Bella Ramsey’s pronoun struggle exposed.
Bella Ramsey just got real about why figuring out their pronouns left them spiraling during the biggest moment of their career.
Bella’s journey into fame highlighted.
Bella Ramsey rocketed into pop culture after playing Ellie in HBO’s The Last of Us, but their rise started way earlier.
They made their acting debut as the fierce Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, instantly becoming a fan-favorite despite limited screen time.
It was January 2023, during press for The Last of Us season one, when they told The New York Times they were non-binary.
Ramsey now says they wish they’d thought twice. “I didn’t want it to become a headline,” they told The Guardian.
They weren’t expecting the level of media frenzy that followed. “I didn’t really understand that at the time,” they admitted.
Despite the whirlwind, Bella says it was worth it if it helped others. “People have told me it’s been very helpful seeing some representation.”
“So it’s been a mixed bag,” they added. “But overall, it was a good thing for me — just living more freely.”
Controversy around Bella’s identity clarified.
Ramsey was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and the internet had… thoughts.
The nomination stirred controversy, with critics saying non-binary actors shouldn’t be lumped into gendered categories.
“There was a little bit of a fuss,” Louis said. “Some people found it insulting.” Bella didn’t.
Ramsey actually defended the category. “I think it’s important that recognition for women in the industry is preserved,” they explained.
They acknowledged the system isn’t perfect. “Where do non-binary or gender-nonconforming people fit in? I don’t know.”
“I’ve literally sat and tried to think my way to the answer and haven’t got there,” they confessed.
“I think having male and female categories is important,” they added. “But it’s complicated.”
Bella Ramsey’s pronouns admission revealed.
Speaking to Louis Theroux on his podcast, The Louis Theroux Podcast, the 20-year-old The Last of Us star opened up about what it really felt like behind the scenes.
Throughout the episode, Bella’s attitude remained grounded: reflective, but never preachy.
In typical Louis fashion, the interview was gentle, yet revealing — especially on the emotional side of Bella’s journey.
There were no rants, no accusations — just a thoughtful actor navigating a conversation the world keeps evolving around.
“I never thought about pronouns,” Bella admitted. “Then suddenly I had to pick one — just so journalists would know how to refer to me.”
Ramsey revealed they’ve never been rigid about being referred to as they/them, even now. “I get into a taxi and the taxi guy calls me ‘she’ — I get it,” they said.
Despite not feeling strongly about the pronouns themselves, the pressure of choosing publicly felt massive. “It was stressful… and I didn’t really know what I wanted.”
During season two of The Last of Us, the question came up again. Ramsey told crew to just “call me how you see me.”
“I’m very comfortable in who I am,” they told Theroux. “I know how important pronouns are for other people, but for me, not so much.”
Bella’s story throws a spotlight on a broader industry dilemma: how to honor non-binary talent in a binary system?
Buried mid-convo was this zinger: Bella never cared about the pronouns in the first place.
“I’ve never been strict about they/them,” they said. “I just don’t really care.”
Stream Bella’s full interview on Spotify now.
Some praised the honesty. Others weren’t sure what to make of the nonchalance.
In their own words, Ramsey doesn’t want to be the face of anything. “I didn’t want it to become a thing.”
For Bella, it’s about the work, not the labels. The rest is noise.
HBO’s hit is back with its second chapter — and Ramsey’s back in the spotlight whether they like it or not.
The Louis Theroux Podcast episode featuring Bella Ramsey is out now on all major podcast platforms.