Bella Ramsey’s new role is completely different to the character of Ellie that they played on HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation earlier in 2023.

Despite finding huge levels of success and popularity after starring in The Last Of Us, Bella Ramsey’s new TV role borrows nothing from the Ellie character. The actor had their breakthrough appearance in early 2023 in HBO’s adaptation of the popular video game, which tells the story of two friends brought together by chance during a zombie apocalypse with the hope of finding a cure that could heal the world. Though The Last of Us season 1 was filled with bright spots, Ramsey’s part in it was considered to be a huge factor in what made it so popular.

The show was incredibly popular upon its release earlier in 2023, with both lead actors receiving huge amounts of acclaim for their intense and emotional performances. It was Ramsey’s first mainstream project outside of her supporting role in Game of Thrones, with the actor even receiving a nomination at the Primetime Emmy Awards alongside her co-star Pedro Pascal. But while the praise that their character in The Last of Us brought Ramsey might imply that similar roles are ahead, their next project is something completely different, so much that it may take fans by surprise.

Bella Ramsey’s Time Character Is Very Different To The Last Of Us’ Ellie

Time is a British drama anthology that first aired in 2021 with Sean Bean and Stephen Graham as the stars. Season 2 brings in Bella Ramsey in the lead role of Kelsey, a pregnant woman with drug problems about to begin a repeat sentence in a female prison. Just the premise of the character alone is enough to demonstrate that Kelsey is fundamentally different from Ellie, a mostly naive and innocent character forced into a brutal situation. However, this drastic change is actually a great move for the actor’s career.

Ramsey is always open to risky career moves, and moving straight from an internationally successful drama like The Last of Us to something much smaller in scale and audience is certainly in line with that approach. What’s more, taking on such a different character, Ramsey is proving their versatility as an actor and preventing themselves from getting stuck in any particular formula. Like Ellie, Kelsey is an incredibly complex and fascinating character who really gives Ramsey plenty of material to work with and emotional scenes to take advantage of.

Time Is A Big Shift For Ramsey After Their Last Of Us Success

Another huge difference between The Last of Us and Time is the scale of their audiences – while Time is fairly popular in the UK and features some hugely beloved actors, the show hasn’t reached international audiences in the same way that The Last of Us did. The transition might initially seem like Ramsey is stepping backward in their career, but in reality, they’re simply proving their abilities in a variety of different genres and styles. Time’s Kelsey allows Ramsey to find a much darker and grittier place than The Last of Us’ Ellie, which audiences might be pleasantly surprised to see.