It is always interesting in the era of game streaming to watch some of the talented performers who bring game characters to life play their own game.
That was the case when Cascina Caradonna, the face model for Ellie’s primary love interest Dina, started playing through The Last Of Us: Part 2.
The video can be seen in the player above. Caradonna was the face model for Dina, but did not actually voice the character. Dina was performed by Shannon Woodward, who is best known for playing Elsie in the popular HBO series Westworld. However, despite that, Dina’s face is exactly Caradonna’s.
The Last of Us Part 2 uses some amazing facial modeling technology and motion capture performances. In many instances, it feels like you’re playing through a movie, or at least an HBO original series (which is coming, by the way!).
Caradonna did not skip ahead to herself, though. She first played through the Original The Last of Us, documenting that playthrough on her YouTube channel.
Just at the 23:51 mark in the video above, Ellie encounters Dina for the first time. Instantly, Caradonna’s face lights up in shock before the tears start rolling. What follows is a very emotional reaction from a performer who is not used to seeing themselves in popular media like this.
Be warned, there is also some adult language used. But if you’re a fan of The Last of Us, it’s safe to say that you’re no stranger to that.
“Sorry this is really weird for me,” she said, pausing the game while in tears. “I’ve never actually seen myself on TV. That’s really weird. I’ve seen the trailer so many times and I thought I was just going to, you know, be like ‘oh, there’s me,’ but that’s really jarring. That’s so weird because I know that face so well. I look at it in the mirror every day multiple times…for a long time.”
Her reaction is absolutely heartwarming, and it is a true feel good moment for anyone needing a pick me up right now.
“I’m sure nobody else reacted like this, but I am who I am, I can’t help it,” she went on to say. She is wrong in this regard.
Briana White, the actress who plays Aerith in Final Fantasy VII Remake is also a popular game streamer on Twitch and YouTube. She played through her game as well and had a similar reaction to the first time Cloud encounters Aerith outside of the LOVELESS theater in Midgar’s Sector 8.
The Last of Us: Part 2 is currently available on the PlayStation 4 console.
