Bella Ramsey Drains Patience Over Age-Gap Question in The Last of Us Season 2
Oh, brilliant—yet another star fed up with the same tired question on loop. Bella Ramsey, the 21-year-old powerhouse behind Ellie in HBO’s smash-hit The Last of Us, has officially declared war on the “how did you play an older Ellie” line of questioning. During a marathon three-week press tour for Season 2, Ramsey (they/them) told iHeart Radio in no uncertain terms that they prepared for the five-year age jump from 14 to 19 just as they did in Season 1—by, you know, getting older. “I’ve grown up!” Ramsey snapped, adding “there’s nothing to tell” in response to every reporter who keeps demanding a breakdown of their “preparation.” No offense to earnest interviewers, but according to Ramsey, this repetitive query is exasperating.
Here’s the blunt breakdown: The Last of Us first captivated audiences in 2023 by transforming Neil Druckmann’s 2013 video game into a post-apocalyptic tour de force. Craig Mazin penned the adaptation and Pedro Pascal anchored the father-daughter survival duo opposite Ramsey’s Ellie, the fungal-infection-immune teenager turned determined young adult. Season 2 kicked off just last week, catching up five years after the Season 1 finale, and critics are once again singing the show’s praises. Per Variety and People Magazine, the series racked up 24 Emmy nominations in its debut run—winning eight, including one for Nick Offerman as Outstanding Guest Actor.
If you thought Ramsey was just coasting on natural talent, think again. They clocked two months of jiu-jitsu, hit the boxing gym, and endured hard-core combat training before cameras rolled on Season 2—details confirmed by The Independent. “I’m quite well equipped to take someone down if necessary,” Ramsey quipped, wryly reminding us that portraying a battle-hardened Ellie isn’t all makeup and green-screen magic. While other outlets scramble for sensational headlines, Ramsey remains refreshingly (if begrudgingly) candid about the grind behind the grit on-screen.
Season 2 will air weekly on HBO and HBO Max, wrapping up on May 26. Fans can expect more jaw‑dropping moments, emotional gut-punches, and, yes, so many interviews where Ramsey might have to revisit this same stale talking point. Given the show’s momentum—streaming records shattered and water‑cooler buzz at full throttle—don’t bet on this question dying anytime soon.
And that’s the tea, folks: Ramsey has delivered their exasperated verdict, and honestly, did anyone expect a different outcome? No? Thought so. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and iHeart Radio, The Independent, Variety, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
