The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey on season 2, autism, and growing up on screen | BBC News

Key Concepts:

• Growing up in the public eye
• Character development across series
• Father-daughter relationship dynamics
• Autism diagnosis and awareness
• Acting process and instinctive approach
• Music and guitar playing in the show
• Preparation for the role without playing the game

Growing Up in the Public Eye:

• The speaker reflects on the unique experience of having their growth and development immortalized on screen, acknowledging both the pros and cons.
• They express gratitude for this experience.
• The speaker mentions being known from various projects, including CBBC, and now being considered one of the biggest stars in the world.

Character Development Across Series:

• The speaker discusses returning to a character (Ellie) in a second series, noting the new revelations about the character and themselves.
• They describe a merging of themselves and the character, amplified by the amount of time spent embodying the role.
• The speaker highlights the evolving understanding of the world that comes with growing up, while also acknowledging the increasing complexity of understanding.

Father-Daughter Relationship Dynamics:

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of Ellie's relationship with Joel as a father figure.
• They note the relatability of this dynamic, particularly the tension between a teenager's desire for independence and the father figure's role.
• The speaker describes the experience of playing the tension in the relationship as "quite horrible."

Autism Diagnosis and Awareness:

• The speaker discusses their autism diagnosis and the importance of talking about it.
• They initially identified as neurodiverse before explicitly stating their autism.
• The speaker expresses pride in openly discussing their autism and aims to reduce the stigma and fear surrounding it.
• They emphasize that autism is a spectrum and that autistic individuals can present in diverse ways.
• The speaker shares experiences of disbelief from others upon disclosing their autism.

Acting Process and Instinctive Approach:

• The speaker states that their autism diagnosis hasn't changed their approach to acting.
• They describe their process as instinctive, involving observation and absorption.
• For the role of Ellie, they watched gameplay footage and absorbed the character.
• The speaker connects their "insane perception levels," identified during their autism diagnosis, to their ability to pick up on nuances in others' personalities, which aids in acting.

Music and Guitar Playing in the Show:

• The speaker confirms that their musical abilities, particularly guitar playing, will be featured in the show.
• A teaser of this is included in the trailer.
• They were aware of the guitar playing aspect from the game and were excited to incorporate it into the show.
• The speaker subtly indicated their guitar skills during their initial Zoom audition by having a guitar visible in the background.

Preparation for the Role Without Playing the Game:

• The speaker confirms that they did not play the game to prepare for the role.
• They express a desire to play the game in the future, acknowledging their current lack of gaming skills.
• They plan to play with an "adept gamer" to assist them.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The interview provides insights into the speaker's experiences growing up in the public eye, their approach to acting, and their advocacy for autism awareness. They emphasize the importance of representation and reducing stigma, while also highlighting the personal and professional growth they've experienced. The speaker's unique perspective, shaped by their personal experiences and instinctive acting style, contributes to their portrayal of complex characters and their engagement with important social issues.