Troy Baker Admits Playing Joel In The Last Of Us Taught Him To Be A Better Actor

by

Troy Baker is renowned for lending his voice to some of the most iconic video game characters ever created. Beyond assuming Harrison Ford’s role as Indy in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, he has also brought to life Sam Drake from Uncharted, Booker DeWitt from Bioshock: Infinite, Higgs in Death Stranding, and not forgetting Joel Miller in The Last of Us.

At GalaxyCon New Orleans recently, there was a discussion where Baker was questioned about whether portraying Joel had impacted him on a personal level. He admitted that it had touched him “profoundly” in various aspects, even making him feel “insufficiently prepared” for the role.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you feel completely underprepared? It’s a feeling I sincerely hope nobody has to endure, but it happens. This isn’t about impostor syndrome; it’s reality. In this scenario, you don’t have the skills or resources needed for the task at hand. For instance, imagine someone proposing bungee jumping, and then they step onto the platform, only to realize their fear: “I can’t do this.” That was my experience with The Last of Us. You land the job, but instead of excitement, you feel a sense of dread: “oh no, I have to deliver this.

At a certain moment, Baker found himself conversing with his co-star, Ashley Johnson (Ellie in the games), and had an eerie epiphany. He then looked at Johnson and remarked, “Don’t you think it’s on us if this doesn’t turn out well?

He acknowledged the talent of Naughty Dog, who had previously achieved success with their Uncharted series, and understood the kind of narrative they aimed to create next. “We were confident that what they were producing would be excellent,” he stated, further noting that the quality of storytelling helped him improve as an actor.

The experience showed me the importance of not attempting to prove my acting abilities to others, understanding that Joel is unaware he’s part of a game, and simply living in the present moment. This insight, I carried over into various aspects of my life.

Lately, Baker has once again taken on the character of Higgs in Death Stranding 2, a game that came out this month. Additionally, it was revealed last month that Baker will lend his voice to Jack Pepper, the main character, in Mouse: P.I. for Hire.

Read More

2025-07-25 21:09