Bella Ramsey has provided her take on the 'interesting conversation' around gendered awards after admitting to having some regrets about coming out as non-binary publicly.
Ramsey announced they were non-binary during the promotion for The Last of Us back in January 2023 when they were just 19 years old.
Ahead of the release of The Last of Us season two, Ramsey was asked to sum up how they feel about coming out as gender-fluid in the manner that they did.
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"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 explained.
"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."
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In recent years, awards shows such as the Grammys, the Film Independent Spirit Awards, and the Gotham Awards have opted to introduce gender neutral categories in an effort to be inclusive to all identities.
And while the move marks major strides when it comes to inclusivity, Ramsey has urged event organisers to keep gendered awards for best actor and best actress as 'it's important that we have a female and male category'.
Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Ramsey explained it's important because it's vital 'recognition for women in the industry is preserved'.
"The gendered categories conversation is really interesting. I don’t have the answer, and I wish that there was an easy way around it, but I think that it is really important that we have a female category and a male category," Ramsey continued.
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"But then, where do non-binary or gender non-conforming people fit into that? I don’t know."
Both the BAFTAs and the Emmys have nominated Ramsey for best actress in recent years - a move that has been criticised by some.
"I’ve always called myself an actor, but I don’t think that those words have to be taken away," Ramsey added.
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"If people call me an actress, I have a ‘that’s not quite right’ instinct, but I don’t take it too seriously. It doesn’t feel like an attack on my identity. It’s just a funny thing that doesn’t really fit."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT national hotline at 888-843-4564, available Monday to Friday 4pm-12am ET and 12pm-5pm ET on Saturdays.
Topics: Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us, LGBTQ, Film and TV
Callum Jones