The Fast and Furious franchise may be speeding towards its final ride (final rides?), but that won’t stop the films from adding a few new members to the Fast Family. One of the new additions for Fast X is Daniela Melchior. Melchior plays Isabel, a Brazilian street racer who faces off against Dom (Vin Diesel) and Dante (Jason Momoa) in Rio.

During an interview with THS, Melchior revealed she was a member of the extended Fast Family long before her casting made her a part of the franchise. (Shoutout to Melchior’s favorite character, Suki.) 

Melchior says she was “super in love” with the script for Fast X from the start. But meeting long-time franchise lead and #1 Fast and Furious supporter Vin Diesel gave her a new perspective on the blockbuster film series.

“When I met Vin for the first time and he was talking about the franchise, he was so passionate about it. I was like, ‘okay, this is even deeper than I thought,’” says Melchior.

Daniela Melchior as Isabel in Fast X, directed by Louis Leterrier.

She attributes the appeal of the Fast and Furious flicks to its central premise around family. But while Melchior’s a self-described fan of the franchise, she says she didn’t realize how impactful it could be for others too until talking more with Diesel.

“I knew that there were a lot of fans, but Vin really explained to me that there are many families that don’t see each other for the whole year, and then they get together to watch Fast and Furious,” she recalls. “I didn’t know that. That is crazy.”

Melchior also revealed who among the cast (besides Diesel) is the most “ride or die” for the Fast Saga, which character she’d most like to race, and even what Isabel and her The Suicide Squad character Ratcatcher 2 would get up to on a road trip. Check out our full interview with Melchior for Fast X below.

Melchior is just one of several new faces appearing in the tenth Fast and Furious film. She’s joined by franchise newcomers Jason Momoa, Brie Larson, Rita Moreno, and Alan Ritchson.

Fast X ushers in the beginning of the end of the road for the F&F films. Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto (Diesel) and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced. A terrifying threat emerges from the shadows of the past, fueled by blood revenge, and determined to shatter this family and destroy everything—and everyone—that Dom loves, forever.

Fast X premieres in theaters May 19.

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