The Last of Us Game: Ashley Johnson as Ellie's Mother, Everything You Need to Know

Ashley Johnson, who originally voiced Ellie in the 2013 video game, "The Last of Us," has taken on a new challenge in the HBO live-action series adaptation. She portrays Anna, Ellie's mother, in the first season's finale episode. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Johnson described the experience as "wild," "surreal," and "bizarre." She finds it fascinating that she's now giving birth to the same character she helped create.

The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic story that follows Joel and Ellie, two survivors trying to navigate through a world overrun by infected humans. The story's second game was released in 2020, and a live-action adaptation is currently in development. The game's creator, Neil Druckmann, and screenwriter, Craig Mazin, are the showrunners for the upcoming series.

Johnson has been part of The Last of Us franchise for over a decade, starting with the original game in 2010. She has continued to provide voice and motion-capture performances for Ellie in Left Behind (2014) and The Last of Us Part II (2020). For her work, Johnson has received two BAFTA Games Awards and one Spike TV Game Award.

Johnson's portrayal of Anna in the live-action adaptation is significant for both her and the creators. Druckmann had initially thought of creating a comic book about Ellie's mother and even considered turning the concept into another video game. Later, he considered an animated short film, but it never materialized. When the idea of a live-action adaptation came up, Johnson was the obvious choice for Anna.

The actress was thrilled to reprise her role in the new format. "That's not the norm for video game adaptations," Johnson said. "Usually, the voiceover or motion-capture actors don't also go along to the screen adaptation. So I think there was a little bit of shock there and also a lot of emotion."

Druckmann also felt fulfilled that Johnson was playing Anna, as she had been with the franchise from the start. He and Mazin saw poetic significance in Johnson's casting, as she could now give birth to the same character she had helped create.

Johnson has been living with the character of Ellie for over a decade and has expressed her satisfaction with the creative process behind the games. "It felt so small and intimate and collaborative, and still to this day is one of the most creatively fulfilling things I've ever worked on," she said. Johnson's relationship with Druckmann has grown into a close friendship, and he was even available for her to reach out to before her first day of shooting Anna's scenes.

The Last of Us has seen its share of developments over the years, with a Sam Raimi-led movie version attached at one point. But with the HBO adaptation, Druckmann has returned to the idea of telling Anna's story. Johnson's casting in this role ties in perfectly with the franchise's overall theme of the connection between parent and child.

As a video game actress and now a live-action performer, Ashley Johnson continues to bring her talent and experience to the world of The Last of Us. Her portrayal of Anna is a testament to the hard work and dedication she has brought to the franchise for over a decade.