Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey Will Not Stop Complimenting Each Other

The world has changed a lot since The Last of Us introduced viewers to a post-apocalyptic world full of mushroom monsters and grizzled survivors. What hasn’t changed? Anticipation for the return of our favorite pseudo-father-daughter duo: Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Luckily, the pair is ready to crawl back into the cold, moldy embrace of the HBO thriller for the season 2 premiere.

“I didn't realize how much I missed you until we were back doing a scene together,” Ramsey told Pascal during our Zoom call earlier this month. “And then I never wanted it to stop.”

Contrary to Pascal and Ramsey’s bubbly, real-life energy, their on-screen characters suffered a massive blow to their relationship at the end of the first season. In The Last of Us, Joel (Pascal) is hired to smuggle Ellie (Ramsey) out of a quarantine zone, following a fungal infection that mutates most of humanity into carnivorous killing machines. Though the pair leans on each other for survival, Joel is faced with an impossible choice in the finale that creates a massive rift between the two when season 2 returns.

Behind the scenes, the actors couldn’t have a stronger friendship. Their interactions over the years have launched a thousand sweet TikTok tributes, one particularly viral Esquire cover story, and the show’s successful renewal for a third season. Before season 2 kicked off this Sunday night, Pascal and Ramsey spoke to Esquire about how it felt to come back on set, how the pair solved their “giggle problem” between takes, and whose fault it really was when Pascal broke character on Saturday Night Live.

This interview is condensed and edited for clarity.

"There was sort of a fresh energy and excitement around it," Ramsey says of returning for season 2. "It was hard, hard work, as it always is, but the connections that you make with people on set just get you through."

ESQUIRE: What was the energy like when you arrived on set for season 2?

RAMSEY: There was sort of a fresh energy and excitement around it, which was really good. We had a good time. It was hard, hard work, as it always is, but the connections that you make with people on set just get you through.

PASCAL: Bella was there before I got to the set for season 2 and was steering the ship. So, it felt really seamless for me. I got to do a scene first with you, and it was like getting right back to it, really.

RAMSEY: I loved it when you came back to set. I missed you.

Was there any trick to cheering each other up after shooting a hard, dramatic scene together?

RAMSEY: That's the thing that comes most naturally to us, I think.

PASCAL: Yes, that's true. We have fun even in the darkest moments for our characters.

RAMSEY: Sometimes during the takes.

PASCAL: Yeah, we've got a giggle problem. We call it "corpsing" in the U.K. Here, it's a giggle issue, or breaking. We break character and it becomes this horrifyingly contagious sensation. Like your body is a prisoner to laughter in a way. The more tense it gets, the more anxious you get.

RAMSEY: And the funnier it gets.

PASCAL: Yeah. It's horrible. I don't even want to hear your voice get into the pitch that happens.

RAMSEY: [Laughs.]

PASCAL: There we go! It gets into this high pitch. And then there's no turning back.

Joel (Pascal) and Ellie’s (Ramsey) relationship is strained when the pair returns for season 2.

That reminds me of your Saturday Night Live sketches, Pedro, when the actors were simply unable to get through their scenes without breaking out in laughter.

PASCAL: I just want to say that even in that circumstance, I didn't start it.

RAMSEY: Come on! You can't keep putting it on someone else.

PASCAL: I'm going to have to. I'm literally going to pull up examples. Because there are receipts out there.

RAMSEY: And I'll pull up opposing examples.

PASCAL: I don't think you will be able to.

RAMSEY: I don't know what world you're living in.

What were some of your favorite puns that you've told each other throughout the series?

PASCAL: I'm no good at the puns. I'm not smart enough. You were great at them.

RAMSEY: The puns on set were constant. There was almost like a pun contest that happened every single day between me and our First Assistant Director Paul Domick. Then it spread to the rest of the crew. If we're in the forest, we'd be like, “Isn't it a leafly day?” or something like awful, awful, awful. Or, “I can really feel the roots of this scene.” I really could go on about this all day, but it was pretty funny.

PASCAL: Do you remember any of the ones that were actually in the script?

Well, I think you both are a couple of fungis.

RAMSEY: Did you get that?

PASCAL: I didn't get it at all. I was like, “That's right, we're wild and crazy!” I was about to do some Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd impressions.

RAMSEY: Thank you very muchroom, Sirena!

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What are some qualities in each other's characters that you really admire?

RAMSEY: I admire Joel's fierce protection. Sometimes it's actually detrimental. But for the most part, it's very admirable how much you love and care and protect and are so selfless. It's tricky, because it can also be selfish. You're doing it to protect yourself from pain.

PASCAL: And building principles based on what his ultimate needs are.

RAMSEY: Okay, here's what I actually admire: how much Joel knows about things. He can just build and do contracting. He knows about siphoning gas, fixing tires and cars. That is what I admire—all the practical skills you have.

PASCAL: I admire how smart Ellie is. She’s the kind of person that is the smartest person in any room, and I feel the same way about you.

RAMSEY: That's nice. You know, every time we're in an interview, I can't get over how eloquent you are. You say things in such a beautiful way that makes so much sense. What else do you admire about me?

PASCAL: You understand everything that is being communicated or said. There's no, I don't know what you mean. There's always this empathic way about you. Let's be real, you're smarter than me. You will get higher test scores. Period. I'm not even trying to kiss your ass. I'm telling you the truth. You can't really get away with anything with Ellie or Bella.

Being perceptive, that's a very important skill.

RAMSEY: Makes me dangerous.

PASCAL: I'm a stupid bitch. I fall for things all the time just like a dumb little puta would.