Tati Gabrielle Talks Ellie and Dina’s Dynamic in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2

LOS ANGELES, CA — In a recent interview with IndieWire, Tati Gabrielle, who plays Dina on HBO’s “The Last of Us” Season 2, shared insights about her character’s relationship with Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey. The dynamic between the two takes center stage in Episode 3, entitled “The Path,” which aired on May 2, 2025.

Gabrielle highlighted Dina as the “most prevalent” figure in Ellie’s life this season, portraying her as a beloved queer love interest. “She’s so brilliant, and I’m really excited for people to see how wonderful she is and how much light and energy and humor she brings to this season,” Ramsey said, praising Gabrielle’s performance.

Ramsey described a fun and energetic atmosphere on set, mentioning, “When I was like an old tired grandpa, she’d be like this little sprite that would come in and just make everybody party.” This portrayal adds depth to the emotional journey of the characters as they navigate through a grim apocalyptic landscape.

The third episode also tackles themes of grief, with Ellie grappling with the memory of Joel, played by Pedro Pascal. “She’s trying on a persona she admired and lost,” Ramsey noted, emphasizing Ellie’s struggle to integrate her past experiences into her current identity.

According to Gabrielle, the love triangle involving Dina, Ellie, and Jesse, played by another actor, creates compelling tension. “The sort of triangle of the three of us is something that’s really cool and was really fun to play,” Ramsey said, indicating that the narrative layers in this relationship are complex and engaging.

Gabrielle expressed her awareness of the pressure that comes with portraying such a beloved character from the video game. “Having that experience of not wanting to upset a fan base with my portrayal was essential,” she stated. This highlights the importance of balancing the original source material with fresh interpretations.

As production progresses, the overall mood on set remains supportive. Showrunner Neil Druckmann remarked, “The vibe of the set was chilled. The story we were creating was not.” New episodes of “The Last of Us” Season 2 air every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.