Twenty years have passed since a virus outbreak. The world is in shambles. If you become infected with the virus, you become mutated. You become disfigured, fast and bloodthirsty. Your killer instinct makes you want to attack the nearest person.
It is in that world that “The last of us” takes place. The original author of the video game, Neil Druckmann, has adapted the story into a television series in collaboration with “Chernobyl” creator Craig Mazin. The multi-faceted characters are considered a strength of the publisher. The friendship between Ellie and Joel is particularly popular with fans of the game.
Ellie is 14 years old. She has been injured by a mutant. But the virus has not broken out in her. Scientists believe she is the key to finding a vaccine against the disease. 52-year-old Joel is tasked with smuggling Ellie out of the border zone to reach a research center. The duo’s relationship is rocky at first but over time they develop a close friendship.
The character Ellie is played in the TV series by Bella Ramsey, who also played the role of Lyanna Mormont in “Game of thrones”. And Joel is portrayed by “The Mandalorian” and “Narcos” actor Pedro Pascal.
Photo: HBO Max
Ramsey and Pascal participate together at the digital press conference for “The last of us” where journalists from all over the world participate.
Bella Ramsay, your character Ellie is rebellious and powerful. Where does the strength that allows you to play such a character come from?
– Interesting question, answers Ramsey in his British accent.
– You are right that she is rebellious at the beginning of the series. I have had the pleasure of playing such powerful characters before. For example, the first character I ever played – Lyanna Mormont. She also has such strength in her but Ellie expresses it in a different way.
– I think we all have an inherent strength. And when you play strong characters, you allow this power to come out. But you don’t have to be like your character in real life. And I think that’s what’s exciting to me about acting. Ellie’s strength is the first thing you notice, but underneath she is a fragile young person whose biggest fear is ending up alone, says Ramsey, who also appeared as Angelica in “His dark materials” (2020) and as Jane Gray in the costume drama “Becoming Elizabeth” (2022).
Photo: HBO Max
Pedro Pascal’s character Joel has lost a daughter in “The last of us”. When asked how he views his character’s driving forces, he answers:
– The fact that he has lost his child affects his entire identity – whether he likes it or not. It’s the main reason he can’t bond with people and the reason he doesn’t want to lose the next big loving relationship in his life – the friendship with Ellie, who strongly resembles the daughter.
What was it like acting in the scenes with the infected mutated humans? Did they wear masks or were the effects added after the fact?
Pedro Pascal answers:
– Those who played the infected spent five hours in make-up. There were dancers and actors who learned specific movements. They grunted and chased us and it was quite scary but also kind of cute. Because some couldn’t see behind the masks so we had to help them to their starting point in the scenes. We gently took their hands and brought them into position. Then the director shouted “action” and they started shouting and chasing us.
Photo: HBO Max
Bella Ramsey adds:
– They never lost their energy. At every take they were scary. Despite sitting in the make-up for several hours, their energy never seemed to run out. The scariest thing of all was that they never seemed to get tired.
47-year-old Pedro Pascal chimes in:
– They have energy because they are young.
– Yes, they are not old like us, jokes 19-year-old Bella Ramsey.
Read more of DN’s texts about TV series.
