Origins: Early Life, First Roles, and an Unlikely Breakthrough
Born Isabella May Ramsey on 25 September 2003 in Nottingham, England, Bella began acting almost as soon as they could speak. Their earliest years were spent attending drama classes and participating in amateur theater productions – activities that fed a naturally intense curiosity about performance. By age 10, they were part of the prestigious Television Workshop, a training ground for many British actors.
It wasn’t long before this early dedication landed them in one of the biggest global television phenomena of the 2010s. In Game of Thrones (HBO, 2016–2019), Ramsey portrayed Lyanna Mormont, a precocious and fierce young noblewoman who quickly became a fan favorite for her sharp dialogue and unflinching presence – so compelling that despite limited screen time, Lyanna’s popularity rivaled many long-running characters. This role didn’t just signal Ramsey’s vast potential; it marked them as an actor capable of holding their own alongside seasoned professionals.
Concurrently, Ramsey expanded into diverse work including The Worst Witch (a children’s fantasy series on CBBC) and voice performance in the beloved animated show Hilda, displaying early signs of versatility that would later define their career.
Ascending to Stardom: Ellie in The Last of Us
While Lyanna Mormont introduced Ramsey to a global audience, it was their portrayal of Ellie Williams in HBO’s The Last of Us (2023–present) that solidified their status as a leading actor in their generation. Based on the acclaimed video game franchise, The Last of Us presented Ramsey with a role unlike anything they’d tackled before: a teenage survivor in a post-apocalyptic world, grappling with trauma, loyalty, filial pain, and the burdens of love and loss.
What followed was both critical acclaim and award recognition. Ramsey earned nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards—a rare feat that positioned them among the most celebrated young actors in television. They became the youngest British actor ever nominated for certain major awards.
A key aspect of Ramsey’s rise in The Last of Us era was representation. As an openly non-binary performer, they became a touchstone for conversations about diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. Their success challenged the industry’s traditional gendered categorization of awards and roles, sparking discussions about how non-binary actors are recognized and celebrated in mainstream spaces.
The Public Identity: Non-Binary, Neurodiversity, and Personal Articulation
Bella Ramsey’s public persona is inseparable from their articulation of identity. They have spoken candidly about being non-binary and the complicated relationship between personal identity and public labels. In interviews, they have emphasized that while gender identity is a part of who they are, they do not want that to eclipse their work or be reduced to a headline. This balance—between visibility and privacy—has been one of the defining threads in how they navigate fame.
Alongside gender, Ramsey has also opened up about autism, describing their formal diagnosis as deeply informative and liberating, helping them understand earlier experiences of feeling “different” or outside conventional social frameworks. This sort of openness has made them a figure of resonance for many fans who see themselves reflected in Ramsey’s honesty and complexity.
2025 and Beyond: New Projects, Artistic Shifts, and Creative Autonomy
After the massive success of The Last of Us first seasons, Ramsey’s choices in 2025 and early 2026 reveal a deliberate and thoughtful evolution in their career focus. Rather than merely pursuing bigger franchises or blockbuster opportunities, they have demonstrated a growing interest in stories with emotional depth and character-driven narratives.
One high-profile project from this period is the British television series Maya, in which Ramsey plays the titular character. Announced in 2025 and produced for Channel 4, Maya is crafted as an atmospheric thriller intertwined with dark humor and social commentary, planting Ramsey firmly in adult ensemble drama rather than genre-specific fantasy or dystopia.
2026 also saw Ramsey starring in Sunny Dancer, a coming-of-age film centered on a cancer recovery summer camp, where they play Ivy, a teenager finding connection and resilience in unexpected places. This role situates Ramsey in markedly grounded territory—balancing vulnerability and optimism in a narrative grounded in real-world emotional texture rather than speculative fiction.
Through these choices, Ramsey has signaled a deliberate shift away from the blockbuster spectacle that first catapulted them to fame toward stories that explore nuance, humor, and human fragility.
This artistic pivot extends beyond acting. In 2026, Ramsey reportedly began focusing on music and writing during a period of intentional rest from acting, further illustrating a creative ambition that transcends a single medium. While not formally confirmed in traditional outlets, these insights from interviews and social commentary reflect a multi-dimensional artist resisting confinement to any one box.
The Awards Circuit and Industry Recognition
Ramsey’s visibility on the awards circuit continued through 2025 and into early 2026. At the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, they became notable not just for their performance recognition but also for a striking fashion moment—debuting a bold, textured pixie haircut that sparked wide admiration and conversation about personal style and transformation.
At the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, Ramsey again made headlines—not only for being nominated (again) for Best Actress in a Drama TV Series for The Last of Us, but for a standout red carpet look featuring a Prada suit accented by a large pink bow. These moments underscore how Ramsey’s public image marries performance prestige with a distinct personal aesthetic that challenges gender norms and embraces individuality.
Role Backlash and the Price of Fame
No narrative about a figure as prominent as Bella Ramsey would be complete without acknowledging the controversy and backlash they have faced – particularly from online fandom spaces. Since The Last of Us season two aired, sections of the internet have engaged in vitriolic criticism of both the adaptation and Ramsey’s performance, often steeped in hostility toward the actor’s appearance, gender identity, or interpretation of the character.
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