In a moment that’s gone viral across social media, Isabela Merced, the breakout star portraying Dina in HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2, has shared a spine-tingling reaction to rediscovering a joint press conference clip with her co-star Bella Ramsey. The footage, from a promotional event in early 2025 ahead of the season’s April premiere, captures an intense exchange where Merced admits Ramsey’s eyes made her feel genuinely scared—unsettling fans and reigniting discussions about the duo’s electric on-screen chemistry and off-screen dynamic. What began as a casual scroll through old interviews has turned into a pop culture phenomenon, blending humor, horror, and heartfelt camaraderie in true Last of Us fashion.
Merced, 24, stumbled upon the clip while archiving press materials for her role in the post-apocalyptic hit. In the video, the two actresses sit side-by-side at a bustling panel alongside castmates like Pedro Pascal and creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin. As questions fly about their characters’ budding romance—Ellie (Ramsey) and Dina’s tender yet turbulent relationship—Merced pauses mid-sentence, her eyes widening. “I was watching this back, and Bella’s eyes… they just stared right through me. I got scared for a second!” she recounted in a recent Instagram Story, overlaying the clip with laughing emojis and a caption: “Rediscovered this gem. Bella, what was THAT stare? 😱 #TheLastOfUs #DinaAndEllie.”
The moment in question occurs around the 15-minute mark of the conference footage, now circulating wildly on TikTok and X. Ramsey, 22 and non-binary (they/them), locks eyes with Merced during a discussion on building chemistry without a formal screen test. Merced later elaborated in a follow-up Reel: “We didn’t do chemistry reads, but from day one, it clicked. But looking at this now? Those eyes are intense—like Ellie sizing up a Clicker!” Fans have zoomed in on Ramsey’s gaze: piercing, unblinking, with a subtle smirk that mirrors Ellie’s guarded vulnerability in the game and show. The stare lasts mere seconds but packs a punch, amplified by the dim lighting and the duo’s close proximity.
This isn’t the first time the pair’s bond has captivated audiences. The Last of Us Season 2, which premiered to record-breaking viewership in April 2025, thrust Merced and Ramsey into the spotlight as the heart of the Seattle arc. Dina, a witty, resilient newcomer to Jackson, becomes Ellie’s girlfriend and anchor amid revenge-fueled chaos. Their storyline—pulled faithfully from The Last of Us Part II—includes iconic scenes like the theater hideout, the horse chase through snowy woods, and an intimate barn encounter that had viewers swooning. Merced and Ramsey’s real-life rapport shone through: they improvised kisses in the sex scene, drawing from personal queer experiences to make it “sexy, emotional, and smart.” Ramsey called Merced a “little sprite” on set—bouncy, energetic—while Merced praised Ramsey for making her feel “safe” enough to dive deep.
The “scary eyes” rediscovery adds a playful twist to their narrative. Merced, born in Cleveland to Peruvian parents and raised in Dayton, Ohio, has been on a meteoric rise. From Dora and the Lost City of Gold to Madame Web and Alien: Romulus, she’s proven her range in action and horror. Casting as Dina was a coup—fans initially speculated after a Season 1 extra resembled her—but Merced nailed the audition, channeling the character’s humor as a deflection against apocalypse horrors. Off-screen, she’s effervescent: sharing playlists for Dina (including a tearful “Take on Me” cover by Ramsey) and hyping her DCU role as Hawkgirl in James Gunn’s Superman.
Ramsey, meanwhile, has evolved from Game of Thrones‘ Lyanna Mormont into the gritty, guitar-strumming Ellie—a role that earned Emmy buzz in Season 1. Their androgynous intensity and raw emotional delivery make Ellie iconic, but it’s the eyes—haunted, fierce—that convey unspoken trauma. In interviews, Ramsey has discussed the physical toll: eye infections from fan encounters (a quirky Ask Me Anything reveal) and the challenge of embodying Ellie’s rage. The press stare? Pure method acting bleed-over, as Merced joked: “Bella was locked in Ellie mode. I felt like I was in the game!”
Fan reactions exploded post-rediscovery. X threads dissected the clip frame-by-frame: “Bella’s eyes are weapons—Dina would run!” one user quipped. TikToks edited the stare with Last of Us infected sounds, amassing millions of views. Shippers of “Dellie” (Dina/Ellie) adore it as peak chemistry proof, while others hail Ramsey’s “killer gaze” as Emmy bait. Memes flooded: Merced photoshopped fleeing from Clickers labeled “Bella’s eyes.”
The anecdote underscores the duo’s authenticity. Unlike scripted promo fluff, this unfiltered moment humanizes them amid grueling shoots—rain-soaked chases, harness work, emotional breakdowns. Merced revealed crying to Ramsey’s music post-scenes, while Ramsey credited Merced’s energy for lightening sets. Their press conference—part of a virtual Max event teasing Season 2’s turf wars—was electric: Pascal’s dad jokes, Mazin’s Larry David impressions, and teases of space capsule drama.
As Season 3 looms (scripts glimpsed by Ramsey at 2026 Critics Choice Awards), this viral gem keeps buzz alive. Part II‘s latter half promises Abby focus (Kaitlyn Dever) with Ellie/Dina flashbacks—Merced confirmed returns, hinting unresolved arcs. The “scary eyes” tale? A reminder that behind post-apocalyptic grit lies genuine friendship, laced with playful terror.
Merced’s rediscovery isn’t just funny—it’s a testament to immersive acting. Ramsey’s stare scared her because it worked: piercing the soul like Ellie’s world. In a franchise blending horror and heart, this off-screen scare cements their legacy. Fans await more: Will Season 3 bring stares that chill? For now, the clip reigns as 2026’s first meme king—proof The Last of Us haunts beyond the screen.
