"Non-Binary" Actress Bella Ramsey Said It's "Important" To Keep Gendered Awards Categories

�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.�