# Mikaela Hoover
**Mikaela Hoover** (full name Mikaela Mehrizi Hoover; born 1984 in [Spokane, Washington](https://www.edgepedia.org/spokane-washington)) is an American actress and producer known for supporting roles in [James Gunn](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-gunn)'s films, for playing [Cat Grant](https://www.edgepedia.org/cat-grant) in *Superman* (2025), and for portraying Tony Tony Chopper in the second season of Netflix's live-action *One Piece* adaptation.[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/28887/mikaela-hoover) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2409479/bio/) • [3](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mikaela-hoover/umc.cpc.2j0370bc24jzqremx9nzogk7p)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Spokane, Washington; full name Mikaela Mehrizi Hoover[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/28887/mikaela-hoover) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2409479/bio/) |
| Training | Accepted to Loyola Marymount University's theater program in Los Angeles; graduated with a bachelor's degree in theater (2006)[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/28887/mikaela-hoover) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2409479/bio/) |
| Early breaks | Web series *Sam Has 7 Friends* (2006) and the film *Frank* (2007); lead in the WB web series *Sorority Forever* (2008)[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/28887/mikaela-hoover) • [4](https://ashotmagazine.com/mikaela-hoovers-endless-summer/) |
| James Gunn roles | *Super* (2010, Holly), *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014, Nova Prime's Assistant), *The Suicide Squad* (2021, Camila), *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023, voice of Floor), *Superman* (2025, Cat Grant)[5](https://www.metacritic.com/person/mikaela-hoover/) |
| Cat Grant | First live-action screen portrayal of the Daily Planet gossip columnist, a character created by Marv Wolfman and Jerry Ordway in 1987's *The Adventures of Superman* #424[6](https://www.thewrap.com/superman-mikaela-hoover-christopher-macdonald/) |
| Tony Tony Chopper | Plays the reindeer doctor in *One Piece* season 2 (2026), the character's first live-action appearance; she initially turned down the audition believing it was voice-only[7](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/live-action-shows/one-pieces-chopper-actor-thought-it-was-a-voice-only-role-so-initially-turned-it-down-but-it-ended-up-being-similar-to-what-ive-seen-andy-serkis-do/) |
| Producing | Co-producer credits on *Love Hard* (2021) and *Tall Girl 2* (2022)[5](https://www.metacritic.com/person/mikaela-hoover/) |
## Early life and training
Hoover grew up near Spokane, Washington, in the small town of Colbert, and began dance classes at age two, appearing in school plays and local commercials as a child. In high school she was a cheerleader and captain of her dance team. After graduating she was accepted to [Loyola Marymount University](https://www.edgepedia.org/loyola-marymount-university)'s theater program in Los Angeles and completed a bachelor's degree in theater in 2006.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2409479/bio/) • [8](https://www.maxim.com/women/hot-10-mikaela-hoover/)
Her first screen roles came quickly: the 2006 web series *Sam Has 7 Friends* and the 2007 independent film *Frank*, the first movie she auditioned for after finishing her degree.[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/28887/mikaela-hoover) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2409479/bio/)
## Work with James Gunn
Hoover's long association with James Gunn began in 2008, when she auditioned for his short film *Humanzee!* and then landed the title role in *Sparky & Mikaela*, a series he produced with [Peter Safran](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-safran). She has appeared in nearly everything he has made since.[4](https://ashotmagazine.com/mikaela-hoovers-endless-summer/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2409479/bio/)
In Gunn's films she has played Holly in *Super* (2010), Nova Prime's Assistant in *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014), and Camila in *[The Suicide Squad](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-suicide-squad-film)* (2021).[5](https://www.metacritic.com/person/mikaela-hoover/) In *Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3* (2023) she voiced Floor, an altered rabbit; she has described the recording of the character's scenes as emotionally draining, saying that everyone on set was crying.[4](https://ashotmagazine.com/mikaela-hoovers-endless-summer/) • [9](https://comicbook.com/interviews/feature/mikaela-hoover-superman-one-piece-interview/)
**Cat Grant in *Superman*.** In 2025 Hoover played Cat Grant, a [Daily Planet](https://www.edgepedia.org/daily-planet) gossip columnist, in Gunn's *Superman*, the first film of the new [DC Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/dc-studios) slate. TheWrap reported her casting alongside [Christopher McDonald](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher-mcdonald) in 2024 and noted that the character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Jerry Ordway, first appearing in 1987's *The Adventures of Superman* #424.[6](https://www.thewrap.com/superman-mikaela-hoover-christopher-macdonald/) She is set to reprise the role in *Man of Tomorrow* (2027).[5](https://www.metacritic.com/person/mikaela-hoover/)
## Tony Tony Chopper in One Piece
Hoover plays [Tony Tony Chopper](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-tony-chopper), the [Straw Hats](https://www.edgepedia.org/straw-hats)' reindeer doctor, in the second season of Netflix's live-action *One Piece*, which marks the character's first live-action appearance.[7](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/live-action-shows/one-pieces-chopper-actor-thought-it-was-a-voice-only-role-so-initially-turned-it-down-but-it-ended-up-being-similar-to-what-ive-seen-andy-serkis-do/) She has said she initially turned down the audition because she was filming another project and believed it was for a voice-only animated role; after her agent pressed her to look at the sides, she learned she would physically embody the character, comparing the work to [Andy Serkis](https://www.edgepedia.org/andy-serkis)'s performance capture. She also voices Chopper in the animated *Lego One Piece* special (2026).[7](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/live-action-shows/one-pieces-chopper-actor-thought-it-was-a-voice-only-role-so-initially-turned-it-down-but-it-ended-up-being-similar-to-what-ive-seen-andy-serkis-do/) • [10](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikaela-hoover/)
## Other work
Through the 2010s Hoover built a record of guest roles on American sitcoms, including *How I Met Your Mother*, *Happy Endings*, *Two and a Half Men*, *Anger Management*, *The League*, *2 Broke Girls*, and *Lucifer*, along with film parts in *The Belko Experiment* (2016), *Holidate* (2020), *Guest House* (2020), and *Love Hard* (2021).[10](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikaela-hoover/) • [5](https://www.metacritic.com/person/mikaela-hoover/)
In 2025 and 2026 she played Ava in the second season of the Netflix series *[Beef](https://www.edgepedia.org/beef-tv-series)*, sharing scenes with [Carey Mulligan](https://www.edgepedia.org/carey-mulligan), and appeared as [Adrienne Barbeau](https://www.edgepedia.org/adrienne-barbeau) in an episode of *Duster*.[4](https://ashotmagazine.com/mikaela-hoovers-endless-summer/) • [1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/28887/mikaela-hoover) As a producer she has co-producer credits on *Love Hard* and *Tall Girl 2*.[5](https://www.metacritic.com/person/mikaela-hoover/)
## References
1. [Mikaela Hoover, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/28887/mikaela-hoover)
2. [Mikaela Hoover Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2409479/bio/)
3. [Mikaela Hoover Movies and Shows, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/mikaela-hoover/umc.cpc.2j0370bc24jzqremx9nzogk7p)
4. [Mikaela Hoover's Endless Summer, A Shot Magazine](https://ashotmagazine.com/mikaela-hoovers-endless-summer/)
5. [Mikaela Hoover, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/mikaela-hoover/)
6. ['Superman' Cast Rounds Out With Mikaela Hoover and Christopher MacDonald, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/superman-mikaela-hoover-christopher-macdonald/)
7. [One Piece's Chopper actor thought it was a voice-only role so initially turned it down, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/live-action-shows/one-pieces-chopper-actor-thought-it-was-a-voice-only-role-so-initially-turned-it-down-but-it-ended-up-being-similar-to-what-ive-seen-andy-serkis-do/)
8. [Hot 10: Mikaela Hoover, Maxim](https://www.maxim.com/women/hot-10-mikaela-hoover/)
9. [Mikaela Hoover Reveals Which DC Icon She Wants Screentime With In Man Of Tomorrow, ComicBook.com](https://comicbook.com/interviews/feature/mikaela-hoover-superman-one-piece-interview/)
10. [Mikaela Hoover, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikaela-hoover/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames He to Hs*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license