Bella Ramsey Said They Were Denied Roles as a Child Because They Didn’t Have the “Hollywood Look”

Bella Ramsey is a household name for their striking portrayals of Ellie Williams in The Last of Us and Lady Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. But as a child actor, before landing their parts in two of HBO’s most successful series, Bella said they were denied roles because directors said they didn’t have the right “look.”

In a resurfaced interview clip posted by @sourkettle on Twitter, Bella opened up about the roles they were passed over because of their appearance. “I was told in one of my first auditions ever… I was told that I didn’t get the — the director really liked me but I didn’t get the part because I didn’t have the ‘Hollywood look,’” the 19-year-old actor shared. “And that’s something that I always find very interesting.”

Bella, who identifies as nonbinary, opened up in a recent interview with GQ about trolls who “taunted” them after their casting in The Last of Us. “You’re looking for a comment that’s more painful than the last one,” the actor said about the online vitriol. “I’d kid myself that I was doing it in jest.”

Bella’s performance as headstrong teen Ellie swiftly earned critical acclaim, and helped the horror-thriller series smash multiple streaming records for HBO. “I wish I could say that I was confident enough [already] that it hasn’t affected me in any way, but it has,” they shared with GQ. “I’m just glad I could do that for them. And for the show. And for Ellie. I want to do her justice.”

Based on the PlayStation video game of the same name, season one of The Last of Us explores queer storylines such as Ellie’s relationship with Storm Reid’s Riley in episode seven, and Bill and Frank’s relationship in episode three. With the second season greenlit by HBO, Bella has made it clear that she has no time for homophobic trolls.

“I know people will think what they want to think. But they’re gonna have to get used to it. If you don’t want to watch the show because it has gay storylines, because it has a trans character, that’s on you, and you’re missing out,” they told GQ. “It isn’t gonna make me afraid. I think that comes from a place of defiance.”

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