[VIDEO] ‘The Last of Us’ Premiere: Nico Parker on Sarah’s Big Scene

Warning: This submit comprises spoilers for The Last of Us‘ premiere. 

So a lot of The Last of Us’ story hinges on an occasion that occurred close to the beginning of Sunday’s season premiere. And a lot of that huge second rested on the shoulders of Nico Parker. No strain!

Of course we’re speaking about Sarah’s dying on Outbreak Day, an achingly unhappy interlude through which Joel’s teenage daughter is fatally shot by a soldier as she, her dad and her uncle try to flee a zombie-esque apocalypse that’s overtaking their metropolis (and, as we later be taught, the world. Yeah, it’s so much. Read a full recap to catch up.)

What’s extra, the scene is one which followers of the online game on which the HBO collection is predicated have recognized and cherished for years. Therefore… “I was incredibly stressed,” Parker tells TVLine within the video above. “It’s an iconic moment. I have cried at that moment, myself, prior to even in any way being involved in the show. So I think I was very aware of how important it was to kind of execute it appropriately.”

She additionally mentions that co-star Pedro Pascal, who performs Joel, had some phrases of knowledge previous to capturing their huge, heartbreaking scene: Don’t watch the video-game model, as a result of “‘it’s going to freak you out,’” she remembers, laughing. “I take his word as the gospel, so I was like, ‘OK! I’m not watching!’”

Press PLAY on the video above to listen to Parker go deep on capturing Sarah’s ultimate moments — together with the Billie Eilish tune that helped her get there — then hit the feedback together with your ideas!