The Last of Us' original Ellie actor, Ashley Johnson, praises Bella Ramsey’s television performance. Johnson originated the role of Ellie in the Last of Us video game. Continuing the trend of video game actors appearing in the HBO show version, Johnson joined The Last of Us season 1 finale to play Ellie’s late mother, Anna, in a flashback.
Johnson expressed her reverence for Ramsey’s The Last of Us performance in a recent round table (via GamesRadar+). According to Johnson, Ramsey has “elevated” the role of Ellie in a way that Johnson and the video game team were not quite able to capture originally. Check out the full quote from Johnson below:
"Because of the depth and talent that Bella has. I feel like she's elevated it. I feel like she's brought so much more to Ellie than we were able to do in the game.
"I feel like there have been so many moments and scenes where Ellie has been able to say things that I feel like I never got to, where she's been able to stand up for herself and stand up to Joel or stand up to anybody around her. And it's cathartic. It makes me so happy to sort of see this character grow even more and have more of a say in her own life in a way.
"I don't feel like anybody else could have done this part. I finally watched the last episode and she's so fucking good. She absolutely blows me away. It's gonna sound so weird – I feel so proud of her. I feel a connection to her, I think because we both love this character. And I think there's so much of her that already is Ellie… I feel a massive connection to Bella and I am so blown away by what she's done. What an incredible actor."
Why Johnson’s Bella Ramsey Praise Speaks Well of TLOU As a Whole
Years before the TV adaptation hit HBO, the Last of Us video game had a massive following. Said fans held mixed opinions about Ramsey’s casting as Ellie when she was originally announced. Any lasting critic voices are partially quashed by Johnson’s ringing endorsement. Johnson herself notes that she feels “love [for] this character” due to her experience voicing her, and thus likely had high expectations going into the show.
Ramsey, in Johnson’s eyes, met and exceeded these expectations. This reaction speaks well of The Last of Us as a whole. Given how close Johnson is to the game, the series could have easily disappointed the former Ellie actor, who could more easily pick out subtle hints from the game that the show did not quite capture. Instead, Johnson feels deeply invested in the storytelling of its main character.
This connection is a testament to how well creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have adapted the video game for the screen. In general, the show's plot follows the same major beats and conclusions as the game. By digging deeper into the characters, Mazin and Druckmann, with the help of incredible performers like Ramsey, have elevated the Last of Us TV show to heights beyond what the game could convey. Hopefully, original The Last of Us actors like Johnson will be just as satisfied with the series as it enters season 2.
Source: GamesRadar+