Bella Ramsey is sick and tired of answering one particular “Last of Us” question.
The 21-year-old stars in the post-apocalyptic HBO series as Ellie, who was introduced in 2023’s first season as a teenager immune to a fungal infection that has ruined civilization. Season 2, which premiered last week, picked up the storyline five years after the Season 1 finale.
That means Ellie’s age has jumped from 14 to 19, which has apparently prompted reporters to ask the same question again and again.
Ramsey, who uses they/them pronouns, vented their frustration about it on Thursday.
“I’ve just been on a three-week press tour and one of the most common questions I get asked is … ‘So, Bella, you played Ellie, [who] was 14 in Season 1, and now she’s 19 in Season 2. There’s a five-year age gap, how did you prepare to play an older Ellie in Season 2?’” Ramsey told iHeart Radio.
“I’m like, in the same way I prepared in Season 1 — I’ve grown up!” they continued. “Ellie’s grown up. Like, there’s nothing to tell! I’ve got nothing to say to you. Anyway, I’m going to get asked that question, probably, every day for the next few weeks. So no offense to everyone asking that question, but that’s the question I am a little bit sick of.”
“The Last of Us” was adapted by writer-director Craig Mazin from a 2013 video game created by developer Neil Druckmann. It stars Pedro Pascal as Joel, a father who lost his daughter in the early days of the infection, and Ramsey as his newfound survival buddy.
Ramsey shared during their iHeart Radio interview that they did “a lot of training” to embody the older, newly adult Ellie, including “two months of jiu jitsu,” boxing and “combat training” before the second season even started filming.
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“I’m quite well equipped to take someone down if necessary,” they added, per The Independent.
“The Last of Us” premiered to monumental critical success and 24 Emmy nominations — nabbing eight wins, including in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series category for actor Nick Offerman.
Season 2 airs weekly on HBO and HBO Max and will conclude on May 26.
