Bella Ramsey Reflects on Missing Out on the Teenage Experience

## A Second Chance at Being a Teenager Bella Ramsey, a British actor who debuted in Game of Thrones at the age of 11, has spoken about their desire to have experienced the teenage years in a more traditional way. In an interview with BBC News, Ramsey revealed that they had always been a bit of an adult at heart, even as a teenager. This decision was made after hearing criticisms from adults, which led them to decide not to behave like a stereotypical teenager. Ramsey's chance to experience the teenage years came when they were cast in the film Sunny Dancer, a movie about a summer camp for young people affected by cancer. The film allowed them to play a teenager, Ivy, a young female cancer survivor in remission, and experience the freedom and liberation that comes with being a teenager. Looking back, Ramsey says they wish they had made the most of being a teenager and taken advantage of the opportunities to be a bit rebellious. They believe that this experience would have helped them to develop a stronger sense of self and to be more confident in their own skin. ## A Personal and Emotional Story The film Sunny Dancer is a deeply personal story for its writer and director, George Jaques. The movie is based on his own experiences with cancer and his desire to help others who have gone through similar struggles. Jaques worked closely with the Teenage Cancer Trust to ensure that the film was authentic and accurate, and he even gave two young cancer survivors roles in the movie. The film's premiere in Berlin was an emotional moment for Jaques, as it brought back memories of his own experiences with loss. He believes that we could be better at allowing people to experience grief without expecting them to quickly return to normal. Jaques thinks that if we were more honest about how we feel, we might be able to understand grief better. ## Breaking Down Stigmas Around Grief Ramsey and Jaques both believe that there is a stigma around grief and that people are often expected to quickly return to normal after a loss. In the UK, there is no general legal right to paid bereavement leave, which can make it difficult for people to take the time they need to grieve. Ramsey thinks that this stigma can be particularly damaging in the UK, where people often feel like they need to put on a brave face and pretend that everything is okay. They believe that this can lead to people feeling isolated and alone in their grief. ## Advice for Young People Ramsey's advice for young people struggling to fit in is simple: don't try to fit in. They believe that people should be themselves and not change to try and fit in with others. Jaques agrees, and he thinks that the responsibility should not all be placed on young people to become more resilient. Instead, he believes that we should focus on creating a more supportive and understanding environment for young people. This could involve reducing the pressure on young people to change on social media and promoting a more positive and accepting attitude towards individuality.