Isabela Merced's Secret Keyblade Master Role: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Her Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover Performance

Isabela Merced's surprising history with the iconic *Kingdom Hearts* franchise is resurfacing in the news this December 2025, as the actress takes on some of the biggest roles in Hollywood. While the world is currently focused on her major castings—from Dina in HBO’s *The Last of Us* Season 2 to the superhero Anya Corazon/Anya Corazón in Sony’s *Madame Web*—many fans are unaware that Merced has a deep connection to Square Enix’s epic fantasy world, having lent her voice to one of the most mysterious and pivotal characters in the series: Master Ava, in the 2017 cinematic feature *Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover*. This voice-acting credit, which she took on early in her career (credited as Isabela Moner), is a crucial piece of the *Kingdom Hearts* lore, placing Merced at the very beginning of the entire saga. *Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover* is an hour-long film that explains the events leading up to the infamous Keyblade War, and Merced’s character, Master Ava, is one of the five Foretellers hand-picked by the Master of Masters to ensure the world's survival. This article dives deep into her role, the character's significance, and why this past performance is a testament to Merced's versatile talent as she steps into the spotlight of major live-action franchises.

Isabela Merced: Full Biography and Profile

Isabela Merced, born Isabela Yolanda Moner, is an American actress, singer, and songwriter known for her versatile career spanning television, film, and music.

• Birth Name: Isabela Yolanda Moner
• Date of Birth: July 10, 2001
• Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
• Ethnicity: Peruvian (Mother) and American (Father)
• Name Change: Changed her professional name to Isabela Merced in 2019, as a tribute to her late Peruvian grandmother.
• Early Career Highlights: Began her career on Broadway in *Evita* at the age of ten. She starred as CJ Martin in the Nickelodeon series *100 Things to Do Before High School* (2014–2016).
• Major Film Roles: Izabella in *Transformers: The Last Knight* (2017), Dora in *Dora and the Lost City of Gold* (2019), and Lizzy in *Instant Family* (2018).
• Upcoming High-Profile Roles: Dina in HBO's *The Last of Us* Season 2 and an undisclosed role in the upcoming Marvel film *Madame Web*.

The Enigmatic Role: Who is Master Ava in Kingdom Hearts?

Isabela Merced’s voice role as Master Ava is far from a minor cameo; it is a key piece of the *Kingdom Hearts* mythology. Ava is one of the five Foretellers, the apprentices of the legendary Master of Masters. The Foretellers are the leaders of the five Keyblade Unions—Anguis, Leopardos, Ursus, Unicornis, and Vulpes. Merced’s character, Master Ava, is the leader of the Vulpes Union. Ava is often portrayed as the most compassionate and perhaps the most tragic of the Foretellers. Her primary mission, given directly by the Master of Masters, was unique: to gather the strongest Keyblade wielders from all the Unions and form the Dandelions. The Dandelions were a select group intended to survive the inevitable Keyblade War and carry the light of the world into the future. Ava's actions, driven by a desire to prevent total destruction, are central to the entire narrative of the *Kingdom Hearts* timeline's earliest events.

The Significance of Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover

*Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover* is not a traditional video game; it is an hour-long cinematic feature included in the *Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue* collection, released in 2017. The film serves as a crucial companion piece to the mobile game *Kingdom Hearts χ* (or *Kingdom Hearts Union X*). While the mobile game tells the story from the perspective of the player characters, *Back Cover* reveals the "behind the scenes" events from the perspective of the Foretellers and the Master of Masters. This narrative structure is vital, as it unveils the Foretellers' growing suspicions, the mystery of the traitor among them, and the prophecy contained within the Book of Prophecies that foretold the world's end. Merced's performance as Master Ava helps to humanize the character, giving voice to a Keyblade Master torn between her loyalty to her Master and her desperate need to save the innocent. The film is where the deep, complex lore of the series truly begins, making Merced’s contribution foundational to the entire saga.

From Keyblade Master to The Last of Us: Merced's Versatility

The role of Master Ava, which Merced undertook while still a teenager and primarily known for her Nickelodeon work, showcases a surprising range that foreshadows her current career trajectory. The character of Ava is complex, requiring a blend of wisdom, authority, and underlying melancholy. In *Kingdom Hearts*, voice acting requires a specific gravitas to match the high-fantasy setting. Merced's ability to deliver a performance that resonated with the established voice cast and the fandom demonstrates her versatility across different mediums. Her current roles demand similar depth. As Dina in *The Last of Us* Season 2, she will portray a character known for her emotional complexity and resilience in a post-apocalyptic world. Similarly, her role in the Marvel universe requires the ability to switch between high-stakes action and character-driven drama. The fact that her *Kingdom Hearts* role is being cited in recent articles about her major live-action castings is not just a trivia point; it is proof of her long-standing, quiet presence in the world of high-quality, character-focused media. For dedicated *Kingdom Hearts* fans, the knowledge that a rising Hollywood star like Isabela Merced helped voice one of the most important figures in the franchise's history is a compelling link between the gaming and cinematic worlds. The legacy of Master Ava—a character who chooses compassion and hope over the Master’s cryptic plans—is an interesting parallel to the strong, determined characters Isabela Merced is now known for bringing to life on the big and small screens. Her voice work in *Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover* remains a unique and highly significant credit in her ever-growing and impressive portfolio.