Kaitlyn Dever's performance as Abby in The Last of Us season 2 is already getting the highest of praise from one of her co-stars: "Give her the damn Emmy"

Kaitlyn Dever
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Dina actor Isabela Merced has heaped praise on fellow newcomer Kaitlyn Dever in The Last of Us season 2.

"Give her the damn Emmy, honestly" Merced teased of Dever's work as WLF member Abby during a recent appearance on Happy Sad Confused

"I'm so excited for people to see how incredibly well [Ellie actor] Bella [Ramsey] and Kaitlyn did on this."

As revealed in the first teaser for The Last of Us season 2, Catherine O'Hara is playing an unnamed character from Jackson, seemingly a therapist who seeks to explore an apparent divide between Pedro Pascal's Joel and Ellie. Jeffrey Wright will reprise his game role as Isaac, the leader of the WLF.

Prior to filming, Ramsay had nothing but kind words for Dever – who, ironically, was once lined up to play Ellie in a film adaptation of The Last of Us.

"She’s excellent, Isabela and Young as well," Ramsey told GamesRadar+. "I’m really excited to get going with all of them."

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.