Ashley Johnson, the original actor for Ellie in “The Last of Us” video game, has expressed her admiration for Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of the character in the television series. Johnson, who also played Ellie’s mother Anna in a flashback during the season 1 finale, is part of a growing trend of video game actors being featured in the HBO adaptation.
In a recent round table discussion (via GamesRadar+), Johnson shared her deep admiration for Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie in “The Last of Us” TV series. Johnson stated that Ramsey has brought a new level of depth and excellence to the role, surpassing what Johnson and the video game team were able to achieve in the original game. Here is the complete quote from Johnson:
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.
How Johnson’s praise of Ramsey reflects well on TLOU
Before the HBO TV series, “The Last of Us” video game had a significant fan base, some of whom had mixed opinions when Ramsey was first announced as Ellie. However, Johnson’s glowing endorsement has helped to silence some of the lingering criticism. As the original voice actor for Ellie, Johnson had a strong attachment to the character and probably had high expectations for the show.
Johnson believes that Ramsey not only met but surpassed her expectations for the role of Ellie, which is a positive reflection on the overall quality of “The Last of Us.” Since Johnson has a close connection to the game, she could have easily been disappointed by the series’ interpretation of the character, particularly if subtle details from the game were not captured in the show. However, Johnson’s investment in the storytelling of the main character indicates that the series has been successful in conveying the essence of Ellie.
The strong connection between Johnson and Ramsey is evidence of the successful adaptation of the video game by creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann for the TV series. While the show’s plot largely follows the game, Mazin and Druckmann, along with outstanding actors like Ramsey, have added a new level of depth to the characters, resulting in an elevated version of “The Last of Us” that surpasses the game. It is hoped that other original actors, like Johnson, will also be pleased with the series as it continues into its second season.