'The Last Of Us' star Bella Ramsey reveals she was once rejected for not having the 'Hollywood look'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: After her outstanding performance in the HBO bit, ‘The Last of Us’, Bella Ramsey may be well-known globally, but landing opportunities wasn't always simple. The actor claimed they were once passed up for a role because she lacked the "Hollywood look."
In a clip that resurfaced on Twitter, Ramsey said, "I was told [in] one of my first auditions ever... The director really liked me but I didn’t get the part because I didn’t have the 'Hollywood look'. That’s something that I’ve always found very interesting."
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When young minds are at play
Hollywood has long held performers to ludicrous standards of beauty, but when it comes to children and teenagers, it's extremely offensive. Ramsey has previously been transparent about her early experiences working in the entertainment industry, admitting that she nearly turned down the role of Ellie in ‘The Last Of Us’ due to the discomfort that comes with not being a mainstream celebrity. Ramsey has also made public comments on how being a nonbinary person makes working in the industry much harder.
“This is what bothers me more than pronouns: being called a ‘young woman’ or a ‘powerful young woman’, ‘young lady,’ but I'm just not [that],” Ramsey told GQ in February. She added, “Catherine Called Birdy, I was in dresses. Young Elizabeth, I was in a corset. And I felt super powerful in that. Playing these more feminine characters is a chance to be something so opposite to myself, and it’s really fun."
Life as a non-binary celebrity
Ramsey is clearly carving out their own route in Hollywood, despite early obstacles like outmoded gender stereotypes and beauty standards. The 19-year-old actor is certain to become an even bigger star after the success of ‘The Last of Us’, which the creators confirmed will return for Season 2 with Ramsey in it. Despite the trolls, the actor stated that she is pleased with the work on the post-apocalyptic series. She said, "I'm just glad I could do that for them and for the show and for Ellie. I want to do her justice."
The gender flexible actor’s stardom has been steadily rising since she was cast in ‘Game of Thrones’ in 2016, but it was far from their first big achievement. The British actor was seen in ‘His her Materials’ and is also recognized for their performance in Lena Dunham's ‘Catherine Called Birdy’.
Further, they received a Critics Choice Awards nomination in the category of Best Young Performance. Ramsey went to the online school at King's Interhigh because they "didn't enjoy mainstream secondary school and wasn't happy." The eason they were admitted in 2021 was likewise related to their career.