House of the Dragon’s Emma D’Arcy wrote an excerpt for Bella Ramsey on being listed in 2023 TIME100 Next

HBO has been producing smashing hits since its debut. While the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon dominated the year 2022, The Last of Us kicked off the year 2023 on a high note. In real life, the two leads of the aforementioned series, Emma D’Arcy and Bella Ramsey, are good friends. Ramsey was recently listed in Time magazine’s 2023 TIME100 Next, and D’Arcy was chosen to write a few words for her.

Emma D’Arcy says Bella Ramsey is “Radically honest”

D’Arcy begins the excerpt on a high note, and writes, “When I think of Bella Ramsey, the phrase that comes to mind is radical honesty. Onscreen and off, their remarkable power is in an outright refusal of pretense or persona, choosing instead the riskier path: candor, generosity, and the bravery to be. The result is a formidable actor, and one of the most charming people you could meet.

Bella’s captivating screen presence has been undeniable from the start. Their first professional acting gig, seen by millions, was met with universal acclaim. Bella was only 11.”

Bella Ramsey created space for young non-binary actors

D’Arcy also credits Ramsey for creating a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community in the industry, “In the eight years since, they’ve become an inspiring figure in the LGBTQIA+ community, a radical force for change within film and TV, and were even nominated for an Emmy. Through it all, they maintained their grounded humility and exquisite, dry humor.

As a nonbinary person starting out as an actor, I feared there wasn’t space for me in the mainstream industry. Young trans and gender-nonconforming people coming into film and TV today will know that there is indeed space, in no small part because of Bella.”

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