Mikaela Hoover (born July 12, 1984) is an American actress. She frequently collaborates with the director James Gunn, appearing in his films Super (2010), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), The Suicide Squad (2021), and Superman (2025). She voices and does the face capture for Tony Tony Chopper in the second season of Netflix's live-action One Piece adaptation.
Contents
Early life
Mikaela was born to Frank and Nancy Hoover (née Mehrizi) on July 12, 1984, in Colbert, Washington. Her father is of Italian and German descent and her mother is Iranian-American. She started taking dance classes at the age of two and starred in school plays and appeared in local commercials as a child. She was accepted to Loyola Marymount University's theatre program in Los Angeles and graduated with her bachelor's degree in theatre.
Career
Hoover made her acting debut in 2007 with a role in the independent film Frank. She later booked a leading part in the web series Sorority Forever (2008). Around the same time, she auditioned for director James Gunn and appeared in his project Humanzee! (2008). This led to her being cast in the lead role of the Gunn and Peter Safran–produced Xbox series Sparky & Mikaela.
In 2010, Hoover began appearing in American television productions, including a guest role on How I Met Your Mother. That same year, she played a supporting role in Gunn's dark comedy film Super (2010).
She went on to make guest appearances on several sitcoms and comedy series. In 2011, she portrayed Jackie in two episodes of Happy Endings, and in 2012 she appeared in an episode of Anger Management. In 2013, she guest-starred in Two and a Half Men and The League, followed by an appearance on Saint George in 2014.
