Walking Dead: Melissa McBride – Carol gets strength from loss of Sophia

Carol Peletier is one of two characters in The Walking Dead that will have endured for all eleven seasons. Portrayed by Melissa McBride, Carol has seen one of the most significant transformations of the entire series.  McBride has done a brilliant job taking Carol on her journey.

During a recent interview with AMC.com, McBride discussed Carol and what it has been like to play this character. She shared that it has been incredible to play Carol and that her strength comes from honoring the loss of Sophia.

In season 1, her abuser and husband Ed (Adam Minarovich) was attacked by a walker. This was a blessing for her and her daughter Sophia (Madison Lintz). In season 2, just as they begin to make a new life without him, Sophia comes up missing and is eventually found in Hershel’s (Scott Wilson) barn as a walker.

Losing a child is a blow many parents never recover from, and to see your child as one of the undead had to be the worst. But, McBride says that Carol willed herself to be brave and overcome by honoring her daughter. And Sophia isn’t the only child  Carol has lost over the years. She adopted and lost several more along the way. One of which was Henry IMatt Lintz), another harsh blow, as she and Ezekiel (Khary Payton) adopted him as their own.

The Walking Dead – Carol

One admirable trait that Carol possesses is her vulnerability. This is something that McBride and her fans love about this character. No matter how tough and brave she is, there are times when she doubts herself, reminding viewers she is flesh and blood. But never mistake this as a weakness; it only makes her stronger.

In the eleventh and final season of the series, Carol has, once again, had to make tough choices and do things that others wouldn’t dream of, always worried about others with no concern for personal sacrifices.

During episode 20, many fans were delighted to see Carol and Daryl (Norman Reedus) back together again. Many survivors have been split apart for so long that it was a real treat to see this duo fight alongside one another again. They fell right back into their old patterns, not even needing words to know what the other is thinking.

McBride, Reedus, and others involved in the series have said Carol has more story to tell. Hopefully, one day it will work out for her story to continue.

Be sure to read Melissa McBride’s entire interview on AMC.com as she shares much more insight into Carol and her time on the series.

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