Bella Ramsey Makes Emmy History as First Openly Non-Binary Actor With Multiple Nominations

Bella Ramsey just scored their second Emmy nomination — and it’s a big deal. Known for playing Ellie in HBO’s The Last of Us, Ramsey has been nominated again for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the upcoming 77th Emmy Awards, happening on September 14, 2025. This makes them the first openly non-binary actor to receive multiple acting nominations at the Emmys, marking a major moment for LGBTQ+ representation in Hollywood.

Affiliate link

The Last of Us: The Complete First Season [4K UHD]

Available at Amazon

$19.99From $18.58

Season two dives even deeper into Ellie’s world, following her as she deals with loss, survival, and falling for Dina, played by Madame Web star Isabela Merced. Fans and critics alike praised Ramsey’s performance — no surprise it helped The Last of Us rack up 16 nominations this year. This puts Ramsey up against big names like Kathy Bates and Keri Russell in a stacked Lead Actress category.

Ramsey has been open about how weird it feels to be nominated in a gendered category like “Actress” while identifying as non-binary. In a chat with Louis Theroux, they admitted it doesn’t totally sit right — but also said they don’t take it too personally. For them, the bigger picture is what matters: telling meaningful stories and showing up for queer audiences who don’t always see themselves on screen.