Television
‘The Last of Us’ star Bella Ramsey discusses positive response from show’s LGBTQ+ representation
The 19-year-old actor discusses the LGBTQ+ representation in ‘The Last of Us’ and its positive reception.
Bella Ramsey plays the role of Ellie in HBO’s adaptation of the video game ‘The Last of Us’. The actor identifies as non-binary and has recently opened up about the positive response to their confidence in their identity both on and off the screen.
In an interview with GQ Magazine, Ramsey states that her co-star Pedro Pascal, who plays her father figure Joel in the series, has supported them on their journey.
Ramsey told W Magazine: “I’ve had people message me and say that it’s helped people come to terms with who they are. That’s been really nice to hear as well. I guess I just want to be authentic.”
“It was just an ever-evolving process,” they added. “But I’m super comfy in who I am. It’s like, how can I be my truest self in the world?”
Representation in horror
Ellie’s sexual orientation was confirmed in the DLC (additional downloadable content for a video game), ‘The Last of Us: Left Behind’, when it’s revealed that she had romantic feelings for her friend, Riley Abel. The series has integrated the DLC into the main storyline.
The character’s identity is further explored in ‘The Last of Us 2′ where Ellie enters a romantic relationship with Dina.
Yet the LGBTQ+ representation doesn’t end with Ellie. In the original game, a romantic relationship is implied between the supporting characters Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), who are old friends with Joel.
However, the series makes their relationship explicitly clear and expands their backstory to add depth to their tragic love story.
Praise for ‘The Last of Us’
‘The Last of Us’ takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting where a mutant fungus has transformed humans into zombie-like creatures known as the “infected”. The story follows Joel and Ellie on a mission that could change the world forever.
The series has accumulated positive reviews with many praising the story for staying true to the original source material, while also finding new opportunities to further explore these beloved characters.
The final episode of season one of ‘The Last of Us’ airs on March 12 on HBO.