After a long night, DC Universe finally has a new dawn to celebrate. James Gunn has assembled a stellar cast for Superman to serve great backstories in gallant capes and outstanding resumes. Fans have flocked to the theaters to fawn over David Corenswet's spin on the Man of Steel and Rachel Brosnahan's fresh take on Lois Lane; however, it is the winged immortal warrior who has made them stay. Enter the new Hawkgirl—fiery, stunning, and no newbie to commanding the spotlight.  

Devoted fans of DCU are awestruck by the actress whose acting credits soar as high as the beloved metahuman. But who exactly is she?

Maintaining a streak of bagging iconic shows and movies, Isabela Merced stuns as the new Hawkgirl in Superman. She has efficiently tackled the layered and grounded character of Kendra Saunders, making an iconic superhero debut when enlisted by Lois Lane to save the Caped Kryptonian. Born Isabela Moner in Cleveland, Ohio, the 24-year-old Peruvian triple threat made her Broadway debut at just ten years old after her family moved to New York City to support her dreams. Since then, her acting career has known no bounds. 

What may surprise fans even more is that Merced got accepted into college at 15 while balancing a full-time acting career. However, her childhood was not entirely alien, as growing up with two brothers introduced her to DC Comics at an early age. As a fangirl who used to collect action figures, Merced has considered her casting as Hawkgirl a "full circle moment," per Collider. Although Merced's journey from being a childhood fan to landing the role seems like a dream come true, her rising fame comes from her long-standing, illustrious career. While she presented a refreshing take on the famed character, her screen presence is incredibly familiar.  

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If you feel you have seen Merced on your favorite shows before, you are probably right. 

When she did not have wings, Isabela Merced sported a pink top and backpack as the live-action Dora in Dora and the Lost City of Gold 2019, after cementing herself in the core memories of a generation of pre-teens as CJ Martin in Nickelodeon's 2014 show, 100 Things to Do Before High School. However, Merced's range is notably wide as she took on mature and rougher roles such as 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight, 2018’s Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Instant Family, 2019's Let It Snow, and more. In 2024, she starred in Turtles All the Way Down, Madame Web, and Alien: Romulus. However, fans probably retained her captivating presence as Dina from her appearance in HBO's The Last of Us.

Isabela Merced's flight to a major box office triumph with the critically acclaimed Superman is nothing short of being superhero-worthy. Her iteration of Hawkgirl breathed a new-gen spark into the classic character while maintaining its authenticity to the comics. More than just a supporting character, Merced's DCU venture is yet to unfold into deeper storylines. For now, she can be seen in action in theatres everywhere.

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What do you think of Isabela Merced's superhero glow-up? Tell us in the comments below.