Lamar Johnson, the actor who breathed life into Henry in the HBO series The Last of Us, has shared his emotional experience of portraying the heart-wrenching storyline of Henry and Sam. Johnson, who was drawn to the project after being familiar with the critically acclaimed video game, credits executive producer Craig Mazin for providing a rich backstory for his characters. He was immediately impressed by the effort that went into creating a believable relationship between Henry and his co-star Keivonn Woodard, who played Sam.
The two actors put in a lot of work to perfect their sign language, which added to the authenticity of their characters’ bond. Johnson spoke about the script for Episode 5, in which Henry and Sam’s story comes to a tragic end, admitting to feeling nervous about reading the script, but praising the writing for making the scene feel real and authentic. Despite knowing what was coming, Johnson’s performance of the scene left him feeling emotionally drained.
A Still From The Last of Us (Photo: The Last of Us)
The emotional aftermath of playing out the scene with Woodard left both actors in tears. Johnson opened up about the emotional weight of the scene, which was a testament to the show’s ability to tap into the audience’s emotions and create a lasting impact. Johnson’s performance as Henry has garnered widespread praise, and he credits the writing for showing humans making bad decisions, but ultimately being human, and not defining their characters.
He highlighted the contrast between Henry and Sam’s story and Kathleen’s, who is portrayed as a complex and multifaceted character. Johnson emphasized the importance of nuance and complexity in storytelling, as seen in The Last of Us, and praised the show’s ability to make the audience question their emotions and perspectives. Throughout the interview, Johnson’s passion for the project shone through, as he spoke about the emotional impact of his character’s journey.
Johnson’s words offer a Look into the emotional weight of portraying such a powerful and emotional storyline, and it’s no wonder that his performance as Henry has left audiences in awe. The emotional depth of Henry and Sam’s journey in The Last of Us is a testament to the show’s ability to create a lasting impact on its audience, and Johnson’s performance is a significant reason for its success.
