Bella Ramsey, known for their roles in The Last of Us and Game of Thrones, has emerged as a standout in the second series of Celebrity Traitors on BBC One. The 23-year-old performer, who has received BAFTA, Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy nominations for their portrayal of Ellie in The Last of Us, has opened up about the challenges of growing up in the spotlight.
A career from childhood
Ramsey, who appeared on the Time 100 Next list of emerging talent in 2023, began their acting career with roles including Mildred Hubble in The Worst Witch. They later headlined the period comedy film Catherine Called Birdy and portrayed Ivy in the coming-of-age film Sunny Dancer.
Born in Nottingham but raised in Leicestershire, Ramsey transitioned to online schooling at the age of 12. They previously told the Standard they left school after feeling like "everyone was put in a box".
Reflections on fame
"There was no room for personalisation," they added. "In acting, I like it because every take, I try to make it a little bit different. I wasn't popular in Year 7 at all. I just didn't care about social expectations or anything. I was just myself. I was hoping that it could just carry on and I was wanting it to just not affect anything at school but it really did in terms of both education and friendships."
Speaking to LeftLion, the performer reflected on returning home after extensive work-related travel. "I was born in Nottingham and I live in Leicestershire, and I think coming home is a mixed bag," they admitted. "It's a relief, in a way, because it's familiar. But in another way, I feel more anonymous in the big cities, because there are so many people and nobody cares about you.
"When I'm back home, I definitely lose that a little bit. You have to get used to being in a cafe eating soup and having someone come up to you and go, 'Oh my gosh, you're Bella!' But it can be really nice to have those interactions, and I love getting back to my family - and also my football team."
Hating being patronised
In 2023, Ramsey discussed the challenges they encountered as a child performer in Hollywood. They told The Independent that they "didn't like the separation" they noticed between kids and adult performers.
"The thing I hated the most was being patronised. I didn't like the fact that I could only be on set for a certain amount of time, and had to go and do tutoring," they explained. "I get why the hours protections for child actors are phenomenally important - but I hated feeling like I was lesser or separate from the adult cast."
Celebrity Traitors returns to BBC One tonight at 8pm.
