I wish I had been a more rebellious teenager, says Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey, a British actor known for her role in Game of Thrones, has reflected on her teenage years, noting that she never experienced the typical rebellious phase associated with adolescence. Ramsey, who uses they/them pronouns, consciously decided not to act like a stereotypical teenager after receiving criticism from adults.

They mentioned, "I was like, I'm not going to be that." When given the opportunity to play a young cancer survivor in the film Sunny Dancer, Ramsey saw it as a chance to truly embrace teenage freedom. Ramsey expressed, "I got to be a teenager aged 21, which was brilliant, and it was really nice - and liberating." Looking back, Ramsey regrets not seizing more opportunities to be rebellious during their actual teenage years.

In their role as Ivy, a young female cancer survivor, Ramsey played alongside other younger actors who shared their own experiences of teenage life. The film's writer and director, George Jaques, drew inspiration from his own family's cancer journey and the experiences of other young cancer survivors. Jaques collaborated with the Teenage Cancer Trust to ensure the film accurately represented their struggles.

Despite the emotional toll of making the film, Jaques believes it is crucial to allow people to grieve without expecting them to quickly return to normal. Ramsey advises young people to not try to fit in, as there are people who will naturally gravitate towards them. Both Ramsey and Jaques emphasize the need to break free from societal expectations and embrace authenticity.