Bella Ramsey, the 21-year-old actor known for their role in "The Last of Us," has openly discussed their autism diagnosis. Ramsey, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, received the diagnosis while filming the debut season of the popular series. The revelation came after a crew member with an autistic daughter perceived that Ramsey might be autistic as well.
Ramsey described the autism diagnosis as "freeing," allowing them to feel more at ease discussing it publicly. They explained that sharing their condition enables them to "unmask immediately," providing a sense of relief and authenticity.
"It enables me to walk through the world with more grace towards myself about not being able to do the easy everyday tasks that everyone else seems to be able to do," said Bella Ramsey.
Having previously kept conversations about neurodivergence private, Ramsey now embraces openness regarding their autism. They believe there is no reason for it to remain undisclosed.
"There’s no reason for people not to know," Ramsey stated, reflecting on their decision to speak out.
As anticipation builds for the second season of "The Last of Us," Ramsey is set to reprise their role as Ellie. The new season will premiere on April 13 on HBO and promises to continue following Joel and Ellie as they settle in Jackson, Wyoming. The upcoming episodes will delve into themes of justice and closure, with an American Sign Language (ASL) version also being released.
"We are thrilled to expand our ASL program and debut our first HBO Original series in ASL with The Last of Us," said Naomi Waibel.
In addition to Ramsey, the sophomore season will feature performances by Kaitlyn Dever, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Wright, and Young Mazino. The inclusion of ASL aims to make the series accessible to a broader audience, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity.
