Grieving the recent loss of her mother, Kaitlyn Dever brought an unexpected emotional depth to a critical scene in 'The Last of Us' Season 2, that has left fan reeling.
- April 22, 2025
AceShowbiz - The latest episode of HBO's "The Last of Us" season 2 left fans reeling as Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever, killed one of the series' main characters, Joel. Behind the scenes, Dever was navigating a deeply personal loss: her mother, Kathy, had passed away from cancer just weeks before filming the pivotal scene.
Dever, 28, has been open about the profound impact her mother's passing had on her performance. "To be as honest as possible, I will just say that my days leading up to this scene were horrible," Dever revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
"I lost my mom two or three weeks before I actually shot this scene, and my mom's funeral was three days before I did my first day."
In her Instagram tribute to Kathy, Dever expressed her deep love and gratitude, writing, "Thank you for fighting so hard for us for so long. I am forever, forever grateful for the special time we got to spend with you, sweet mama... it will never be enough."
Following the tragedy, Dever channeled her emotions into her performance, which required her to abandon her usual preparatory routine. "Because of my life circumstances, I wasn't actually able to do my normal routine as an actor, which was really interesting because I was kind of worried about it," she said.
Typically, Dever would spend weeks memorizing a monologue, but this time, she relied on the powerful words on the page to guide her.
Series co-creator Craig Mazin aimed to support Dever through this challenging period. "We said, 'Take your time. Take all the time you need,' " Mazin stated.
Understanding the show's themes of grief and loss, Mazin emphasized the importance of prioritizing Dever's well-being over the production schedule. The shoot was rescheduled to give Dever the necessary space to process her emotions.
As new episodes of "The Last of Us" continue to air, Dever's portrayal of Abby gains depth and authenticity, influenced by her recent experiences. While viewers grapple with the shocking developments on screen, Dever's ability to draw from her personal grief highlighted the raw and powerful nature of her performance.
"I don't know, just really let it go and not think about it too much because the words on the page are so powerful anyway," Dever remarked, reflecting on her adapted approach to the role.
"The Last of Us" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and is available for streaming on HBO Max.
