Bella Ramsey has opened up with a heartbreaking confession after coming out as non-binary.
The 21-year-old first stole hearts as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. Their fierce performance made the young star unforgettable.
Since then, Ramsey has skyrocketed to fame, especially after landing the role of Ellie in HBO’s The Last of Us.
The hit series cemented their reputation as one of TV’s brightest rising stars.
But behind the success, Ramsey admits their journey with gender identity hasn’t always been easy.
Looking Back On Coming Out
In a candid interview with The Observer, Ramsey reflected on publicly coming out in 2021.
At the time, they told The New York Times: “Being gendered isn’t something I particularly like.”
They explained they identified as genderfluid and preferred they/them pronouns.
Now, with some distance, Ramsey admits the decision wasn’t simple.
“Part of me looks back and I wish that I didn’t,” they confessed.
“I didn’t want it to become a headline and a big thing. Obviously it was going to.”
They admitted they didn’t fully understand the attention that would follow.
The Response
Ramsey said they were unprepared for the scale of the reaction.
Still, they’ve seen the positive side of representation.
“People have said to me that it’s been very helpful for them seeing some representation,” they shared.
That feedback has helped balance out the challenges.
“So it’s been a mixed bag,” they admitted. “But overall, I think it was a good thing.”
Living openly has brought them personal freedom.
They added: “Without feeling like I’m keeping a secret, I can live more freely.”
Their Pronouns
In a chat with Wired, Ramsey gave more clarity on pronouns.
“[My pronouns] are whatever you fancy, really,” they said.
“A lot of people call me they, some people call me she, and occasionally I get a he.”
“I’m pretty chill about it all for now. Maybe that’ll change, but for now…”
Speaking to Vogue, Ramsey acknowledged how fame complicated their journey.
“As much as I would try and keep it private, if someone recognizes me… it becomes talked about,” they said.
They also touched on the pressure to always provide answers.
“Part of the job of being an actor is that you’re supposed to have an answer to every question.”
“But actually the answer can be, ‘I don’t know and I’m not ready to talk about that.’”
Despite the challenges, Ramsey continues to inspire fans with honesty, resilience, and openness about their identity.
Featured image credit: GabboT / IndieWire News
