Movies

Bella Ramsey is embracing the difficult parts of Ellie and ‘The Last of Us’

BBG News

Bella Ramsey can take a hard punch. But they can also give some back.

In order to make this happen, the performer decided to add a fresh aspect to their preparations for the upcoming season 2 of “The Last of Us“: they focused on getting physically fit.

For a span of about two months, they dedicated themselves to mastering martial arts, enhancing their skills in both hand-to-hand combat and weaponry. Additionally, they focused on building up their physical strength.

Ramsey finds their fight training enjoyable,” he remarks. “Being able to get into shape and build strength was a wonderful reason for doing so.

“It’s since all gone away,” they add.

In one of the early scenes he filmed for Season 2, the 21-year-old British actor depicted a fight in a barn, which was shown during Sunday’s premiere. This scene wasn’t a real brawl but rather a training exercise. Eventually, Ramsey’s character Ellie managed to overpower her bigger adversary. However, she discovered later, to her dismay, that her opponent had held back during the fight.

According to Ramsey, the days he enjoyed most were the ones filled with stunts. He was constantly sporting bruises… During Season 2, his lip even split open during filming, leaving a small scar on his lip ever since.

Review

‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 review: Survival is not just about staying alive

If the initial season of ‘The Last of Us‘ focused on traversing a nation devastated by cordyceps, Season 2 delves deeper into the treacherous terrain of the human heart.

Developed by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, HBO’s post-apocalyptic drama unfolds in a world devastated by a strange cordyceps fungus pandemic. The infected humans metamorphose into dangerous creatures who compulsively spread this deadly infection further.

As a movie critic, I’ve had the privilege of diving into the gripping first season of the highly praised adaptation from video game to screen. In this post-apocalyptic world, I find myself playing Ellie, a sassy and tenacious teenage girl who stands unique as the sole human immune to a deadly fungus. Initially, my journey is accompanied by Joel, portrayed brilliantly by Pedro Pascal, a guardian reluctant at first but essential for our mission to aid in the creation of a cure. However, our travels don’t unfold as anticipated.

Druckmann had previously talked about the intense physical nature of the season with Ramsey, and he praised their dedication to training. Notably, Ramsey is only slightly over 5 feet tall, but Ellie utilizes her small stature as an advantage; she swiftly takes down larger opponents by combining agility with a touch of reckless self-assurance.

He emphasized the significant effort put into preparing physically, which, in his view, also prepared Ramsey emotionally for the role. He refers to Ramsey as exceptional or top-notch.

In a West Hollywood hotel suite one March morning, seated comfortably with legs crossed on a sofa, Ramsey candidly shares that media interactions aren’t their preferred aspect of the profession. Although it has been close to a decade since their iconic role as Lyanna Mormont in “Game of Thrones,” the level of attention garnered from playing the lead in the hit series “The Last of Us” is on an entirely new scale – a stark contrast to the just two phone call interviews they had for “Game of Thrones,” as they fondly recalled.

Television

Readers can explore diverse viewpoints as critics and viewers express mixed reactions towards the final episode of “The Last of Us” on HBO. Our team delves into the distinctions between the TV series and the original video game, providing insights into how audiences might perceive Joel’s actions.

Despite these diverse topics, they are open to having a leisurely discussion that might veer off course, sharing stories about the unique flavor of mushroom cupcakes (thanks to British Vogue), making an appearance in a recent music video for Girlband!, expressing concerns during a turbulent seaplane flight, and revealing their preferred karaoke song: “Titanium” by David Guetta.

Reflecting on the filming process for the second season, Ramsey confesses that it was significantly tougher and more demanding this time. They also point out multiple times how they’ve observed similarities between their character and themselves. For example, in Season 2, Ellie is portrayed as attempting to assert her independence and break free from Joel’s overprotective parenting.

Ramsey expresses agreement, as they opted for independence during filming this season compared to living with their mother in the previous one. They convey a desire to prove their self-reliance.

Playing as Ellie has given them a deeper insight into themselves, allowing them to identify strongly with the character.

In the second season, five years have passed since the events of the first, and we find that Ellie and Joel’s bond has grown tense following their relocation to Jackson, Wyoming. The finale of the previous season saw Joel discovering that the key to creating a possible cure for the infection required Ellie’s brain to be surgically extracted. This revelation sparked his lethal confrontation with the Fireflies, an armed group managing the facility where the operation was to take place. To shield Ellie from the truth, Joel subsequently deceived her about what transpired.

Ramsey describes Joel’s actions as an “ethical conundrum.”

Ramsey expresses understanding and deep compassion towards him, yet admits that his actions were clearly inappropriate. However, he also points out that there isn’t always a black-and-white answer, as the situation seems complex and subjective to him. In Season 2, we witness the consequences of this deception and the lie itself, which Ramsey believes was even more detrimental.

Even though it’s not entirely clear how much Ellie understands about the past events, there are signs that she has her doubts about Joel’s honesty. One intriguing aspect of Ellie in Season 2 is witnessing her involvement within a community, which contrasts greatly with her solitary upbringing as an orphan. Additionally, Ramsey was keen to delve into Ellie’s anger, as it’s not something she typically encounters personally.

Television

Discussing the settings for their characters, the political aspects, and the importance of maintaining secrecy about the plot in ‘The Last of Us‘ Season 2, the cast shares their thoughts.

As I ponder over Bella’s portrayal, I realize she truly embodies the complex aspect of playing Ellie – initially our lead character, later not so. What makes this fascinating is that Ellie, in essence, harbors both heroic and villainous traits, a key component of Mazin’s narrative. This exploration challenges our tendency to categorize individuals as either heroes or villains, a practice that can be detrimental and fosters undesirable actions.

In Bella’s role as an actor, it was simply thrilling for her not to constantly play a character everyone adores, he continued. Instead, they were eager to embody someone who might confound or challenge audiences.

Mazin expresses a deep paternal fondness for Ramsey, likening the young actor to an individual with wisdom beyond his years, or an “old soul.” Similar to Ellie, Ramsey possesses a humorous side that leans towards silliness and enjoys playing with wordplay. However, what sets them apart, as Mazin points out, is Ramsey’s innate inclination toward kindness, which distinguishes him from others.

In my perspective, Bella tends to prioritize others’ wellbeing above their own, while Ellie appears to have a self-focused outlook. To put it simply, Bella’s world revolves around others, whereas Ellie’s universe primarily consists of herself and Joel, with a warning for anyone who might disrupt that duo.

The compassion shown by Ramsey is particularly evident as they delve into their perspectives on identity and representation, as well as the communities they identify with. Last month, the actor publicly announced that they are autistic during an interview with British Vogue. In 2023, prior to the show’s debut, they disclosed being nonbinary in a conversation with the New York Times.

Ramsey admits they struggle with keeping secrets about themselves, despite valuing their privacy. In interviews especially, they find themselves sharing personal details quite easily, but it wasn’t a major choice for them.

If I find an opportunity to advocate for important matters and make it clear that expressing your true self is the most effective way to navigate life, that’s truly a privilege associated with being in the limelight, they note.

As I settle into my seat for Season 2 of this captivating series, I’m thrilled to welcome some fresh faces to the cast. Isabela Merced takes on the role of Dina, Ellie’s cherished friend and potential love interest. We also have Young Mazino stepping into the shoes of Jesse, a close companion of Ellie who shares a past with Dina as they used to date. Lastly, Kaitlyn Dever brings Abby to life, a character driven by a quest for vengeance. Can’t wait to see how their stories unfold!

Although Ramsey showers their fellow cast members with heartfelt compliments, they also confess that they experienced some apprehension leading up to the season. As someone who has always found it easier to bond with adults since childhood, Ramsey admits they can become quite intimidated by individuals within their own age bracket.

Ramsey admits feeling like a timid newcomer amidst everyone else who seemed so confident,” he says.

As an enthusiastic viewer, I must admit that Ramsey has mastered the art of skillfully navigating discussions without revealing any spoilers. In fact, they are exceptionally meticulous, surpassing even the showrunners in this regard.

In other words, Mazin clarifies that Ramsey will perform both singing and playing the guitar under the character name Ellie during this season. Moreover, Druckmann mentions that Ramsey actively participated in deciding which song they should perform. (He exclaims, “That’s no deception!”)

Engaging in music and unwinding, as Ramsey puts it, are activities they often resort to for relaxation. Currently, these pursuits are taking a slight backseat, but they anticipate that they’ll covertly unveil some new tunes at some point.

Ramsey mentions that music offers him similar sensations of happiness and fulfillment as working on a film set does,” he says. “Having another means to experience those emotions is pleasant for him.

Druckmann points out that Ellie and Dina’s romantic bond in “The Last of Us Part II” game is already well-established at the beginning, while the television series gradually builds up their relationship, taking a slower approach.

As the second installment of “The Last of Us” premieres, it’s important to note that tensions against the LGBTQ+ community and their rights are escalating among right-wing groups. Regrettably, this franchise has faced homophobic and transphobic criticism for quite some time.

Ramsey remarks, “There’s a sense of satisfaction in stirring up their disapproval, but their anger won’t alter the reality: the show is being released, featuring women in romantic scenes, and including a transgender character named Lev.

Even though it’s unfortunate, the fact that Ellie and Dina experienced homophobic comments at the start of the season seems strikingly relevant in today’s political environment. Prior to the incident, Ellie was trying to reassure Dina that people shouldn’t see her as a threat, despite Dina’s assertions.

As a movie critic, I would rephrase Ramsey’s statement as follows: “I believe it’s crucial for productions like this one to underscore that we’re not hostile or dangerous. The line ‘there’s no reason to be afraid, I’m not a threat’ resonates deeply with the communities portrayed in our art. We’re simply ordinary people, just like everyone else. There’s nothing to fear from those who bring light and love into the world.

Regarding the LGBTQ+ community, it might hold true, but let’s not forget that Ellie can still be quite risky or perilous.

Although the LGBTQ+ community may have certain characteristics, it’s important to remember that Ellie is potentially hazardous.

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2025-04-14 05:31

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