Whether she’s playing a post-apocalyptic mother-to-be or a winged warrior screaming through the skies, Isabela Merced knows one thing to be true: “A woman with a plan is so unstoppable.”

Indeed, the last several months have found Merced playing two fictional forces of nature: The Last of Us ‘ Dina, the quietly fierce girlfriend of Bella Ramsey’s Ellie, and the Superman film’s Hawkgirl, an airborne member of DC’s Justice Gang who’ll next show up on the small screen in Peacemaker Season 2.

All of this makes Merced a perfect choice for TVLine to name as one of our inaugural Women to Watch . Our new awards series recognizes women doing exciting, inspiring and industry-shaping work in television. The honorees are selected by the TVLine staff; Merced is this year’s Drama Star

See Full Page