So, the internet is basically losing its mind over the first glimpses of Kaitlyn Dever in The Last of Us Season 2 and the recent training footage for Season 3. People have been shouting into the void of social media for months, wondering if the 5-foot-2 actress could actually pull off the "tank" physique of Abby Anderson.
Honestly, it's a lot of pressure. If you've played the game, you know Abby isn't just fit—she’s a brick house. She has traps that could crush a skull and arms that look like they were carved out of granite. Then you look at Kaitlyn Dever. She’s historically lean. She's "fragile-looking," as some critics (maybe a bit harshly) put it when she was first cast.
But here’s the thing: things are changing.
The training is real, even if it’s not "bodybuilder" status
Recent clips have surfaced of Dever putting in serious work at the gym, and it’s sparked a fresh wave of conversation. It’s not just about aesthetics anymore. For Dever, "getting buff" isn't just about looking like a video game render; it’s about the psychology of the character. She recently posted a video performing heavy strength exercises, and you can see the definition starting to pop in her shoulders and back.
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She’s lifting. Real weight.
We aren't talking about a casual Pilates class here. Reports suggest her routine involves heavy compound movements like squats, deadlifts, and kettlebell work. She's been working with trainers in Los Angeles to build a "functional" strength that reflects a soldier who has spent years training for one thing: revenge.
It's a huge shift from her previous roles in Booksmart or Dopesick.
Why the showrunners aren't obsessed with the scale
Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have been pretty vocal about this. They don't care if she doesn't match the pixel-perfect silhouette of the game. Mazin basically told GamesRadar+ that the "gameplay" version of Abby needed that massive size to feel like a different mechanical experience than Ellie. In a TV show, you’re just watching. You don't need to feel the "weight" of a character through a controller.
Instead, they’re focusing on "spirit."
Dever has spoken about how she’s carrying herself differently now. The stunt training changed her walk. It changed her "armor." Even if she isn't 200 pounds of pure muscle, she’s developing that wiry, dangerous energy of someone who can actually handle a machete. It's more about the vibe of a threat than the actual circumference of her biceps.
"There are certain ways you carry yourself in a tougher way... it just sort of started to naturally happen especially after the stunt training." — Kaitlyn Dever
The "Abby Diet" and the reality of Hollywood gains
Let’s be real for a second. A woman of Dever's natural stature isn't going to turn into a heavyweight bodybuilder in six months without some seriously "unnatural" help, and she's clearly chosen a more sustainable, athletic path.
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Her diet has reportedly shifted toward a high-protein, whole-food approach. We're talking:
- Breakfast: Greek yogurt with berries or eggs.
- Lunch/Dinner: Grilled salmon, quinoa, and massive amounts of leafy greens.
- Recovery: A focus on 8 hours of sleep and limiting the caffeine.
She’s also been open about how personal loss—specifically losing her mother just before filming—fueled her drive. She’s not just training for a paycheck; she’s training through grief. That kind of emotional intensity shows up in the muscle. It makes the "buff" look feel earned rather than just a costume.
Addressing the "miscast" noise
A lot of fans are still salty. They wanted a crossfitter or a pro wrestler. They wanted someone who looked like they could bench press a truck.
But look at Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2. She wasn't a giant, but she was shredded. She looked like she was made of steel cables. That seems to be the direction Dever is heading for the upcoming Season 3 arcs. The "getting buff" journey isn't a destination; it's a process that is happening in real-time as the show progresses.
The dissonance people felt in Season 2 is likely intentional. If Abby starts out looking a bit more "vulnerable," her transition into the hardened soldier we see later carries more weight. It's a character arc, not a static image.
What you can actually take away from her journey
If you're looking at Dever and thinking about your own fitness, there are a few "expert" takeaways here that actually matter:
- Consistency beats intensity. She didn't get toned overnight. It was 3–5 days a week of resistance training over a year.
- Compound movements are king. If you want to look "strong," stop doing bicep curls and start doing squats and rows.
- Mindset changes the body. If you train with a purpose—like Dever training to honor her mom and the character—you push harder than if you're just trying to lose five pounds.
If you want to track her progress, keep an eye on her latest social media updates where she’s been sharing snippets of her strength training. The best way to understand the transformation is to look at her "posture" and "frame" rather than just looking for huge arms. Focus on her transition from "lean" to "athletic" in the upcoming Season 3 trailers to see how functional strength translates to the screen.