Kaitlyn Dever Opens Up About Emotional Scene in ‘The Last of Us’
Understanding the Impact of ‘Through the Valley’
In Episode 2 of Season 2 of The Last of Us, titled “Through the Valley,” viewers witnessed a pivotal moment that alters the series’ trajectory. The introduction of Kaitlyn Dever’s character, Abby, marks a significant shift, especially as her quest for vengeance becomes a central theme. The brutal nature of her actions, particularly against Joel, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, left audiences deeply affected.
Behind the Scenes: A Personal Struggle
Entertainment Weekly recently featured a comprehensive interview with Dever, Pascal, and Bella Ramsey, alongside insights from co-showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. This discussion illuminated how pivotal moments on set can affect not only the storyline but also the actors personally. For Dever, the emotional high stakes of her character’s revenge resonated profoundly given her recent personal loss.
The Weight of Loss
Before filming her first scene, which involved performing a violent act against Joel, Dever experienced the tragic loss of her mother after a long battle with breast cancer. She shared this heartbreaking news on her social media, revealing her emotional state during this difficult period: “I will be broken forever without you and I don’t know how I’ll go on.”
A Unique Filming Experience
Dever reflected on how the circumstances surrounding her mother’s passing influenced her performance in a deeply personal way. She explained, “I lost my mom two or three weeks before I actually shot this scene… I was sort of in a fog. I was in a daze.” Despite this overwhelming grief, the production team allowed her the time needed for processing her loss, emphasizing the show’s theme of grief.
A Shift in Preparation
In light of her circumstances, Dever had to adapt her approach to acting. Though typically she would prepare extensively, memorizing lines in advance, the emotional turmoil led her to adopt a more instinctive method: “Because of my life circumstances, I wasn’t actually able to do my normal routine… I was able to sort of… not think about it too much because the words on the page are so powerful anyway.”