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Bella Ramsey learned she had autism while filming the first season of HBO‘s The Last of Us. In an interview with British Vogue, the actress shared that a crewmember with an autistic daughter prompted her to get a psychiatric evaluation.
“I’ve spoken a bit about neurodivergence before, but I always for some reason didn’t want to say what it was,” she told the publication. “I got diagnosed with autism when I was filming season one ofThe Last of Us.”
The actress described the diagnosis as “freeing,” adding that it “enables me to walk through the world with more grace towards myself about not being able to do the easy everyday tasks that everyone else seems to be able to do.”
Ramsey said she had “always wondered” if she had autism since she often felt like a “weirdo” at school earlier in her life. She had sensory issues common with autistic people and also hyperawareness on body language.
“I’ve always been watching and learning from people. Having to learn more manually how to socialize and interact with the people around me has helped me with acting,” she said, adding that having a routine on set helps her: “I have a call time, and I’m told what to wear, how to stand, where to stand and what to eat.”
The new interview comes several weeks before she’s set to return as the character Ellie Williams in the second season of The Last of Us with Pedro Pascal, which is set to air on April 13.
