Tati Gabrielle’s The Last of Us Scene Was Her Biggest Acting Challenge Yet

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Since the gruesome demise of her adoptive father, Joel (Pedro Pascal), at the start of this season on “The Last of Us”, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) has been relentlessly pursuing one objective: avenge Joel by eliminating his killer, Abby (Kaitlyn Dever). It’s important to note that Joel’s act of vengeance was a culmination of a long-standing mission, sparked when he had killed Abby’s father, a Firefly doctor who might have developed a cure for the Cordyceps infection, but at the expense of Ellie’s life. The show intentionally highlights similarities between the two 19-year-olds and their respective groups, to delve into the destructive pattern of violence.

In “Feel Her Love,” character Ellie’s relentless anger pushes her towards tormenting Washington Liberation Front member Nora, portrayed by Tati Gabrielle, using a lead pipe to force information about Abby’s location. Despite the show’s already grim and brutal nature, this scene is particularly distressing, demonstrating just how far Ellie might go in her quest for revenge – more so now that she realizes Joel had deceived her about the Fireflies not finding a cure. It’s worth noting that Nora herself is destined to perish due to toxic spores, but her dialogue with Ellie suggests she’s haunted by her own guilt over her actions and grappling with the loss since Abby’s father’s death. According to Tati Gabrielle, the apology her character gives Ellie is sincere, as she believes it truly is.

From my perspective, Nora had a profound relationship with Abby’s father, who served as a mentor guiding her towards becoming a doctor. This bond extended to Abby, making them close friends. The death of Abby’s father hit Nora hard, stirring deep emotions of empathy and solidarity. As Abby embarked on her revenge crusade, Nora initially felt compelled by loyalty and the desire to support her friend. However, as time passed, she began to justify this quest as a pursuit of justice, convinced that it was essential to honor her mentor’s legacy.

In episode two, Nora articulated an intriguing thought: “There’s a difference between the idea of justice and actually enacting it.” As the gravity of their actions became clearer, she wrestled with the reality that they were taking another man’s life. Despite these reservations, she found it necessary to suppress her guilt for the sake of survival, as the trauma threatened to consume them both.

From my perspective, I aimed to be fully immersed in the scene while also understanding and expressing Nora’s emotions. I made sure not to overwhelm Bella so they could perform to their best ability. Essentially, I put aside my personal feelings to serve the story. The directors captured more of my reactions than I anticipated. I used those moments as inspiration for episode five. Even though it might not be obvious to the audience, Nora is still going through this intense moment, on top of a girl who’s repeatedly calling for her father – much like Abby did five years ago. And later, when Nora encounters Ellie again, that apology she offers is meant to feel genuine, as it represents a distraction but also a sincere act, considering its origins.

In the final ten minutes of episode five, Ellie’s hot pursuit of Nora transforms into a thrilling mini-action sequence. Just before setting out, Nora gets some cool moments, such as leaping into an elevator shaft. [Laughs.] Filming that scene took numerous takes because I had to run more slowly than usual. It was amusing to discover the balance between being badass and running at a cinematic pace.

What I most enjoyed about the elevator scene was the perspective they captured – a view as she plummets from the front. Unfortunately, during filming, I positioned myself incorrectly in the elevator shaft before it dropped. The set design included a removable wall, but they constructed the elevator shaft on the studio stage, which was intended to shake. I took another step and it dropped, causing me to miss my footing slightly, causing me to swing out of the elevator shaft momentarily. I landed safely and thought, “That was amazing! It felt like a roller coaster!” This was our final take. I asked if we could do it again because I had placed my foot incorrectly, but our director, Stephen [Williams], had a protective fatherly demeanor. He said, “Take her off the line.” I protested, saying, “No, Stephen, I’ve got this!” However, he gently took my hand and said, “My heart can’t handle it. We’re done.” This added an element of fun to the heaviness of the following scenes.

In what way did you and Bella prepare the final intense scene physically? Did you film in sequence or not?
Instead of filming the action scenes first, we chose to shoot them after the two main parts were completed. When it came to that particular scene, Bella and I rehearsed together, but we wanted to ensure our performances remained authentic without influencing each other. Working with Bella is always a pleasure because they’re so dedicated and committed to their acting craft. The torture sequence was particularly delicate. After every take, Bella would ask if she had hurt me too much, to which I responded, “No, no, no, you’re doing great! Keep going!” My joke during breaks was, “I pinned you down. This is your chance for revenge. Give it to me.

In this intense, emotionally charged moment, not only do I need to convey the scene’s feelings, but also the progressive physical decay caused by the spores. What makes Craig exceptional is his meticulous attention to every detail, even the science behind Cordyceps infection. He helped me understand how it affects the brain and nervous system, causing twitches or just lung issues. Balancing this physical deterioration while maintaining dialogue and a hoarse voice was one of my toughest acting challenges – a demanding blend of physical and emotional acting. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on it since then.

In simpler terms,

I wanted to briefly discuss your character in “You,” which concluded recently. I was glad you returned for one episode of the last season to tie up Marienne’s story and interact with other surviving women from Joe Goldberg’s life. How did it feel for you to bring closure to the show and confront Joe?

In the final season, Marienne escaped without facing full justice, but there was a need for some resolution. To be able to return and provide that sense of closure meant a lot to me. I also appreciated that Marienne played a part in punishing Joe, even though she wasn’t involved in his ultimate fate. I don’t think she would have been comfortable dealing with the consequences in the long term. Marienne is quite different from Nora and prefers an “eye for an eye” approach, but she knows when to step back and let others handle justice. Stopping the cycle of violence was crucial for her character.

Regarding your fearful nature, despite the violent themes in your shows, you once mentioned that you were a scaredy-cat. I remember you even inflicted some torture on “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” However, it’s ironic when people say that to you because…

You didn’t choose this. It just happened. What I find compelling about each character is, What human aspect can I relate to beyond the world they inhabit? Can I make them more than just a part of a dark fantasy? I always strive to ensure that they are not mere caricatures.

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2025-05-12 21:27