Bella Ramsey is a British actor born in September 2003 who gained international recognition portraying Lyanna Mormont in HBO’s Game of Thrones beginning in 2016. The non-binary performer, who uses they/them pronouns, has starred in various productions including CBBC’s The Worst Witch, Netflix’s animated series Hilda, and most prominently HBO’s The Last of Us as Ellie Williams, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Their advocacy work encompasses LGBTQ+ representation and environmental causes through organizational partnerships.
A versatile performer who has captivated audiences across multiple genres and platforms, Isabella May Ramsey, known professionally as Bella Ramsey, represents a new generation of actors challenging traditional boundaries in entertainment while advocating for greater inclusivity within the industry.
Born in September 2003 in Nottingham, England, Ramsey began their acting journey at age four through Stagecoach Theatre Arts in Loughborough, where they trained for seven years before advancing to the Television Workshop. Their secondary education occurred through King’s InterHigh, an online school that accommodated their emerging professional career, which began during their time at the Television Workshop when they started auditioning for professional roles.
Ramsey’s breakthrough came in 2016 with their portrayal of Lyanna Mormont in HBO’s *Game of Thrones* Season 6, a role that became a fan favorite and continued through Season 8 in 2019. What was originally written as a single scene for Lyanna Mormont was expanded due to Ramsey’s compelling performance. Despite their young age, Ramsey demonstrated commanding screen presence and developed a reputation for playing strong, authoritative characters that would define their subsequent career trajectory.
Following their *Game of Thrones* success, Ramsey expanded their portfolio with the lead role of Mildred Hubble in CBBC’s *The Worst Witch* from 2017 to 2020, which earned them a British Academy Children’s Award for Young Performer.
Concurrently, they provided the voice for the title character in Netflix’s animated series *Hilda* from 2018 to 2023, showcasing their versatility across live-action and animated mediums.
Additional film credits include supporting roles in *Holmes & Watson* (2018), *Judy* (2019) alongside Renée Zellweger, and *Resistance* (2020). In 2022, Ramsey starred in Lena Dunham’s *Catherine Called Birdy*, earning a Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination for Best Young Performer.
Ramsey achieved career-defining recognition with their portrayal of Ellie Williams in HBO’s *The Last of Us*, which premiered in 2023. This performance earned them both Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, making them the second non-binary actor to receive an Emmy nomination and the fourth-youngest nominee for Lead Drama Actress.
Identifying as non-binary and using they/them pronouns, Ramsey serves as a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in media. They have publicly expressed discomfort with gendered award categories and hope for more inclusive recognition systems for non-binary talent. Ramsey was diagnosed as autistic at age eighteen, which has influenced both their career choices and performances.
Beyond acting, Ramsey maintains ambassador roles with Greenpeace and Young Minds while serving as patron of Bamboozle Theatre Company. Their advocacy extends to environmental and mental health causes, utilizing their platform to promote inclusivity and support youth initiatives through social media engagement.
