AceShowbiz - Pedro Pascal has opened up about the psychological challenges he faced while filming the second season of "The Last of Us." The actor confessed that playing Joel Miller, the post-apocalyptic smuggler, brought him into an "unhealthy mindset" as he struggled to separate his own emotions from those experienced by his character.

"It's this experience, more than any I've had," Pascal told People. "It's hard for me to separate what the characters are going through and how it makes me feel in a way that isn't very healthy."

The second season of "The Last of Us," set to premiere on Max on April 13, takes place five years after the events of Season 1, significantly altering the dynamics between Joel and Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey.

The emotional depth and intensity of this storyline have made it particularly challenging for Pascal. Reflecting on his return to the set, Pascal remarked, "My mindset was grateful for being back, yet, at the same time, this experience, more than any other I've had, is hard for me to separate what the characters are going through and how it makes me feel in a way that isn't very healthy."

He described feeling a deeply personal connection to Joel's fiercely protective nature, which only compounded the emotional impact of the role.

Pascal recalled that the first scene filmed with Bella Ramsey in an intimate setting was a "beautiful setup." Despite the "incredibly painful distance" between Joel and Ellie in the storyline, the two actors managed to maintain a lighthearted atmosphere on set, which Pascal found "incredibly comforting."

"There's an incredibly painful distance between the two of them in the playing of the scene, but we still got to be on set and f**k around and laughing and stuff like that," he shared during a press conference.

Bella Ramsey also highlighted the emotional strains of Season 2, noting a colder and sadder tone in the relationship between Joel and Ellie.

"It’s really difficult playing being cold to him … it’s sadder for sure. And it will continue to just get sadder and more cold … so look forward to that," Ramsey commented during the Deadline Contenders TV event.

The impact of the series on Pascal has been profound, both personally and professionally. "This job definitely created a new chapter in my life in a profound way because of the personal experience I had making the show, and then, of course, the way the show was received," he reflected.

As "The Last of Us" Season 2 approaches, fans eagerly anticipate how these developments will unfold on screen, and Pascal's candid revelations offer a glimpse into the real-life intensity behind the scenes of this beloved series. Stay tuned for a season filled with heart-wrenching moments and powerful performances.