Bella Ramsey, who first stole the spotlight as the fearless Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones and now leads HBO’s The Last of Us as Ellie, has revealed that they were diagnosed with autism while filming the show’s first season.
In a recent interview with British Vogue, Ramsey shared that a crew member, who had an autistic daughter, suspected that they might be autistic as well. This observation led Ramsey to seek a professional assessment, which confirmed the diagnosis.
“I had always wondered,” Ramsey admitted, reflecting on their struggles in school and sensitivity to social cues. They explained that the diagnosis brought a sense of relief, saying, “It was freeing… It helps me be kinder to myself when I struggle with everyday tasks that seem easy for others.”
Interestingly, Ramsey believes that being autistic has helped them as an actor. “I’ve always been watching and learning from people,” they said. “Having to consciously study social interactions has actually made me better at acting.”
As for why they chose to share their diagnosis now, Ramsey simply stated, “There’s no reason for people not to know.”
Ramsey plays Ellie, the fierce young survivor in HBO’s The Last of Us. Their performance earned them a historic Emmy nomination as the first non-binary actor nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series.
Looking ahead to season two, Ramsey teased that Ellie’s relationship with Joel (Pedro Pascal) has changed. “They’re not best friends anymore,” they revealed. “She’s quite sad. But there are so many layers to their bond.”
The Last of Us is set to return for its highly anticipated second season, with fans eager to see what’s next for Ellie and Joel.