Ellie has done a lot of growing up since we first met the character in The Last of Us. Immune from the cordyceps infection, Ellie could have held the key to saving the world, but that could come at a cost that Joel, who was tasked with transporting her, was not prepared to pay.
As we pick up with her in season two, the pair are now living in Jackson, Wyoming, but five years on from her first meeting with Joel, their relationship has become fractured as she tries to establish herself as an adult within the community.
Speaking ahead of season two, actress Bella Ramsey speaks about Ellie’s evolution between the series and working with new cast members.
How would you describe Ellie’s state of mind at the beginning of season 2?
I think she’s become hardened since we saw her at the end of season one. She definitely has more of a cage around her heart.
She’s older, she’s 19 – not 14. So much growing up happens over those years. She’s establishing herself as an adult in a community and she’s not used to being in a community, and I think she has been learning how to do that.
She’s definitely in a different headspace and with Joel, most noticeably.
Are there aspects of Ellie’s evolution that you relate to?
I definitely have become a lot more independent than I used to be. Even when I was shooting season one— I was 17-18, but still a child in many ways.
I was 20-21 when filming season two; I became an adult over that time. So yes, there are many ways in which I relate to Ellie and her need for independence, autonomy and to have the people around her trust that she can hold her own. I can definitely relate to that.
Season 2 demanded a new level of physicality from you. How did you prep and train for that? There’s an impressive fight sequence in episode one.
That was Brazilian jiu jitsu, yeah. I trained for a couple of months before filming in Vancouver with the stunt team, and it was so fun. I was so grateful for the trust that the stunt team had in me, which meant that I was allowed to do all of the stunts in the show – with their support and guidance.
There’s one shot in the cut that I noticed was Cassandra, my stunt double; she stepped in and did a couple of takes so I could go have a snack. We work so well together. But yeah, it’s all me in that first fight, apart from the one shot!
You and Isabela Merced, who plays Dina, share a lot of time together on-screen in season 2. What were your first impressions of her and what did you most enjoy about working together?
My first impression of Isabela was that she was so extroverted compared to me. I’m quite shy and she’s so easy to be around, funny and great at talking. Just a real joy.
She has such an energy that carried me throughout the whole season. It’s so important to have someone like that on set; someone who just brings a levity and wildness.
She’s quite unhinged. (Laughs) In a really good way! And I’m not. She helped to loosen me up a bit; definitely is the life of the party.
How do Ellie and Dina complement each other? What is their mutual attraction about?
They really balance each other out, similarly to me and Isabela. Ellie has sort of a hard heart, and her emotions are quite repressed; Dina’s aren’t as much.
Dina brings out like a lightness to Ellie that I think taps back into her childishness and kid joy. I love how their relationship blossoms and develops.
What do you think fans will most enjoy about this new chapter in the series?
I think fans will enjoy getting to see these characters they know and love so much placed in different scenarios and see how they operate.
Season one was very much about Ellie and Joel. Seeing Ellie with Dina and Jesse— and now Joel with Catherine O’Hara’s therapist character – we get to see different layers and new depths of all of them.