Bella Ramsey has shared why the process of choosing their pronouns was a stressful experience.
In a candid conversation with Louis Theroux on season five of The Louis Theroux Podcast, Ramsey — who is non-binary — reflected on the moment they decided to change their pronouns following the first season of The Last of Us. The HBO post-apocalyptic drama, which also stars Pedro Pascal, recently premiered its second season.
“I never really thought about pronouns until the first season of The Last of Us was coming out,” Ramsey explained. “Suddenly I had to decide what pronouns I wanted people to use when writing about me.”
“It was really stressful,” they continued. “I didn’t know, and honestly, I didn’t really care. But somehow it was still quite overwhelming.”
Ramsey went on to describe a similar dilemma during the second season of filming. “There was a moment on set where the question came up again—what should people call me? And I just said, ‘Call me how you see me.’”
They added, “I’m very aware that if I get into a taxi, the driver’s probably going to call me ‘she.’ It’s just how the brain works, and I totally get that.”
“I’ve never been strict about ‘they/them’ because, for me, it’s not something I feel strongly about. I’m very comfortable in who I am. I know pronouns are hugely important for some people, but right now, they’re just not for me.”
During the conversation, Theroux also mentioned Ramsey’s Emmy nomination in the female category for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.
Bella said choosing their pronouns was ‘stressful’ (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
At the time, the Emmy Awards were criticised, with some fans saying they were disappointed over the decision.
“There was a little bit of a fuss when you were nominated in the female category for acting, was it the Emmy? Some people took that as insulting to you,” said Louis.
Bella explained they didn’t find it insulting, adding that that they felt it was important for recognition for women in the industry to be protected.
“I think it’s so important that that’s preserved as well, recognition for women in the industry is preserved. I think the gendered categories conversation is a really interesting one and I don’t have the answer and I wish that there was something that was an easy way around it, but I think that it is really important that we have a female category and a male category,” they said.
“But then where do non-binary or gender non-conforming people fit into that? I don’t know. I’ve thought about, I’ve literally sat and tried to think my way to the answer and haven’t got there.”
Bella Ramsey plays Ellie in The Last of Us (HBO)
19 years old at the time, Bella announced that they were non-binary during the promotion for the The Last of Us back in January 2023.
Bella has since explained how they didn’t want it to ‘become a headline’.
“Part of me looks back and I wish that I didn’t, because I didn’t want it to become a headline and a big thing,” they told the Guardian.
“And obviously it was going to, and I didn’t really understand that at the time. And I wasn’t really prepared for that. But on the other hand, people have said to me that it’s been very helpful for them seeing some representation.
“So it’s been a mixed bag, but overall, I think it was a good thing, just for me living more freely, without feeling like I’m keeping a secret.”
