Bella Ramsey: Career, Best Known Roles and What to Watch
Bella Ramsey has spent more than half their life in front of a camera. They began as a child in one of television's biggest fantasy dramas and are now a lead actor, an awards regular and, in 2026, a contestant on reality TV. This guide covers the career so far, the roles to know and where to start.
Early life and first steps into acting
Isabella May Ramsey was born in Nottingham on 25 September 2003 and grew up in Leicestershire. As a child they enjoyed art, music, writing and football, and performed with local amateur theatre groups.
At ten, Ramsey joined the Television Workshop in Nottingham. The training and audition support there led to their first professional job. Ramsey uses they/them pronouns, having spoken publicly about being non-binary in 2023.
Game of Thrones: Lyanna Mormont
Ramsey made their professional debut at 11 as Lyanna Mormont, the blunt young head of House Mormont, in Game of Thrones. The part appeared first in season six and returned in later seasons.
Lyanna had few scenes but made each one count. She became a fan favourite, and the role is still the first thing many viewers remember.
The Worst Witch and Hilda
While Game of Thrones was still running, Ramsey landed their first leading TV role. They played Mildred Hubble, the well-meaning, accident-prone trainee witch, in the CBBC adaptation of Jill Murphy's The Worst Witch. They led the first three series, and the performance won a British Academy Children's Award for Young Performer in 2019.
Ramsey also took up voice work, playing the title role in Netflix's animated series Hilda from 2018 to 2023. They returned for the television film Hilda and the Mountain King in 2021.
The Last of Us: the defining role
In HBO's The Last of Us, Ramsey plays Ellie, a teenager who is immune to a fungal pandemic. In season one, which aired in early 2023, she is escorted across a ruined United States by Pedro Pascal's Joel. Their partnership is the heart of the series.
Season two arrived in April 2025 and moved Ellie to the centre of the story. It divided some viewers, but Ramsey's performance was widely praised. Episode three, in which Ellie visits Joel's grave, drew particular attention.
Awards recognition
Ramsey has received Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for both seasons. They have also been nominated for Golden Globes and a British Academy Television Award for the role. Season three, based on the second half of the Part II game, is due on HBO in 2027, with Ramsey in the main cast.
Films and recent projects
Ramsey's best known film role is the lead in Catherine Called Birdy (2022), Lena Dunham's comedy about a spirited medieval girl resisting an arranged marriage. It earned them a Critics' Choice nomination for Best Young Performer.
Recent work has leaned towards smaller, character-led projects:
- Sunny Dancer (2026): Ramsey plays Ivy, a teenage cancer survivor at summer camp. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, and Ramsey has described the shoot as one of the happiest of their career.
- The Liberation (2026): a psychological drama in which they play Ella.
- The Sheep Detectives (2026): a mystery comedy in which they voice Zora.
- Maya: a six-part Channel 4 thriller, written by and co-starring Daisy Haggard, in which Ramsey plays Maya opposite Haggard's Anna. It was filmed in Scotland.
The Celebrity Traitors
In autumn 2026, Ramsey joined the second series of The Celebrity Traitors on BBC One. At 23, they were the youngest of the 21 contestants. They played as a Faithful and were murdered by the Traitors in episode four.
Ramsey said they had been playing versions of the game since they joined the Television Workshop. Their Last of Us co-star Pedro Pascal predicted they would do well in the castle.
What to watch first
Where you begin depends on what you like. These are the best entry points, in rough order of priority:
- The Last of Us, season one: the essential starting point, and the clearest showcase of Ramsey's range.
- Catherine Called Birdy: a lighter, funnier lead performance that shows a different side.
- Game of Thrones, season six onwards: a chance to see where it began, with Lyanna Mormont's best scenes.
- Hilda: gentle, imaginative animation that suits a family evening.
- The Worst Witch: a good choice for younger viewers.
- Sunny Dancer: for a smaller, more intimate independent film.
Where Ramsey's career goes next
Ramsey has moved from child actor to one of the most recognisable performers of their generation. They have done so by mixing big franchise roles with independent work and voice acting.
The next big marker is the third season of The Last of Us. Until then, their recent films and the Channel 4 thriller Maya show where their interests lie. Ramsey has also said they are open to a Marvel role, and has joked about playing Spider-Man.