Summary

  • Bella Ramsey is tired of answering how they prepared to play an older Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2.
  • Ramsey trained extensively for Ellie's physical scenes in The Last of Us Season 2.
  • Ramsey's portrayal of Ellie in the second season received mixed responses, with some saying they looked too young for a hardened Ellie.

Bella Ramsey and her co-stars went on a press tour for weeks before The Last of Us Season 2 premiered. Ramsey shared the common question fans would ask them.

Ramsey and Pedro Pascal met with several media representatives and journalists ahead of the debut of the second season of The Last of Us to promote the show. At those events, Ramsey admitted that there was a common question they often heard from fans. All of them wanted to know how they would play the older version of their character, Ellie, in Season 2. They had heard the same question multiple times and wondered why they kept asking it.

The Last of Us HBO Pedro Pascal Bella Ramsey Neil Druckmann
‘Outside Influence Or Pressure Doesn’t Lead You To Good Creative Choices’ The Last Of Us Creator On Honoring Fans

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Ramsey portrayed a 14-year-old Ellie in The Last of Us Season 1 and was 17 years old at the time. In the video game, there is a five-year time jump, making Ellie 19 in Season 2. However, in contrast to the original material, the show only had a two-year gap, so there are not many changes in Ramsey's physical appearance. The Game of Thrones star is aware of this concern and admits that they were "sick of" hearing the question. "I've been on a three-week press tour, and this is the most common question I get asked: 'So, Bella, Ellie was 14 in season one [of The Last of Us], she's now 19 in season two, there's a five-year age gap, how did you prepare to play an older Ellie in season two?'" They told iHeart Radio. Ramsey added that they prepared the way she did for the first season before adding (via The Independent):

I've grown up! Ellie's grown up! There's nothing to tell! I've got nothing to say to you! I'm going to get asked that question, probably every day for the next few weeks. So, no offense to everyone asking that question, but that's the question I am a little bit sick of.

Some Fans Seem To Have A Weird Obsession With Ellie's Looks On The Last Of Us For Whatever Reason

Bella_EllieS2
Bella Ramsey as Ellie in 'The Last of Us' Season 2.
HBO

The second season of The Last of Us adapts The Last of Us Part II. In this timeline, Ramsey's Ellie has more physical scenes. For this part, Ramsey trained for months. They did jujitsu, boxing, fighting, combat training, and other martial arts before they started filming. Bella was aware of Ellie's changes and that she wasn't the same person. In a separate interview, Ramsey said Ellie "has the same sense of humor," but they acknowledged that they wanted to feel Ellie's "heaviness a bit more."

Despite the concerns about Ramsey's appearance in the second season, its showrunners were not concerned at all. Instead, Neil Druckmann was thrilled that fans would see Ramsey's performance. According to him, maturity is simply visible in her eyes. Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2 has received mixed responses, but most were impressed. Ramsey had successfully portrayed a 19-year-old Ellie grappling with trauma, identity, and complex relationships. Some also said that their performance was awe-inspiring. However, there are still some who feel that Ramsey looks too young for a hardened Ellie. Regardless, the young actor has the showrunners' support. Druckmann and Craig Mazin were both satisfied with Ramsey's soulful take on Ellie in Season 2. The critics were also impressed by Ellie. As of this writing, Season 2 received a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Last of Us Season 2 streams on Max and new episodes drop every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max.

HBO's The Last of Us
‘I Wanted To Feel Her Heaviness’ Bella Ramsey Reveals Change For Ellie In The Last Of Us Season 2

Bella Ramsey is highlighting the changes in Ellie's character before the debut of The Last of Us's second season.

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Source: The Independent