The Last Of Us' Bella Ramsey tells haters to 'get used to' LGBTQ representation

Actor Bella Ramsey is on top of the world right now. Starring as Ellie Williams in The Last of Us, praise has been heaped on their humorous and affecting performance as Ellie, and in some scenes, showing haunting signs of the relentless survivor she will soon become in the second season.

Spoilers follow for The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II.

The Last of Us is impressing its viewers, too, irrespective of whether they've played the games, with every episode rated even higher than the last. The horde that erupts from the earth in the fifth episode was almost all practical effects, with the Bloater being an actor in a 88 pound suit, approximately 15 stunt performers as Clickers, and around 50 extras forming the rest of the swarm. It's this dedication to detail that truly escalates the threat that Joel and Ellie endure, and Ramsey is floored by the raucous response to the series.

“Signing on to a series is such a risk, because if I hate this, then I’m potentially tied into it for years, and I didn’t want to be tied into something I didn’t enjoy,” they said in an interview with GQ. “But I would honestly do this for years.”

That being said, the show has also incurred the ire of ignoramuses who think that the inclusion of a homosexual couple in the show is some sort of ploy for political correctness. Naughty Dog's games didn't escape it either, with gamers decrying Lev's identity and Abby's physicality. This might be on the horizon as the second season has been greenlit, yet, the actor isn't interested in fanning the flames.

“I’m not particularly anxious about it,” they replied to the concept of "internet hostility" towards LGBTQIA+ storylines. “I know people will think what they want to think. But they’re gonna have to get used to it.”

“If you don’t want to watch the show because it has gay storylines, because it has a trans character, that’s on you, and you’re missing out. It isn’t gonna make me afraid. I think that comes from a place of defiance.”

The sixth episode of the show, 'Kin,' is scheduled to air on 19 February, and will feature the reunion of Joel and his brother Tommy as Ellie bonds with Tommy's wife, Maria.