Bella Ramsey, a 19-year-old non-binary actor, has gained international recognition for their impressive performances in popular television series.
However, they needed help finding work before their big break due to their appearance. Bella recently shared in an interview that in one of their first auditions, they were told they didn’t have the “Hollywood look,” despite being liked by the director.
“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, And that’s something that I always find very interesting.”
Bella’s most recent role as Ellie in HBO’s adaptation of the post-apocalyptic video game The Last of Us was met with criticism from fans of the game who didn’t believe Bella resembled the video game version of Ellie enough.
Bella shared in a GQ interview that online harassment and toxic discourse affected them deeply. Sadly, this type of discrimination based on appearance is not uncommon in the industry, as fellow British actor Florence Pugh shared that she was asked to alter her weight and build for a television role when she was 19.
Despite these obstacles, Bella’s talent has blazed through, and they have become a beloved figure in the entertainment industry. Fans appreciate their captivating performances and their willingness to speak out about issues such as discrimination and harassment. As more actors like Bella and Florence share their experiences, the industry hopes to become more inclusive and accepting of all types of appearances.
