Mercedes Cabral was born on August 10, 1986 in Manila, Philippines. She graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, majoring in Sculpture.
Mercedes was introduced in Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s Serbis, which competed at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. A year later she appeared in Mendoza’s Kinatay and Park Chan-wook’s Thirst; both films competed in Cannes.

And in 2012, she was in Mendoza’s Thy Womb which competed in the Venice Film Festival.
She played the titular role in the Danish film Rosita (directed by Frederikke Aspöck, 2015).
Mercedes was the lead actress in Dominik Locher’s Enjoy Your Stay, which screened in the Panorama section of the 2026 Berlinale.
She won Best Actress for The Hut by the Bamboo Grove at the 2015 World Premieres Film Festival and more recently received the Young Critics Circle’s Best Performance award for Erotica Manila.

Mercedes is also a television actress. She has appeared in several series, most notably in Batang Quiapo one of the highest rated television series in the Philippines where she played the role of Lena.
Aside from being an actress, Mercedes is a visual artist. She has always mainted her love for visual art, which she considers as her first love. She enjoys creating art on the the side, focusing on ceramics, pottery and digital art. Her works are often conceptual, exploring themes of feminity and eroticism, as she is deeply fascinated by the female form.
Her artistic journey is a testament to her versatility and dedication to her craft. She is constantly exploring new mediums and expressions to convey her unique perspective on art and life.