Lifestyle Asia sat down with Bella Ramsey in a roundtable interview to talk about The Last of Us Season 2.
After blowing people away with their performance as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, the then-17-year-old actor took on the role of Ellie in HBO’s adaptation of the critically acclaimed video game, The Last of Us. One season and a few years later, they’re garnering praise for their performance as Ellie in Season 2 especially with the death of Pedro Pascal’s Joel in Episode 2. Season 2 sees an older, angrier, and grittier Ellie, though whether she deals with her pain and fury maturely is up for debate. Lifestyle Asia was one of the media who was able to join a roundtable interview with Bella to talk about how they approached playing Ellie for Season 2 of The Last of Us and what’s different now that Pedro is, sadly, not as prominent this season.
[Hero image: HBO/Warner Bros. Discovery]
Bella Ramsey on how she was pushed out of her comfort zone for The Last of Us Season 2
Season 1 was focused more on the father-daughter dynamic between Joel and Ellie, but that’s obviously changed this season. How did it affect the way you played Ellie?
Ellie definitely isn’t as much of a hero this season. What’s great about The Last of Usis that the characters are so well-rounded. No one’s really a hero or a villain. Maybe each character is both at the same time: a hero in one story and a villain in another. That was really interesting to play, diving into the deeper, darker sides of Ellie. We got a glimpse of that in Season 1, but it’s explored much more in Season 2.
Because there’s a five-year jump since the first season, were there any differences in how you played Ellie for Season 2?
I grew up, and so did Ellie, so that naturally informed how I played her. There wasn’t a specific change; it was more about aligning with the writing—how she speaks, thinks, and approaches things. She’s still Ellie, just with a slightly hardened heart and more wear from the world.
The tagline this season is “Every path has a price.” Who handles consequences better, you or Ellie?
I think it’s me. I think I handle the consequences of my actions pretty well. I try to live in a way that avoids negative consequences, even if that doesn’t always work. I definitely process my emotions better than Ellie.
How have the characters you played in the past inspired you?
Every character I’ve played has taught me something and helped me feel more empathy. I learn more about myself and the world, especially different communities I wouldn’t usually have insight into. Playing Ellie again in Season 2 was really special. I feel very connected to her, especially because I’ve spent so much time with her.
If you could give Ellie one piece of advice, knowing what she goes through, what would it be?
I’d tell her to try to be rational, to see the bigger picture, and to get out of fight-or-flight mode. Try processing emotions before making rash decisions. She’d never take that advice, but that’s what I’d want to tell her.
You’ve mentioned before that you relate better to older actors, like Pedro Pascal in Season 1. But in Season 2, you work more with actors your age, like Kaitlyn Dever and Isabela Merced. Did that change how you approached Ellie?
Definitely. The new cast members are amazing and a bit intimidating. I’m often more nervous around people my age because I think they’re cooler than I am. But it was great to have that dynamic. It mirrors Ellie’s discomfort being in a new community. She hasn’t been around people her own age since the Boston QZ. Like Ellie, I had to figure out how to relate to everyone. But we all got along really well, and everyone brought so much to the cast. We became a tight unit.
Has playing Ellie changed you in real life? Does she influence how you make decisions?
That’s a great question. I wasn’t a rebellious teen, mostly by choice and because of work, so it was fun to experience that through Ellie even if I didn’t always enjoy it. Being rebellious is kinda fun, I suppose. In real life, I think some of her personality sneaks in, like my road rage when driving. I think we have a similar response to bad drivers.
In what ways is Ellie’s immunity like a superpower, and how has it affected her behavior, good and bad?
It’s a superpower in one way but it’s also a burden. Keeping it secret and living with that knowledge weighs on her. She believed her purpose was to be the cure, and losing that is really damaging. It affects her mindset and mental health. She’d probably be willing to die to save the world but that choice was taken from her.
What was it like working with Pedro again even it was only for a brief time?
Pedro is exactly the person you want around during intense filming, or even a real-life zombie apocalypse. He’s caring, kind, and openly loving. He supports everyone he works with. Having him in your corner is a gift.
Troy Baker, the voice and motion actor for Joel in the games, once talked about how hard it was to film emotional scenes repeatedly. How did you manage that?
I energize myself with intense music beforehand, because if I start the day emotional, I burn out quickly. So I stay hyped and save the crash for when it’s needed. It helps keep the emotion fresh. Somehow, even when you’re exhausted, something kicks in and carries you through. It’s like a reserve of energy that just appears.
How would you describe Ellie and Dina’s relationship in Season 2 without spoiling anything?
They’re like yin and yang. They balance each other. Both have light and dark sides. Dina softens Ellie. Their relationship grows, changes, and develops in beautiful ways I’m excited for people to see.
What’s one thing you discovered from playing Ellie that you didn’t expect?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! That’s Ellie’s fighting style this season and I loved learning it. I found out how physically capable I am. Training and doing stunts for seven months was intense, but it taught me so much about my own strength.
You’ve written a film script, Toast and Jam, that’s based on your personal experiences and you’ve yet to shoot. Were you observing directing styles more closely as you filmed Season 2?
Yes, though I’ve always done that since my first job at 11. But now I’m watching more intentionally with my own filmmaking in mind. I actually finished my main draft of Toast and Jam during night shoots for Season 1, and another draft during Season 2. Night shoots seem to spark my creativity. I hope to make the film, maybe next year, when I can give it my full attention.
It was mostly just you and Pedro in Season 1 but that’s completely changed this season. How did you deal with it?
It was very different. Season 1 had this consistency of just me and Pedro, a familiar dynamic every day. Season 2 didn’t have that, which was more challenging but also exciting. It pushed me out of my comfort zone. Building new dynamics with the cast was a big part of the journey. Like in Season 1, we carried each other through but in a new way.
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