If you haven’t had an opportunity to check out HBO’s The Last of Us, now is a good time as ever. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey have paired up and are due west, and we’re finally seeing Bella open up as Ellie, the feisty and fearless secret to humanity’s survival.
Here are our favorite four Bella Ramsey roles ranked.
1. Bella Ramsey as “Ellie” in The Last of Us
While Bella Ramsey has only appeared in a few episodes of HBO’s The Last of Us thus far, she’s already demonstrated she is a force to be reckoned with. Ramsey’s Ellie, a scrappy, untrusting, and fearless teenager, has paired up with Pedro Pascal’s Joel on a trip west where, there’s an off chance she may be the cure to Cordyceps, a fungus that infects its host and takes control of its nervous system and brain.
Ellie is important because, while she has been exposed to the killer fungus, she appears resistant to the Cordyceps infection. But her journey is fraught with danger. Immune to the killer fungus, Ellie still has to survive trigger-happy military personnel and Fireflies that want to use her brain for research. Not to mention, anyone with a gun that finds out she could be sick.
And she’s in another tight spot, too. Joel, who failed to save his daughter and mentor Tess (from his perspective), has so far kept Ellie at arm’s length, likely due to his own fears; should he allow Ellie to be harmed, she would be the third person he’s failed to protect.
Bella Ramsey is perfect for this role. In just three episodes she’s been vulnerable, approachable, aggressive, snarky, opinionated, and ferocious. And by episode three we’ve begun to see her playful and mischievous side. There’s no question about who Ellie is at this point; she’s a fighter, which may be why she looks up to Joel.
We can’t wait to see how the dynamic between the pair unfolds down the road, and how Joel will deal with the responsibility of protecting another person after failing twice already.
The Last of Us, Credit HBO
2. Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones
Of course, what made Bella Ramsey a house name in America was her role in HBO’s Game of Thrones as Lyanna Mormont, a young noblewoman and leader of House Mormont. As Lyanna Mormont, Bella Ramsey commanded the respect of her bannermen and was the first to proclaim John Snow the King of the North. Fearless and confident, Lyanna was also the first warrior to die in the war against the Night King.
Lyanna Mormont could be considered Bella Ramsey’s best role because of her powerful performances despite her limited screen time. Her portrayal of Lyanna received widespread praise for its nuance and impact, solidifying her place as one of the standout characters of the series. But we feel like The Last of Us could push her status as a superstar in Hollywood over-the-top.
3. Mildred Hubble in The Worst Witch
After wrapping up her duties as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, Bella went on to play Mildred Hubble in The Worst Witch, which we’d consider her third-best role overall. Bella brought humor, heart, and an understandable quality to the character, making her a standout among the cast.
Her performance received positive reviews for its charm and energy, earning her recognition and praise from audiences; even winning a BAFTA for Best Young Performer.
4. Angelica in His Dark Materials
Bella didn’t enter the hit series His Dark Materials until season two, introducing Lyra Silvertongue and Will Parry to Cittàgazze. However, fans were pleased to see her bring that same assertiveness viewers loved in Game of Thrones to the role.
And while she only appeared in six episodes, her performance was praised for its energy and sincerity, contributing to the success of the series second season.
Final thoughts
We understand, it’s a bold move to put Bella’s performance in The Last of Us above her exceptional and ferocious portrayal of Lady Mormont with such a small sample size, but in just three episodes, Ramsey has already demonstrated a solid range; we can’t imagine what opportunities lay ahead for her as we have no doubt Bella has some killer moments to come in The Last of Us.
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