Featured Image Credit: Louis Theroux Podcast
Topics: Mental Health, Celebrity
Michael Slavin
Bella Ramsey, the star of The Last Of Us, has bravely spoken out in a new podcast about a condition that caused her to not leave the house for months.
Ramsey spoke about having emetophobia, a mental health condition in which they have a crippling fear of vomiting.
The actor, who also starred in Game of Thrones, spoke out on the debut episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast’s fifth season, speaking about their journey to discovering they are non-binary, their autism diagnosis, and emetophobia.
Speaking about the condition, Ramsey described how it is an ‘all-encompassing fear’ and it led to them being unable to leave their home.
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This occurred when they were 13, saying: “Everything was a threat. You go out and it's like you see germs, you see sickness everywhere. Terrifying.”
With Theroux asking them how long it had been a fear for, Ramsey said: “As long as I can remember. I remember in nursery there was a kid who threw up in the sand pit and a bit went onto my red crocs and I found it amusing.
“Every memory since then that I have of vomit, it is scary. I also remember every single time anyone in my life has ever felt, felt sick or been sick.”
They went on to add: “Even now, I can recall anytime any anyone's felt sick or been sick in my presence.
“But it's such an irrational fear, I was so aware of how irrational it was, and people with emetophobia often like describe the same thing.
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“Logically it's not something to be afraid of.”
Ramsey went on to say it was likely linked to their autism, saying: “Not all people who have autism or are on the autistic spectrum have emetophobia, but when I got that diagnosis, so much in my life made sense and so much of my experience growing up.
“It's helpful for me every day, having that understanding.”
The actor has stated that their diagnosis came after a crew member with an autistic child suggested Ramsey might be too.
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In an interview with British Vogue, they said: “I’ve always been watching and learning from people. Having to learn more manually how to socialize and interact with the people around me has helped me with acting.
“I have a call time, and I’m told what to wear, how to stand, where to stand and what to eat.”
Their acting in the newest season of The Last of Us has led to plaudits, despite early calls to recast the roll.
One tweet about their performance in season two said: “Still can’t believe there’s people out there saying that ‘Bella still looks 14’ and ‘Bella doesn’t look 19 to play part 2 Ellie’ when there’s such a HUGE difference between season 1 and season 2
“I mean, the mannerisms, too. Bella ramsey is phenomenal. That’s my Ellie!!”