Bella Ramsey
Isabella May Ramsey (born 25 September 2003) is an English actor. They are known for their break-out role as young noblewoman Lyanna Mormont in the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones (2016–2019) and Ellie in the HBO drama series The Last of Us (2023–present). They received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for the latter.[1]
Bella Ramsey | |
---|---|
Born | Isabella May Ramsey 25 September 2003 Nottingham, England |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2016–present |
Website | Official website |
Ramsey also played Mildred Hubble in the 2017 CBBC series The Worst Witch,[2] and starred in the 2022 historical comedy film Catherine Called Birdy. The latter earned them a nomination for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer.
Early life and education
Isabella May Ramsey was born in Nottingham on 25 September 2003.[3][4][5] They underwent secondary education via the online school King's InterHigh.[6]
Ramsey started acting as a hobby at the age of four, through the Loughborough branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts, which they attended for seven years.[7][8][9] They then went to the Television Workshop and began auditioning for professional roles.[8][10][11][12]
Career
From 2016 to 2019, Ramsey portrayed Lyanna Mormont in the HBO fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones. The part is Ramsey's first credited role. After their debut appearance in "The Broken Man" (season 6, episode 7), fans and critics noted Ramsey was a standout actor for portraying their character's no-nonsense leadership style.[2][13] This reaction was repeated after their appearance in the season finale,[14] with The Hollywood Reporter calling them "season 6's breakout star".[15] Ramsey continued in the role for the series' seventh and eighth seasons.
Ramsey starred in the 2017 TV adaptation of The Worst Witch books, as the titular character Mildred Hubble,[2] for which they won the Young Performer award at the 2019 British Academy Children's Awards.[16] Ramsey announced on Instagram that they had left the series in 2020 in order to prioritise their mental health.[17] Their role was recast with Lydia Page for the fourth and final season.[18]
Since 2018, Ramsey has voiced the title character in the 2018 Netflix original series Hilda, for which they won the 2019 BAFTA award for best "Children's Animation" along with Luke Pearson, Kurt Mueller, and Stephanie Simpson. The series marked the debut of Ramsey's singing talent, with their debut song "The Life of Hilda" released on 25 November 2020,[19] and later on 14 December 2020 along with the release of the show's second season.[20] They reprised the role of Hilda in the 80-minute movie special, Hilda and the Mountain King, which premiered on 30 December 2021.
In February 2021, Ramsey was cast in the lead role of Ellie for the HBO adaptation of the 2013 video game The Last of Us alongside fellow Game of Thrones alumnus Pedro Pascal.[21] In 2021, they appeared in the lesbian horror short film Requiem alongside Safia Oakley-Green.[22] In July 2023, they became the first non-binary actor to be nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, for their portrayal in The Last of Us.[23] In September 2023, Ramsey was included on Time's 100 Next list; actor Emma D'Arcy praised their acting skills and activism.[24]
Personal life
Ramsey identifies as non-binary.[25][26] While originally indifferent to which pronouns were used for them,[27] Ramsey later stated that they/them pronouns are "the most truthful thing for me".[28] Regarding their sexuality, Ramsey said they are "not 100 per cent straight. I'm a little bit wavy".[28]
Ramsey is Christian and says that their faith helped in their struggle with anorexia nervosa. In 2020, they ran a YouTube channel and related Instagram account called United Hope where they shared their faith.[29][30][31]
Ramsey has been vegan for a number of years and is an outspoken advocate for veganism.[32]
Ramsey plays the guitar and sings.[33]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Elefthería | Ellie | Short film | [34] |
2018 | Two for Joy | Miranda | ||
Holmes & Watson | Flotsam | |||
2019 | Princess Emmy | Princess Gizana (voice) | ||
Judy | Lorna Luft | |||
Nancy | Nancy | Short film | [35] | |
Zero | Alice | Short film | [36] | |
On the Beaches | Kitty | Short film | ||
2020 | Turtle Journey | Daughter Turtle (voice) | Short film | [37][38] |
3 Minutes of Silence | Jane | Short film | [39] | |
Resistance | Elsbeth | |||
2021 | Requiem | Evelyn | Short film | [40][41] |
Villain | Georgia | Short film | ||
Hilda and the Mountain King | Hilda (voice) | |||
2022 | Catherine Called Birdy | Birdy | ||
2023 | Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget | Molly (voice) | In production | |
TBA | Monstrous Beauty | Barbara Field |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016–2019 | Game of Thrones | Lyanna Mormont | Recurring role (seasons 6–8) | [2] |
2016–2017 | Future-Worm! | Additional voices | 1 episode | [2] |
2017–2020 | The Worst Witch | Mildred Hubble | Main role (series 1–3) Guest appearance (series 4) |
[2][17] |
2018 | Requiem | Young Matilda | Episode: "The Blue Room" | [42] |
2018–present | Hilda | Hilda (voice) | Lead role; 26 episodes | [43] |
2020 | Shepherd's Delight | Girl in Park | Episode: "Self-Tape 48" | [44] |
His Dark Materials | Angelica | 6 episodes (season 2) | [45] | |
Summer Camp Island | Ramona (age 15) (voice) | Episode: "Ghost Baby Jabberwock" | ||
2022 | Becoming Elizabeth | Jane Grey | Main role | [46] |
2023–present | The Last of Us | Ellie | Main role | [21][47] |
2023 | Time | Kelsey | 3 episodes (season 2) |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Doctor Who Infinity | Freya (voice) | [48] |
Radio & podcasts
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Drama | Miss Edith | BBC Radio 4 episode: "Edith Sitwell in Scarborough" | [49] |
2022 | Impact Winter | Whisper | 6 episodes | [50] |
Discography
Year | Title | Album | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | "The Life of Hilda" | Hilda | "Chapter 7: The Beast of Cauldron Island" | [51][52] |
2022 | "Birdy Song" | Catherine Called Birdy | [53] |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | RTS North West Awards | Best Breakthrough Talent | The Worst Witch | Nominated | |
BAFTA | Best Young Performer | Nominated | [54] | ||
2019 | Won | [55] | |||
Children's Animation (shared with Luke Pearson, Stephanie Simpson, and Kurt Mueller) | Hilda | Won | |||
2020 | British Animation Awards | Best Voice Performance | Nominated | [56][57] | |
CinEuphoria Awards | Merit – Honorary Award (shared with the cast) | Game of Thrones | Won | [58] | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (shared with the cast) | Nominated | [59] | ||
2022 | British Animation Awards | Best Voice Performance | Hilda | Nominated | [60][61] |
Critics' Choice Awards | Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer | Catherine Called Birdy | Nominated | [62] | |
2023 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Breakthrough Performance | The Last of Us | Nominated | [63] |
Best Duo (shared with Pedro Pascal) | Won | ||||
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama Series | Pending | [64] | ||
2024 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Pending | [1] |
References
- "Emmys 2023: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- Hawkes, Rebecca (8 June 2016). "Game of Thrones: who is Lyanna Mormont, the 10 year-old taking the show by storm?". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 December 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- Ramsey, Bella [@BellaRamsey] (30 November 2018). "@FamousBirthdays 🤣thanks but it's not my birthday today!! It was in September!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021 – via Twitter.
- Conlan, Tara (25 December 2016). "Teenage actress Ramsey has magic touch as 'The Worst Witch'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- McNulty, Amybeth [@amybethmcnulty] (25 September 2023). "Happy birthday B, you're one of the great ones". Archived from the original on 25 September 2023 – via Instagram.
- "Pupil Stories – Bella Ramsey Actress". InterHigh School. 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- "Our very own Mildred Hubble". Stagecoach. 2017. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- "Interview with Bella Ramsey". Stagecoach. 11 December 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- "Stagecoach Performing Arts Northallerton – Posts". Stagecoach Theatre Arts. 29 June 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2019 – via Facebook.
Bella attended Stagecoach Loughborough for 7 years
- Conlan, Tara (25 July 2017). "Harry Potter for girls? I'm not that kind of Worst Witch, says TV's new Mildred Hubble". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- Manning, Lucy (16 June 2016). "3 Game of Thrones Actors from Nottingham". LeftLion. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- Robinson, Joanna (11 July 2017). "Game of Thrones Audition Secrets with Casting Director Nina Gold". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- Hibberd, James (6 June 2016). "'Game of Thrones': Your new favorite character is 10 years old". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- Delgado, Kasie (27 June 2016). "Game of Thrones just discovered an incredible new child actor". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- Wigler, Josh (27 June 2016). "'Game of Thrones': A Salute to Season 6's Breakout Star, Lyanna Mormont". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- "Children's Awards Winners 2019". BAFTA. 2 December 2019. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- Gillibr, Abigail (13 February 2020). "Game of Thrones' Bella Ramsey leaves The Worst Witch to prioritise mental health". Metro. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- "Bella Ramsey opens up about reason she left The Worst Witch". The Independent. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- The Life of Hilda by Bella Ramsey. Hilda. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- Hilda credits song 2x7 (Hilda song). Dozen Rahyz. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- Kit, Borys (10 February 2021). "'Last of Us': 'Game of Thrones' Breakout Bella Ramsey to Star as Ellie". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- Shatto, Rachel (13 March 2023). "Gay Twitter's Obsessed With Bella Ramsey's Witchy Queer Short Requiem". News.Yahoo. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- "Emmy nominations 2023: Succession, The Bear and The Last of Us lead". The Independent. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- D'Arcy, Emma (13 September 2023). "Bella Ramsey Is on the TIME100 Next 2023 List". Time. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- Greenwood, Douglas (11 January 2023). "In The Last of Us, Bella Ramsey Might Save the World". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- Lavietes, Matt (13 January 2023). "The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey says she's gender fluid". NBC News. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- Ruscinski, Maxwell (16 January 2023). "The Last of Us Star Bella Ramsey Clarifies Her Gender Identity". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- Saville, Alice (13 June 2023). ""'They' Pronouns Are The Most Truthful For Me": Bella Ramsey On Coming Out As Nonbinary – And The Queer Romance At The Heart Of The Last Of Us Season 2". British Vogue. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
- Nero, Peace (16 January 2023). "Bella Ramsey's Christian Faith in the Spotlight Ahead of HBO Adaptation of The Last Of Us". Urban Woman Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- "United Hope – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- "United Hope @_unitedhope_". Instagram. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- Foreman, Polly (27 January 2023). "'The Last Of Us' Star Bella Ramsey Is An Outspoken Advocate For Veganism". Plant Based News. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- "Bella Ramsey has released two songs for her film roles". PopBuzz. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- "A short film by Alexander Halford created for the purposes of university application starring; Bella Ramsey Emma Healy music by Luke Immins". twitter. 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- Nancy – Short Film 2019. Megan Parkinson. 14 March 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- Sci-Fi Short Film "ZERO" starring Bella Ramsey of Game Of Thrones | DUST Original. DUST. 11 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- "'Turtle Journey' shows us why we urgently need to protect the oceans". greenpeace.org. 17 January 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- Turtle Journey: the crisis in our oceans. Greenpeace UK. 14 January 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- Bella Ramsey: A troubled girl discovers an unlikely haven in a boxing gym. | 3 Minutes of Silence. Omeleto. 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- "Requiem". CIFF. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- "Game of Thrones star shooting new witch trial film Requiem at Bromsgrove's Avoncroft Museum". Bromsgrove Standard. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- Newell, C.H. (10 February 2018). "Requiem – episode 2: 'The blue room'". Father Son Holy Gore. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- Armstrong, Vanessa (10 February 2021). "The Last of Us: HBO series finds its Ellie in Bella Ramsey (aka Game of Thrones' Lady Mormont)". SYFY WIRE. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- "There's a New Mildred in Season 4 of 'The Worst Witch'". Distractify. October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- Yslyven (1 July 2020). "Game of Thrones Lyanna Mormont star Bella Ramsey cast in His Dark Materials Season 2". Redanian Intelligence. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- "'Becoming Elizabeth': Romola Garai, Jessica Raine, Tom Cullen, Bella Ramsey, More Join Alicia von Rittberg In Starz Series". Deadline. 12 May 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- Andreeva, Nellie (16 February 2022). "'The Last Of Us': HBO Chief Gives Premiere Date Update On Video Game Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- "Doctor Who Infinity launches on PC and Mac, new trailer released". GARY COLLINSON. 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- "Edith Sitwell in Scarborough". bbc. 17 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- Impact Winter. 19 March 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022 – via audible.com.
- "The Life of Hilda by Bella Ramsey". youtube. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- "The Life of Hilda by Bella Ramsey". youtube. 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- Acuna, Kirsten. "7 things you probably didn't know about 'The Last of Us' star Bella Ramsey". Insider. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
The actor wrote "Birdy Song" for Lena Dunham's Prime Video medieval comedy "Catherine Called Birdy."
- "Children's in 2018". bafta.org. Archived from the original on 21 November 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
- "Children's in 2019". bafta.org. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
- "Aardman dominates British Animation Awards noms". kidscreen.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- "CN & Aardman top British Animation Awards". kidscreen.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- "CinEuphoria Awards". imdb. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- "2020 SAG Awards nominations: See the full list of nominees from Joker to Parasite". ew. 17 June 2020. Archived from the original on 29 May 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- "British Animation Awards 2022 – Nominations". britishanimationawards.com. 10 February 2022. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- "Congratulations to all the BAA 2022 Winners and nominees!". britishanimationawards.com. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- "Film Nominations Announced for the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler". criticschoice.com. 14 December 2022. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- Rosenbloom, Alli (8 May 2023). "MTV Movie & TV Awards 2023: See who won". CNN. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- Anderson, Erik (11 July 2023). "'The Boys,' 'Yellowjackets,' 'Abbott Elementary' lead 2023 HCA TV Awards nominations". AwardsWatch. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.