Ellie grew up as an orphan in the Boston quarantine zone and attended a military preparatory school. Ellie is described as "mature beyond her years" as a result of the circumstances of her environment. Ellie is a survivor in the zombie apocalypse in America. she has a tattoo on her right arm, that covers a old bite mark. Ellie is immune to the zombies. Ellie smokes weed, she is 21. she grew up with Joel as a father figure. They live in a city, with walls that keeps out the zombies.