Interview with Noah Lamanna

Noah Lamanna performer in casts such as Last of Us and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. What do you bring with you about these experiences, what about these fantastical, antipodean narratives most affected you?

I had such a great time playing these two characters, and I felt connected to both in different ways. At the start of “The Last of Us” season 2, Kat leads Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) on a patrol, but they disobey her command the moment they smell danger. Kat is technically in charge, but she doesn’t feel in charge. So often in life we have to ‘fake it till we make it’. I understand that feeling, and I have to give Kat her due for trying her best to control a difficult situation.

On the other hand, Tris shows up in season 3 of “Ginny and Georgia” with so much confidence, and seemingly none of the awkwardness and self-doubt that plagues many of us as highschoolers. They’re cool and self-assured and unapologetically themselves. I love playing really confident characters because it teaches you a lot about how you access your own power. It’s also great to see young queer and trans characters on TV just vibing and chilling and feeling themselves.

Can you describe to fans the character of Kat in Last of Us, how she interacts with Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and the other main characters in the story?

Kat is Ellie’s ex-girlfriend who she dated at some point during the 5-year gap between seasons 1 and 2.  Kat is significant in the game because she gives Ellie her tattoo, and that is a meaningful connection we do explore as the season unfolds. Kat’s character doesn’t get built out in the game, so it was exciting to see her get a bit of an arc in the show. At the top of the season, things are quite tense between Kat and Ellie because they’re caught in a very awkward power dynamic. Kat is in a position of authority, which Ellie resents, and Ellie and Dina have started flirting which really stings for Kat. Later in the season we get a glimpse into the early days of Kat and Ellie’s relationship. It was fun to experience some moments of tenderness between them.

You will be featured in the cast of the third season of Ginny & Georgia, expected to debut next June. Do you have an anecdote to share with fans of the Netflix series?

My character Tris is a skateboarder, and I am not a skateboarder, so we had to do some training to bridge that gap. I was lucky to have two very talented stunt doubles doing the tricks for me, but I did have to learn the basics which was quite humbling. I turned up one day at an active skatepark swarming with teenage boys, strapped on my knee pads and wrist guards and helmet, and teetered onto the board for the first time. It felt like that Steve Buscemi meme.

Who is Noah Lamanna, besides actor, what hobbies, passions, routines does he like to entertain himself with outside of acting?

I work part time doing street outreach through St. Stephen-in-the-Fields in Toronto. I feel deeply connected to the community there and it’s become a central part of my life. I love running, gardening and writing. My vision for the summer is to do a lot of fishing and maybe some skill building at a local farm. I also started boxing this year which I’ve been enjoying a lot.

What are Noah Lamanna's upcoming projects?

I’m currently working on producing my own script, which is very challenging and exciting new terrain.It’s been cool to put on some different hats and explore the production side of things. I’ve been wanting to step into a writer/director role for a while now and this just felt like the right time to make it happen.

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