The Last of UsSeason 2 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated pieces of television in recent memory. The latest teaser broke records on HBO’s YouTube channel, quickly becomingthe most-viewed trailerin that time period with 158 million views. Following the intense Season 1 finale, the next installment ofThe Last of Uswill further delve into the complicated relationship between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), who have been a driving force for the series' success. Now, a new interview with Bella Ramsey has explored the actor’s autism diagnosis and the impact it has had on their life.
In an interview with British Vogue, Ramsey discussed how they found out about their neurodivergence during the production of the first season ofThe Last of Us. The lengthy production lasted a year, with the cast and crew shooting in Alberta from July 2021 to June 2022. Ramsey would tell Vogue:
“I’ve spoken a bit about neurodivergence before, but I always for some reason didn’t want to…I felt like I didn’t want to say what it was…Shoot. I got diagnosed with autism when I was filming season one ofThe Last of Us.”
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“I was like, ‘Oh, this is so much more sophisticated and moving.’ It was moving.”
The British Vogue piece also details how Ramsey had “always wondered” about whether they had autism. It was only when a crew member assumed that Ramsey had autism that it compelled the actor to meet with a professional and get an official diagnosis. As it turns out, this revelation would help them understand themselves better and, in turn, their craft.
Bella Ramsey Sees Their Diagnosis as a Benefit to Their Craft
Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie Williams in the first season ofThe Last of Uswould receive critical acclaim, with the actor portraying a unique mixture of vulnerability and strength. Ramsey’s ability to keep up with more seasoned actors likePedro Pascalalso speaks to their talents, especially as the chemistry between those two made the series so incredibly successful. As it turns out, Ramsey believes that their autism is what has helped them hone their craft:
“I’ve always been watching and learning from people. Having to learn more manually how to socialize and interact with the people around me has helped me with acting. I have a call time, and I’m told what to wear, how to stand, where to stand, and what to eat. [The diagnosis is] 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.”
Overall, Ramsey’s outlook on their life and craft is inspiring and will hopefully bring a new drive to young and new-coming actors with different forms of neurodivergence. Representation in the media is always important, and knowing that a lead actor in one of the most popular HBO series sees their autism as a way to improve their craft and provide more meaningful performances is undoubtedly a win.
Source:British Vogue
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