Hey everyone guess what? Bella Ramsey you know Ellie from The Last of Us and Lyanna Mormont from Game of Thrones just opened up about something super personal and really cool. They shared that they are autistic and honestly their story is pretty inspiring.
Bella Ramsey Reveals Autism Diagnosis: 'It's Been Really Freeing'
In a recent interview with British Vogue Bella who is 21 and uses they/them pronouns talked about getting diagnosed with autism. Turns out it happened while they were filming the first season of The Last of Us. How did it come about? Well someone on the crew who has a daughter with autism actually picked up on some things and thought Bella might be autistic too.
This led Bella to get a professional assessment and boom diagnosis. Bella mentioned they had "always wondered" about it so in a way it confirmed what they already suspected about themselves.
'Walking Through the World as an Autistic Person': Bella on Self-Acceptance and Understanding
So how does Bella feel about the diagnosis? They said it's been "freeing". That is a powerful word right? For Bella it means they can be kinder to themselves about everyday stuff that other people seem to find easy but can be tricky for them. It helps them understand why they experience the world the way they do.
Bella said "It enables me to walk through the world with more grace towards myself about not being able to do the easy everyday tasks that everyone else seems to be able to do." That's such a relatable feeling for so many people. It’s about self-acceptance and giving yourself a break.
Interestingly Bella also talked about labels in general. While the autism label feels helpful labels around gender and sexuality feel different. They said those kinds of labels "do not feel comfy for me in any capacity because I feel like I’m putting myself into a box. I feel trapped." It sounds like for Bella some labels can be helpful for self-understanding while others can feel limiting. Everyone is different and it's about finding what works for you.
Autism and Acting: How Bella's Neurodivergence Helps Them Shine
Bella also shared something really interesting about how they think autism actually helps them with acting. They feel like "having to learn more manually how to socialize and interact with the people around me has helped me with acting." Think about it acting is all about observing people understanding emotions and portraying different characters. Bella's way of seeing the world might actually give them a unique insight into human behavior.
They also mentioned that routines and rules are helpful for them which makes sense when you think about the structured world of a film set. "I have a call time and I’m told what to wear how to stand where to stand and what to eat" Bella explained . That kind of clear structure can be really supportive.
Bella’s openness about their diagnosis is really important. They said "My experience of moving through the world is as an autistic person. There’s no reason for people not to know.” By sharing their story Bella is helping to break down stigmas and show that neurodiversity is something to be understood and celebrated.
What's Next for Bella? The Last of Us Season 2 and More
Of course Bella is still busy being an amazing actor. Fans are eagerly waiting for The Last of Us Season 2 which is coming to HBO on April 13. Season 2 picks up five years after the first season. Ellie and Joel are now in Jackson Wyoming trying to build a life in a survivor community. But peace never lasts for long in the apocalypse right?
A "violent event" throws everything into chaos and Ellie goes on a journey for justice and closure. Sounds intense! Season 2 is adding some awesome new cast members too like Kaitlyn Dever Catherine O'Hara Jeffrey Wright and Young Mazino. And in a cool move for inclusivity HBO is also releasing an American Sign Language (ASL) version of Season 2. That's a great step towards making the show accessible to everyone.
Bella has come a long way since their breakout role as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. They are a talented and thoughtful actor and it is exciting to see what they do next both on and off screen.
Bella Ramsey: Key Facts About Their Autism Diagnosis and Career
- Autism Diagnosis: Bella Ramsey was diagnosed with autism while filming Season 1 of The Last of Us.
- Diagnosis was "Freeing": The diagnosis has helped Bella understand themselves better and be kinder to themselves.
- Neurodivergence: Bella has spoken about neurodivergence before but recently shared the specific autism diagnosis.
- Acting and Autism: Bella believes their autistic perspective has helped their acting skills.
- Labels and Identity: While finding the autism label helpful Bella feels less comfortable with labels related to gender and sexuality.
- The Last of Us Season 2: Bella will return as Ellie in the highly anticipated Season 2 premiering April 13 on HBO.
- Game of Thrones Role: Bella is also known for playing Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones.
- ASL Version of The Last of Us S2: HBO will release an ASL version of The Last of Us Season 2 for increased accessibility.