So, Bella Ramsey seriously put in the work to become Ellie in The Last of Us. From what I read and saw, they didn't just watch playthroughs of the video game—they literally focused on getting Ellie's vibe and attitude right. Bella studied Ellie's mannerisms, learned how to act in intense survival situations, and even trained with weapons so the action scenes looked real. I remember Bella saying in some interview that she avoided too much of the game at first, 'cause they didn't want to straight up copy the video version, but wanted to make Ellie feel real for TV. Also, Bella worked with the directors to nail down Ellie’s moods and how she handles trauma. You can totally see how much of themselves they put into the part; it comes across super authentic when you watch the show. I think all that prep made Ellie's character feel fresh but still familiar to fans. Bella really went all in, and it totally shows onscreen!