I Wish I Had Been a More Rebellious Teenager, Says Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey, the 22-year-old actor best known for their role as Lyanna Mormont in "Game of Thrones," has reflected on their teenage years, expressing a desire to have embraced a more rebellious phase. Ramsey, who uses they/them pronouns, began their acting career at age 11 and spent much of their adolescence working alongside adults. This early immersion in the professional world, they explained, meant they consciously avoided the "moody, rebellious phase" often associated with teenagers.

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I got to be a teenager aged 21, which was brilliant. It was really nice - and liberating.

"I was like, I'm not going to be that," Ramsey told BBC News, recalling their decision to act against the stereotype. However, the opportunity to star in "Sunny Dancer," a film centered around a summer camp for young people affected by cancer, provided a unique chance to experience teenage freedom. Ramsey described the seven weeks on set as "brilliant" and "liberating," allowing them to finally engage with the experiences they felt they had missed.

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I kind of wish that I had made the most of being a teenager and getting away with things and being a bit rebellious.

Looking back, Ramsey wonders if their sensible approach to adolescence meant they overlooked valuable experiences. "I kind of wish that I had made the most of being a teenager and getting away with things and being a bit rebellious," they admitted. In "Sunny Dancer," Ramsey portrays Ivy, a cancer survivor in remission who finds friendship and personal growth during a transformative summer at a "chemo camp."

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I never seem to write in the moment I'm going through it. You have to sort of get through and understand it and have that reflection of it.

The film itself holds deep personal significance for writer and director George Jaques. His mother's cancer diagnosis when he was 15 inspired the script, though he waited eight years to channel those experiences into writing. Jaques emphasized that while the film isn't a direct retelling of his family's story, it incorporates elements of his own journey. He collaborated with the Teenage Cancer Trust, gathering insights from young survivors and parents who had lost children, ensuring the film's authenticity and respecting the experiences of those affected by cancer.

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don't call us kids, do not say we're brave.