Bella Ramsey opens up about why choosing their pronouns was 'stressful'

Bella Ramsey has explained why choosing their pronouns was a stressful process.

Opening up to Louis Theroux in season five of The Louis Theroux Podcast, Ramsey - who is non-binary - explained why they decided to change their pronouns following season one of The Last of Us. The post-apocalyptic HBO series - which also stars Pedro Pascal - recently released its second season.

"I never thought about pronouns really until season one of The Last of Us was coming out. Suddenly I had to choose what pronoun I wanted people to write about me with," said Bella.

"I was so stressed out about it because I didn't know, and I didn't really care. But I found the whole thing quite stressful still. There was a thing on Last of Us this season, it was a question again of, on set what should people refer to me by? And I just said, my thing at the moment is call me how you see me.

"I'm so aware that I get into a taxi and the taxi guy's gonna call me 'she'. It's just a natural thing that happens in your brain... which I completely get.

"I've never been strict about 'they/them', because I think I just don't really care. Also, I'm very comfortable in who I am. I know how important it is for other people, but for me it's not as important right now."

Louis also spoke about Bella having been nominated for an Emmy award 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."

The Louis Theroux Podcast is available on Spotify and all podcast platforms.