Kaitlyn Dever’s portrayal of Abby in Season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us sparked both critical acclaim and intense fan scrutiny, culminating in an Emmy nomination (one of the show’s overall 16). Dever took on the role during one of the most difficult periods in her life, navigating profound personal grief while stepping into one of gaming’s most controversial characters.
In a recent interview with Deadline, Dever revealed that her introduction to Abby began with her father’s enthusiasm for the character, which helped shape her performance, later fueled by loss and resilience.
„It was actually my dad’s thoughts and opinions on Abby that were way stronger than mine,“ she said. Long before being approached about the role, he urged her to watch the end of the second game: „You need to sit down, and you just need to watch this.“