The Last of Us Actress Reveals How Online Backlash Affected Her While Filming the HBO Max Series

The highly anticipated HBO Max television series based on the popular gaming series, the Last of Us has finally been released to the public. Days after the first episode went live, it received a mostly positive reception from fans and critics. So far there’s only a single episode available for the show. Evidently, fans are still skeptical about how the series will turn out.

Before the release of the series, Bella Ramsey, who played Ellie, came forward to share her experience. The original game was released back in 2013 and was highly praised, being deemed a masterclass of gaming. 

Last of Us actress recounts how online hate affected her 

The history of gaming adaptions hasn’t been very impressive. Most of the movie/television series based on beloved gaming IPs have been very disappointing for both fans and casual moviegoers. This is why fans were in two minds when HBO Max announced a series based on Naughty Dog’s Magnum Opus. 

The cast was also highly criticized since fans wanted the original actors from the games to play the roles. Especially when Ramsey was announced for the character of Ellie, there had been some huge waves of backlash from the fans. Her appearance and age difference from the original character made fans concerned about the casting. 

“It’s the first time I’ve ever had a negative reaction to something,” said the former Game of Thrones actress. “There would be times I’d find it funny. Then I’d get to the end of a 10-minute scrolling session, put my phone down and realize: maybe that was a bad idea.” 

“It’s only recently I’ve accepted I am Ellie and I can do it and I am a good actor, but this will last for a few weeks and then I’ll think I’m terrible again,”. According to Bella, the negative comments were successful in making her question her capabilities as an actor and if she is worthy of the role of Ellie. 

>Read More: HBO Series The Last of US Showrunner Craig Mazin Has a Heartfelt Note for the Fans

But in the end, all the “hate” fell short. 19-year-old Ramsey stunned the world with an amazing performance as the iconic character of Ellie. Her portrayal was so true and natural that fans couldn’t help but praise her skills and point out how she was the perfect cast for the role.

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