The Last of Us concluded its first season on HBO with Episode 9, which introduced Ellie’s mother Anna Williams, played by renowned voice actor Ashley Johnson. Some people wonder if Johnson is related to Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie, in real life. Here’s what we know about the connection and the relationship shared by the two off-screen.
Are Ashley Johnson and Bella Ramsey related?
No, Ashley Johnson and Bella Ramsey are not related to one another in real life. Their family ties are entirely fictional, and relate only to the characters they have played in HBO series The Last of Us. The first time the two met was on the set of the TV show.
Audiences noted just how great a job the casting team had done with Johnson and Ramsey, saying that they were similar in both their mannerisms and looks, even down to their voices. This is what seems to have led to the confusion about the pair possibly being related in real life.
Johnson is no stranger to the world of The Last of Us. She starred as Ellie in the video game series from Naughty Dog, performing voice acting and motion capture across both full games and the DLC Left Behind, which was released following the first.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson said how proud she was to see Ramsey thrive in the role, and described her as “Ellie come to life from the game,” adding that “she has the essence of Ellie.” She also said that while she had “theories” about why Ellie was immune during her time playing her for the games, “it wasn’t the important part of the story.”
Now, with The Last of Us Season 1 having wrapped, audiences will be looking forward to the show’s second season, which has been given the greenlight. No official release date has been revealed, but we could be looking at 2024 before it hits the small screen.
