Troy Baker Admits He Was 'Terribly Unprepared' for Joel in The Last of Us

Troy Baker's Honest Reflection on The Last of Us

Troy Baker, the voice behind countless iconic video game characters, recently shared a candid revelation about his most challenging role to date: Joel Miller in the critically acclaimed The Last of Us. During a panel at GalaxyCon New Orleans 2025, Baker openly admitted to feeling profoundly unprepared for the part, describing it as one of the most difficult trials of his career.

“There’s nothing worse, and I hope no one ever feels this way… but have you ever just shown up somewhere and realized, ‘I am terribly unprepared for this’?” Baker recounted. He clarified that this wasn't merely imposter syndrome, but a genuine, factual lack of the necessary tools to tackle the depth of the character. “You just don’t have the tools to deal with what’s about to happen. It’s like, ‘Let’s go bungee jumping!’ and then you’re standing on the platform and you think, ‘I can’t do this.’ That’s what The Last of Us was like for me. You get the role, and then you realize, ‘Oh no, now I have to play it.’”

The Weight of Expectation

Baker shared that early in the project's development, both he and Ashley Johnson, who played Ellie, along with the Naughty Dog team, recognized the immense power of the script. They also understood the high bar Naughty Dog had set for itself following the success of the Uncharted series. The pressure was palpable, with Baker telling Johnson, “If this all falls apart, it’s on us.”

A Transformative Role for a Veteran Actor

This profound experience, he explained, transformed his approach to acting. “The Last of Us taught me to be a better actor,” Baker stated. He learned to stop trying to prove his acting prowess and simply to understand that Joel wasn't aware he was in a game; he was just living a moment in his life. “I learned that lesson and I apply it to everything,” he added.

Since his groundbreaking work on The Last of Us, Baker has continued to be a prolific voice in the industry, recently reprising his role as Higgs in Death Stranding 2 and lending his voice to Jack Pepper, the main character in the upcoming Mouse: P.I. for Hire. Meanwhile, Naughty Dog is preparing to release a script collection for both The Last of Us titles and is concurrently developing a new project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, featuring Tati Gabrielle in the lead role.

For players, Baker's honesty offers a rare glimpse into the intense pressures and profound personal growth that can come with bringing beloved characters to life. His dedication to mastering the complex role of Joel, even when feeling overwhelmed, underscores the passion and commitment that ultimately made The Last of Us such an unforgettable experience for millions worldwide.