The Last Of Us 2’s Dina Actress Shares Behind the Scenes Details

Shannon Woodward, the motion capture and voice actress of Dina from The Last of Us Part 2, has shared some behind-the-scenes details about her time working with Naughty Dog. The Last of Us Part 2 has gone from strength to strength since its release last year. Despite some early leaked footage leading to a backlash from so-called fans, The Last of Us Part 2 has managed to smash records for PlayStation and developer Naughty Dog.

The Last of Us Part 2 touches on several very dark and tumultuous themes, including loss, grief, and revenge. It is a bleak tale, with little relief during its average playtime of 25 hours. Some of the game’s most joyful moments, however, come when protagonist Ellie falls in love with Dina, a playful fellow Jackson resident and ally of Ellie’s. In a world that is torn apart by anger and fear, the two girls find a connection that gives each other some joy amongst the dismal post-apocalyptic backdrop.

Shannon Woodward spoke to the Good Game, Nice Try podcast (shared via TeamCoco) about how she got the part of Dina in The Last of Us Part 2, as well as her experiences bringing the character to life. TLOU2 was Woodward’s first time working on a video game, having previously only worked on films and TV shows such as Westworld. It was her connections from Westworld that actually helped Woodward secure the role of Dina. An avid gamer and a The Last of Us fan, Woodward discovered that her colleague, Halley Gross, was set to work with Naughty Dog during the summer break. Joking that Gross would have to ask Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann if she could have a line in the game, amazingly a role came up. Gross dutifully passed on Woodward’s details, and after a couple of reads with both Laura Bailey and Ashley Johnson, the role was hers.

Shannon Woodward described her experiences working The Last of Us Part 2 compared to that of a TV show as “…more intimate and more private.” She also praised the storytelling within TLOU2. Citing her character’s sexuality, as well as that of Ellie’s and Lev’s, Woodward said, “It’s an awesome step forward in terms of opening the landscape to different kinds of stories.” Woodward has nothing but good things to say about her time working on The Last of Us Part 2, even though she was a key part in bringing the story to life, she has found equal pleasure in playing the game itself. Woodward explains how, “there is so much (she) wasn’t there for; (she) knew what was happening, but it is different to experience it.”

It is refreshing to hear such positive things being said about the work environment within the video games industry. Most often of late, stories surrounding either the expectation for employees to crunch to get a game released on time or tales of misconduct in the workplace have dominated the media.

The Last of Us Part 2 is currently up for several awards at the upcoming BAFTAS, with Woodward’s portrayal of Dina nominated for the “Performer in a supporting role” accolade. Given The Last of Us Part 2’s track record, it is safe to assume that more awards will soon be added to its already impressive roster.

The Last of Us Part 2 is available now for the PS4.

Source: TeamCoco – Twitter

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