaeny’s, and makes you want to root for Kay to end up as the final girl, too, even though that role is clearly meant for Rain.
It’s a pretty physical role, as Kay is stalked and chased around the station by the xenomorphs, and whether she’s screaming out for help or trying to remain silent and undetected, Merced is able to convey so much emotion through her eyes alone. After the film’s final, jaw-dropping twist, Kay writhes in pain and terror as the monster she was justforced to give birth toapproaches her. This is one of Merced’s most impressive moments, and it’ll leave youconvincedshe was destined for the horror genredespite her history of acting in primarily light-hearted films beforeAlien: Romulus.
Despite not being the lead role, Mercedsteals the showwith every scene she’s in, which is especially impressive considering how intense and demanding the majority of her scenes are. Out of all the work in her filmography,Alien: Romulushighlights Merced’s range and capabilities as an actress beyond just her undeniable charisma, and hopefully, we’ll see her return to the horror genre again in the future after her tenure onThe Last of Us.
Alien: Romulus
