'The Last Of Us' Star Bella Ramsey Reveals Regret About Coming Out As Non-Binary: 'It's Been A Mixed Bag'

In a candid interview, Bella Ramsey reflected on coming out as non-binary, expressing mixed feelings about the public response.

The actor also recently emphasized a desire for privacy while navigating gender identity and revealed being diagnosed with autism during "The Last of Us" filming, calling it "freeing."

While the autism label offered clarity,  Bella Ramsey said gender and sexuality labels feel confining.

During a chat with The Observer, Ramsey reflected on the impact of publicly coming out as non-binary, admitting they feel conflicted about the decision.

Ramsey, now 21, first shared their genderfluid identity in 2023 and noted that they prefer using they/them pronouns, adding that being gendered doesn't sit comfortably with them.

However, the "The Last of Us" star shared that while they value living authentically, the aftermath of coming out as non-binary was more intense than expected.

"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 admitted. "Obviously, it was going to, and I didn't really understand that at the time. And I wasn't really prepared for that."

Despite the unexpected spotlight, the "Game of Thrones" actor acknowledged that the visibility has had a positive side.

"People have said to me that it's been very helpful for them seeing some representation," they said. "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."

Ramsey also shared more insights into their experience navigating gender identity in the public eye, stating that while they are open to discussing their journey, they don't want it to "be the focus," and would prefer everyone to be "chill" about it.

Known for their breakout role as Lyanna Mormont on "Game of Thrones," Ramsey previously told The New York Times that being referred to as "he" once sparked a sense of excitement.

"I guess my gender has always been very fluid," they shared, per the Daily Mail. "Someone would call me she or her and I wouldn't think about it, but I knew that if someone called me he it was a bit exciting."

When asked about how they identify on forms, Ramsey said they typically select "non-binary," but ultimately view themselves as "just a person."

"Being gendered isn't something that I particularly like, but in terms of pronouns, I really couldn't care less," they explained.

In a candid moment with Vogue Magazine last month, Ramsey reflected on the difficulty of navigating self-discovery without the privacy most people have.

"Part of the job of being an actor is that you're supposed to have an answer to every question that people ask you. But actually, the answer can be: 'I don't know and I'm not ready to talk about that,'" they said.

Ramsey noted: "If I did want to explore other things, like facets of my gender identity, that would be done publicly."

They acknowledged the challenges of exploring gender identity under public scrutiny, adding: "As much as I would try and keep it private, if someone recognises me on the street, say if I'm presenting differently, [and] takes a photo, then that is just talked about."

Elsewhere in the chat, Ramsey opened up about a personal revelation that came during the filming of the first season of "The Last of Us": their official autism diagnosis.

Although they've spoken publicly about being neurodivergent before, Ramsey shared that they hadn't felt ready to disclose the formal diagnosis until now.

The Emmy-nominated actor said the diagnosis came sometime between June 2021 and July 2022 while working on season one of "The Last of Us."

"I got diagnosed with autism when I was filming season one of The Last of Us," they revealed.

For Ramsey, receiving the diagnosis brought a sense of clarity as it felt "Freeing."

"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," the actor told Vogue.

They described the label of being autistic as something that has provided understanding and comfort.

"The label of being autistic has been so helpful to me because that's helped me to understand myself, but gender and sexuality-wise, labels do not feel comfy for me in any capacity, because I feel like I'm putting myself into a box. I feel trapped," Ramsey explained.