The Last of Us is a critically acclaimed video game from Naughty Dog, released in 2013. The post-apocalyptic story follows Joel and Ellie on their journey across a dangerous, infected world.
Now, the beloved characters are coming to life with an upcoming live-action adaptation set to begin production soon. It has just been announced that Game of Thrones star Bella Ramsey will join the cast as Ellie.
What is “The Last of Us” game
The Last of Us is a critically acclaimed video game from Naughty Dog, released in 2013. It tells the post-apocalyptic story of Joel and Ellie’s journey across a dangerous, infected world.
Developed by Naughty Dog, the survival horror adventure game has won more than 200 Game of the Year awards and has sold over 17 million copies worldwide. The Last of Us was praised for its intense, emotional story, as well as its visually stunning graphics.
The cast of The Last of Us is essential for creating an immersive, believable world and bringing the beloved characters to life.
From the motion capture performances of Troy Baker as Joel, and Ashley Johnson as Ellie, to the voice actors behind other characters in the game, every actor’s performance can make or break a scene.
Main Cast Members
Joel – Troy Baker
Troy Baker is best known for his roles as Joel in The Last of Us, Booker DeWitt in Bioshock Infinite, and Delsin Rowe in Infamous: Second Son.
He won a BAFTA Award for Best Performer in 2013 for his portrayal of Joel, and has also been nominated for several other awards. Baker brings an incredible level of emotion and realism to his performances.
Ashley Johnson is an American actress and voice actress who has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1990s. She is best known for her roles as Ellie in The Last of Us, Gwen Tennyson in Ben 10: Alien Force, and Chrissy Seaver on Growing Pains. She won a BAFTA Award for Best Performer in 2014 for her role as Ellie.
Role as Joel in “The Last of Us”
Troy Baker is best known for his role as Joel in The Last of Us. In the game, Joel is a ruthless survivor trying to protect Ellie from the dangers of a post-apocalyptic world. Baker brings considerable emotion and realism to this performance, making it one of the most acclaimed performances in gaming history. His portrayal of Joel earned him a B AFTA Award for Best Performer in 2013.
Troy Baker’s performance as Joel was a critical component of The Last of Us’ success. He brought an incredible level of emotion and realism to the role, making it one of the most acclaimed performances in gaming history.
His powerful delivery and nuanced portrayal of the character resonated with players, allowing them to connect with Joel on an emotional level. As such, his performance has had a lasting impact on The Last of Us and its players.
Ellie – Ashley Johnson
Ashley Johnson is an American actress and voice actress who has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1990s. She is best known for her roles as Ellie in The Last of Us, Gwen Tennyson in Ben 10: Alien Force, and Chrissy Seaver on Growing Pains. In The Last of Us, she plays the role of Ellie, a young girl struggling to survive in the post-apocalyptic world.
Background and previous works
Ashley Johnson is an American actress and voice actress who has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1990s. She first gained recognition for her role as Gwen Tennyson in Ben 10: Alien Force, which she portrayed from 2008 to 2013.
Since then, she has starred in a number of TV shows and films, including Growing Pains, The Killing, and Blindspot.
Role as Ellie in “The Last of Us”
Ashley Johnson is best known for her role as Ellie in The Last of Us. In the game, she plays a 14-year-old girl who is struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. Johnson brings an incredible level of emotion and realism to the role, making the character’s journey one that has captivated players. She won a BAFTA Award for Best Performer in 2014 for her portrayal of Ellie.
Praise for her portrayal and character development
Ashley Johnson’s portrayal of Ellie in The Last of Us has been widely praised by critics and players alike. Her nuanced performance brings an incredible level of emotion and realism to the character, making her journey one that resonates with players on an emotional level.
She also provides depth to the character, making her much more than a simple plot device. As such, Johnson’s performance has become one of the most celebrated in gaming history.
Other significant cast members
The Last of Us features a number of other notable cast members, including W. Earl Brown as Bill, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Nolan North as David, and Hana Hayes as Sarah. W. Earl Brown plays the role of Bill, Joel’s friend and fellow survivor in The Last of Us. Merle Dandridge portrays Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies.
Nolan North is the voice of David, a dangerous survivor who has been corrupted by the infection. Finally, Hana Hayes plays Sarah, Joel’s daughter and Ellie’s friend.
Tess – Annie Wersching
Annie Wersching is an American actress best known for her role as Tess in The Last of Us. In the game, she plays a ruthless survivor who has been hardened by the post-apocalyptic world.
Her character serves as both an ally and a foil to Joel and Ellie, providing them with help when they need it while also making things more difficult at times. Her performance earned her critical acclaim, with many praising her ability to bring a level of realism and depth to the character.
Marlene – Merle Dandridge
Merle Dandridge is an American actress best known for her role as Marlene in The Last of Us. In the game, she plays a leader of the Fireflies, a rebel group fighting against the oppressive regime.
She provides Joel and Ellie with help and guidance while also pushing them to make difficult choices. Her performance earned her critical acclaim, with many praising her ability to bring a level of realism and depth to the character.
Bill – W. Earl Brown
W. Earl Brown is an American actor and singer who has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1990s. He is best known for his role as Bill in The Last of Us, where he plays a survivor struggling to survive in the post-apocalyptic world.
His character serves as both a friend and a foil to Joel and Ellie, providing them with help when they need it while also making things more difficult at times. His performance earned him critical acclaim, with many praising his ability to bring a level of realism and depth to the character.
Henry – Brandon Scott
Brandon Scott is an American actor best known for his role as Henry in The Last of Us. In the game, he plays a survivor who has been living in the post-apocalyptic world for several years.
His character serves as both an ally and a foil to Joeland Ellie, providing them with help when they need it while also making things more difficult at times. His performance earned him critical acclaim, with many praising his ability to bring a level of realism and depth to the character.
Sam – Nadji Jeter
Nadji Jeter is an American actor best known for his role as Sam in The Last of Us. In the game, he plays a young survivor who has been surviving in the post-apocalyptic world for several years. His character serves as both an ally and a foil to Joel and Ellie, providing them with help when they need it while also making things more difficult at times.
Supporting Cast Members
Additional voice actors
In addition to the main cast members of The Last of Us, there are also a number of additional voice actors who bring life to the game’s many characters. Troy Baker is Joel’s voice actor and brings a level of emotion and realism to the character that few other voice actors can match.
Ashley Johnson reprises her role as Ellie, with Jeff Schine playing Jesse, Shannon Woodward as Tess, and Hana Hayes as Sarah.
Riley – Yaani King Mondschein
Yaani King Mondschein is an American actress best known for her role as Riley in The Last of Us. In the game, she plays a young survivor who has been living in the post-apocalyptic world for several years.
Her character serves as both an ally and a foil to Joel and Ellie, providing them with help when they need it while also making things more difficult at times. Her performance earned her critical acclaim, with many praising her ability to bring a level of realism and depth to the character.
David – Nolan North
Nolan North is an American actor best known for his role as David in The Last of Us. In the game, he plays a ruthless survivor who has been hardened by the post-apocalyptic world.
His character serves as both an ally and a foil to Joel and Ellie, providing them with help when they need it while also making things more difficult at times. His performance earned him critical acclaim, with many praising his ability to bring a level of depth and realism to the character.
Tommy – Jeffrey Pierce
Jeffrey Pierce is an American actor best known for his role as Tommy in The Last of Us. In the game, he plays a survivor who has been living in the post-apocalyptic world for several years.
His character serves as both a friend and a foil to Joel and Ellie, providing them with help when they need it while also making things more difficult at times. His performance earned him critical acclaim, with many praising his ability to bring a level of realism and depth to the character.
Motion capture actors
Scenes in which motion capture was used
Motion capture was used extensively in the development of The Last of Us. Motion capture allowed for the realistic performance and interaction between characters that made the game so successful.
Many scenes were shot with motion capture technology, such as when Ellie interacts with other survivors or when Joel and Ellie fight off attackers. Motion capture also allowed for more subtle movements, like facial expressions, to be captured realistically to further enhance the game’s realism.
Actors who performed motion capture work
In addition to the voice actors, there were also several motion capture actors who brought life to The Last of Us. Motion capture allowed for the realistic performance and interaction between characters that made the game so successful.
Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, and Nolan North all reprised their roles as Joel, Ellie, and David respectively using motion capture technology. Other motion capture actors included Jeffrey Pierce as Tommy, Shannon Woodward as Tess, and Hana Hayes as Sarah.
Behind the Scenes
Collaboration between voice actors and developers
The collaboration between voice actors and developers was integral to the success of The Last of Us. The development team worked closely with the voice actors in order to ensure that each character was portrayed accurately and authentically.
This included spending time in the recording studio discussing the scene, character motivations, and how best to express those moments. Additionally, motion capture allowed for more subtle movements like facial expressions to be captured accurately, further enhancing the game’s realism.
Challenges faced by the cast
The cast of The Last of Us faced many challenges while bringing the game to life. One of the biggest challenges was conveying the emotion and realism of the post-apocalyptic world without overacting or becoming melodramatic.
Additionally, it was difficult to accurately capture the subtle facial expressions and interactions between characters in order to make them seem more human. This challenge was further complicated by the expressions and movements of the characters in order to bring them to life in the game.
Finally, portraying a believable relationship between Joel and Ellie was another challenge, as it had to appear genuine and heartfelt despite the dark setting.
Relationship between cast members and their characters
The relationship between the cast members and their characters was essential in bringing The Last of Us to life. Nolan North, Jeffrey Pierce, Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, Shannon Woodward, and Hana Hayes all worked together to accurately portray the characters and their relationships with one another.
Through motion capture technology and close collaboration between the actors and developers, each character was brought to life with a believable level emotion and realism.
The actors worked hard to capture the subtle nuances of each character’s personality while also crafting a believable relationship between Joel and Ellie. This allowed players to become fully immersed in the game, making it one of the most successful games of its time.
Critical Reception
Awards and accolades received by the cast
The Last of Us was critically acclaimed, and the cast members were recognized for their impressive performances. Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson both received an Excellence in Acting Award at the 8th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards for their portrayals of Joel and Ellie respectively.
Nolan North was also honored with a BAFTA Games Award for his performance as David. Hana Hayes won a Behind the Voice Actors award for her portrayal of Sarah, and Shannon Woodward was nominated for a BAFTA Games Award for her performance as Tess.
Cast’s performances on the game’s success
The performances of the cast in The Last of Us had a huge impact on the game’s success. Through their motion capture and vocal performances, they were able to bring each character to life with emotion and realism that was unprecedented in video games at the time.
This allowed players to become immersed in the post-apocalyptic world, connecting more deeply with the characters and story. In addition, the relationship between Joel and Ellie was portrayed with such authenticity that it felt like a genuine and heartfelt bond. This added to the emotional impact of the game, making it one of the most successful games of its time.
Legacy
Fan appreciation and impact on fandom
The performances of the cast in The Last of Us left a lasting impression on fans. The game was widely praised for its realistic portrayal of characters and relationships, all thanks to the hard work put in by the cast.
Fans connected deeply with Joel and Ellie and their relationship, which resonated far beyond just the game world. This prompted an outpouring of appreciation for the actors that portrayed these beloved characters, and they remain popular figures in the gaming community to this day.
Influence on subsequent performances and games
The performances of the cast in The Last of Us had a lasting influence on subsequent games and performances. Their motion capture and vocal performances set a new bar for realism that was unprecedented in video games at the time.
This helped to create an immersive gaming experience that allowed players to connect more deeply with characters and their relationships. Furthermore, the relationship between Joel and Ellie resonated with gamers, prompting an outpouring of appreciation for the actors who portrayed them.
This prompted developers to take more care when crafting character relationships and performances in subsequent games, further enhancing the gaming experience.
Conclusion
The performances of the cast in The Last of Us have had a lasting impact on video game storytelling. Their motion capture and vocal performances set a new bar for realism that was unprecedented in video games at the time.
This helped to create an immersive gaming experience that allowed players to connect more deeply with characters and their relationships. Furthermore, the relationship between Joel and Ellie resonated with gamers, prompting an outpouring of appreciation for the actors who portrayed them.
This prompted developers to take more care when crafting character relationships and performances in subsequent games, further enhancing the gaming experience.
