“The Last of Us” actress Bella Ramsey, who identifies as “non-binary” and prefers they/them pronouns, said she’s not in favor of doing away with gendered categories for awards shows.
The 21-year-old British star made the comments during a recent episode of “The Louis Theroux Podcast.”
“I don’t have the answer and I wish that there was something that was an easy way around it, but I think that it is really important that we have a female category and a male category,” Ramsey said, per Variety. She also noted that it’s vital that “recognition for women in the industry is preserved.”
The actress came up with the idea that there could be a category for “best performance in a female character,” but then noted it would exclude some people from being selected. “But then, where do non-binary or gender non-conforming people fit into that? I don’t know,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey also told Theroux that though she feels unsettled being categorized as an “actress,” she is fine with being nominated for an Emmy in the Best Actress category for “The Last of Us.”
“I have a guttural, ‘That’s not quite right,’ instinct to [being called an actress],” Ramsey said during the interview “But I just don’t take it too seriously … it doesn’t feel like an attack on my identity.”
She said, “It’s been very obvious since I was young. I always called myself a tomboy, but it wasn’t that I was a boyish girl, I was always like a bit of an in-between. Leaning to most of the boys side.”
“To be honest, I grew up more as a little boy than I did a little girl,” Ramsey said. “I always felt more masculine or more on that side of the spectrum. I guess at the moment I don’t feel like I have access to femininity.”
Some ceremonies, such as the MTV Awards, Gotham Awards, Spirit Awards, and Brit Awards, have switched to gender-neutral prizes in recent years as the conversation around gender identity hit a fever pitch.
Even the Oscars could eventually change to non-gendered categories. “We are exploring this topic with our awards, membership, equity, and inclusion committees and soon with our Board of Governors,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer said last year.
“It’s in the early exploration stage and one of many conversations about the future of awards and the Oscars. We are still investigating how it could look,” he added.
Some stars who support non-gendered categories include actress Elliot Page, formerly Ellen Page, and “The Crown” star Emma Corrin, who also identifies as non-binary. Corrin said in 2022, “I don’t think the categories are inclusive enough at the moment. It’s about everyone being able to feel acknowledged and represented.”
