Bella Ramsey appeared on the latest episode of “The Louis Theroux Podcast” and defended having gendered categories at awards shows. In recent years, ceremonies such as the Gotham Awards and Spirit Awards have done away with separate best actress and actor categories in favor of gender neutral lead and supporting ones. Ramsey, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, was nominated for lead actress in a drama series at the Emmys for the first season of HBO’s “The Last of Us.”
“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,” Ramsey said, adding that it’s important that “recognition for women in the industry is preserved.”
Ramsey tried to come up with a solution and thought about a category such as “best performance in a female character,” but they realized that would then create problems for actors playing non-binary character in films and TV shows. Even though Ramsey does not identify as female and says being labeled an “actress” does not feel quite right, they are comfortable being put in the actress category at the Emmys for “The Last of Us.” At least for now.
“I have a guttural, ‘That’s not quite right,’ instinct to [being called an actress],” Ramsey said. “But I just don’t take it too seriously… it doesn’t feel like an attack on my identity.”
Ramsey explained that she isn’t non-binary to be “trending” but because they “grew up more as a little boy than I did a little girl. t’s been very obvious since I was young. I always called myself a tomboy, but it wasn’t that I was a boyish girl, I was always like a bit of an in-between. Leaning most of the boys side.”
“To be honest, I grew up more as a little boy than I did a little girl,” they continued. “I always felt more masculine or more on that side of the spectrum. I guess at the moment I don’t feel like I have access to femininity.”
Ramsey currently appears on the second season of “The Last of Us,” for which they will once again be in contention for an Emmy nomination in the lead actress category. Listen to Ramsy’s full “The Louis Theroux Podcast” interview here.
