Bella Ramsey found out they have autism while filming The Last of Us.
The 21-year-old actor who gained further recognition for their role in the acclaimed HBO series has opened up about their autism diagnosis, after feeling out of place as a child.
Speaking with British Vogue, the actor noted that they felt 'free' upon learning about about autism.
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The former Game of Thrones star said: "It enables me to walk through the world with more grace towards myself about not being able to do the easy everyday tasks that everyone else seems to be able to do."
There are common symptoms of autism, such as difficulty communicating, empathising, getting overwhelmed easily, and repeating the same activities, as it is a spectrum disorder, it can look very different in each person, the NHS explains.
"I’ve always been watching and learning from people," they said.
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"Having to learn more manually how to socialise and interact with the people around me has helped me with acting."
They did admit that they had 'always wondered' about autism and whether it affected their life, and cited experiences of feeling like a 'loner' and a 'weirdo' growing up.
A crew member working on The Last of Us, whose daughter has autism, advised the actor to get a formal psychiatric assessment.
Reflecting on the outcome of the assessment, Ramsey said: "My experience of moving through the world is as an autistic person.
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"There’s no reason for people not to know."
Ramsey explained in the interview that in addition to growing up feeling out of place, they also experienced sensory issues which the publication described as a 'painful hyperawareness of other people's micro-expressions and body language', behaviours that are often associated with those with autism.
ASD is more common in boys than in girls, although some research has suggested this may be due to biological factors, experts have put forward the idea that women may be under-diagnosed.
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While ASD is considered a neurodevelopmental condition that is usually diagnosed in childhood, some people, especially those assigned female at birth, may go undiagnosed until adulthood.
If you think your child has autism, the NHS says you can speak with a GP, a health visitor for children under five, any other health professional your child has contact with, or a special educational needs (SENCO) staff member at your child’s school.
Topics: Celebrity, Health, TV And Film
Gregory Robinson