'The Last of Us' star Bella Ramsey discusses being rejected for not having the 'Hollywood look'

Bella Ramsey has reached a new level of success with "The Last of Us," the HBO original that was released earlier this year. The 19-year-old is also known for her breakout role as Lyanna Mormont in the fantasy series "Game of Thrones" at the age of 13.

Ramsey, who identifies as a non-binary person, won hearts with her outstanding performance in all ten episodes of the post-apocalyptic thriller and received widespread acclaim. They played Ellie, a fan favorite, alongside Pedro Pascal, who portrayed the character of Joel. However, the actor's career dates all the way back to 2007, when she joined their local stage school at the age of four, reports BuzzFeed News.

Unfortunately, it appears that even the most talented and promising stars are not exempt from the challenges and discrimination that actors encounter in the entertainment industry. Many filmmakers, directors, casting directors, producers and others involved in the industry set unrealistic expectations for actors and make them feel not good enough for any role. Ramsey, who uses any pronouns, disclosed that they were also once denied a role because the director believed they didn't possess the appropriate "look."

In a video clip of an interview first posted by Twitter user @sourkettle, which gained popularity over the weekend, Ramsey recounted how he was rejected from one of his earliest auditions due to his appearance.

He explained that the director actually appreciated his acting abilities. They added in the interview while making air quotes with their hands, "I was told [in] one of my first auditions ever... The director really liked me but I didn't get the part because I didn't have the 'Hollywood look.' That's something that I've always found very interesting."

The video quickly gained traction on Twitter, leading fans to engage in discussions regarding the unjust demands placed on young performers to conform to an impractical and outdated standard of beauty. Twitter user @techfriction wrote, "She showed them, didn't she? She was one of my favorite characters on GoT." @goetterdmmerung commented, "Damn as a kid I also always wanted to be an actress but then one day I realized that they wouldn't consider me pretty enough to be an actress :(."

User @AlexCinemaFan noted, "They are beautiful! How can they say that?! As of now, they're one of the most popular actors due to the success of TLOU."

Many expressed their frustration with the fact that many good actors are constantly rejected just because they never fit into the beauty standards of the industry. Twitter user @sashannarcier said, "It's so sad that this is a defining factor rather than casting who most faithfully represents the character."

Despite the challenges that Ramsey has faced, their talent and hard work have allowed them to achieve success and gain a loyal following of fans. Their performance in "The Last of Us" has received widespread acclaim, and they have become one of the most popular actors in the industry. Ramsey's story of success serves as a reminder that talent and hard work should be the most important factors in casting decisions, not appearance. Fans are excited to see the second season of the series and what Ramsey has in store next.