Best Female Characters In The Last Of Us, Ranked

Summary

• Compelling female characters in The Last Of Us commit surprising, emotional acts that challenge ideals.
• Mel, Riley, Dina, and Ellie stand out as strong, complex female characters in a post-apocalyptic world.
• Characters like Tess, Marlene, and Anna provide depth and emotional strength, shaping the narrative significantly.

Considered one of the best video game franchises and one of the best survival TV shows, The Last Of Us stands out with its deep narrative and well-crafted world, as well as complex, strong female characters. By bringing characters who reject idealization, they display all their humanity, making mistakes and acting with violence.

The best female characters in The Last Of Us are distinct, with unique traits that make them compelling, while they commit cruel acts that surprise the audience with many emotions. Living in a post-apocalyptic world, their issues appear with realism, where love, grief, and violence are frequent subjects in their intense stories.

10

Mel

Mel Tries To Keep Her Humanity Amid The Tragedies Of Her Journey

With her compassion, Mel becomes one of the best female characters by facing the world in a gentle way. Unlike characters such as Abby and Ellie, who feel consumed by trauma and thirst for revenge, Mel strives to see the world with humanity, questions the cruel decisions of her allies, and refuses to accept violence, even confronting Abby several times because of her brutal methods.

Appearing in The Last Of Us Part II and in the second season of the HBO series, the character is pregnant most of the time, facing tense situations and worrying about her future. Although not a traditional warrior, she remains determined to uphold her principles and care for others, and in seeking to protect Owen and their child her loss becomes one of the story’s most impactful moments.

9

Tess

She Is One Of The Strongest Characters In The Last Of Us

As Joel’s smuggling partner, Tess stands as one of the toughest characters in The Last Of Us, and from the opening moments of both the game and the series she shows strength and intelligence when facing extreme situations, from decision-making to self-sacrifice, without hesitation. Although pragmatic, she keeps a heart, and by revealing that depth and complexity she ranks among the work’s best female characters.

As one of the story’s greatest losses, she becomes infected and chooses to sacrifice herself to secure Joel and Ellie’s safety, but not before ensuring that her partner finishes the mission. Her relationship with Joel receives greater exploration in the series without sliding into romantic clichés, showing that they genuinely care for each other even if their displays remain restrained.

8

Riley Abel

Even With A Brief Appearance, She Became One Of The Best Characters

Though young, Riley Abel becomes one of the best female characters in The Last Of Us because of her courage. Supporting the Fireflies’ radical actions, she despises the military and, during her time in Boston, befriends Ellie, becoming her closest friend and first love interest in both the game and the HBO series, though her story ends tragically when an infected attacks her.

Her presence in the story feels sensitive and heartfelt, elevated by the script and the surprising performance of Storm Reid, who brought her to life in HBO’s adaptation of The Last Of Us. Her decision to become a Firefly sparks conflict, and that dilemma stands as one of her defining issues; her loss forever scars Ellie, reaffirming Riley as one of the work’s best characters.

7

Sarah Miller

With Her Unique View Of The World, She Is One Of The Best Female Characters In The Last Of Us

As one of the greatest losses in both the game and series of The Last Of Us, Sarah Miller has become one of its most memorable characters. In the opening scenes the audience sees the world and the outbreak’s onset through her eyes, learning about her before the tragedy that ends her life, and she embodies not only innocence lost but the burden of grief that shapes Joel.

Even as a teenager, Sarah shows emotional strength and maturity that few characters convey with so little screen time, caring for her father, Joel, remaining kind to others, and meeting the outbreak’s onset with sensitivity and sharpness. She stands as more than a victim of tragedy; she is a fully realized figure whose purpose and memorable presence elevate the narrative.

6

Maria Miller

She Is One Of The Most Underrated Characters In The Last Of Us

With firm resolve and keen intelligence under extreme circumstances, Maria Miller manages to run a functioning refuge, a rare feat in this reality. She contrasts with characters such as Joel and Tommy by concentrating on rebuilding the world rather than digging into trauma and raw survival, and in doing so she becomes one of the best female characters in The Last Of Us.

Maria does not mind challenging characters such as Joel; she sees Ellie as someone who needs protection and opposes the cycle of vengeance shown in the HBO series. In the series she appears pregnant with Tommy, a detail that underscores her faith in the future and further highlights her resilience, her determination to prevail amid unrelenting chaos and inspire hope in those around her.

5

Anna Williams

Stands Out With A Deeply Emotional Scene In Both Game And Series

Mother of the protagonist, Anna Williams has her story revealed in supplementary materials such as the HBO series of The Last Of Us, where actress Ashley Johnson, who gives voice and motion to Ellie, portrays her. Serving as a powerful metanarrative gesture, she leads one of the series’ most emotional moments, where, on the brink of death, she tries to secure her daughter’s survival.

Despite her brief appearance, Anna becomes one of the best female characters in The Last Of Us by showing resilience and strength even at her end, where unconditional love prevails amid tragedy. This quiet, emotional strength sets her apart from other characters, and the protagonist inherits her qualities.

4

Dina

One Of The Best Female Characters Thanks To Her Humanity

Balancing vulnerability and strength, Dina stands as one of the best representations of kindness in The Last Of Us. As her relationship with Ellie develops naturally, the character offers moments of lightness and affection in a game and series with dark, realistic themes, where their romance anchors humanity and love for the tragic protagonist.

Her choice to follow Ellie to Seattle while pregnant shows courage and loyalty, and her actions raise ethical and emotional questions that enrich her story. Dina becomes one of the best female characters in The Last Of Us by acting as more than support, serving as an active partner who directly shapes Ellie’s journey of vengeance and discovery.

3

Marlene

The Character From The Last Of Us Will Do Anything To Reach Her Goals

As a strong, determined woman, Marlene bears the burden of making one of the toughest decisions in The Last Of Us. Through her leadership of the Fireflies, she shows political and strategic insight in a post-apocalyptic world, and what sets her apart is the ability to keep a revolutionary movement alive, fighting FEDRA and planning a future for a lost world.

Her bond with Ellie, having known the protagonist’s mother, makes her final decision even harder; in both the series and the game, Marlene suffers under that choice. She knows she must control her emotions, showing strength while living with the weight of her decision.

2

Abby Anderson

She Is One Of The Most Memorable Characters Of The Last Of Us

Marking one of Naughty Dog’s riskiest choices, Abby ranks among the most complex characters in The Last Of Us. As Joel’s killer in both the game and the series, Abby repels players and viewers until her pain is explored, and her story appears from the human perspective of someone carrying personal trauma and loss.

She also subverts female stereotypes with her muscular build, though this detail is less visible in the series where actress Kaitlyn Dever portrays her, while she keeps emotional toughness and physical endurance. As a parallel to Ellie, Abby becomes one of the best female characters in The Last Of Us through her search for redemption.

1

Ellie Williams

Heart Of The Series, She Is The Best Female Character In The Last Of Us

First appearing in the video game The Last Of Us in 2013, Ellie transforms the role of unprotected supporting characters. Although she starts only as a teenager accompanying Joel, she soon becomes an active figure who helps in combat and proves essential to the narrative. The series repeats this arc and explores even more of her nuances.

With sarcasm and courage, Ellie takes the lead in the sequel to both the game and the series, becoming a young woman marked by trauma and the drive for revenge, reflecting humanity and pain as a complex character. That depth makes her one of the best female protagonists in the game and the series The Last Of Us, with strong representation and authenticity.