In Hollywood, rising stars often find themselves under a relentless spotlight where every role they opt for gets dissected by audiences and critics alike. Few young actors embody this pressure more vividly than Bella Ramsey in the current TV landscape, whose breakout role in Game of Thrones quickly propelled them into global fame, and whose The Last of Us gig further solidified their reputation as a fearless performer. Alongside the praise they received for these works, however, Ramsey has also faced an unusual wave of online criticism and negativity.

This complicated mix of acclaim and backlash raises one pressing question, given the approaching 77th Primetime Emmys: Will the negative chatter around their HBO performance keep them from securing an Emmy gold?

Bella Ramsey's portrayal of Ellie in The Last of Us has faced criticism for lacking emotional depth. Some viewers feel that key scenes, such as Ellie’s reaction to Joel’s death, did not convey the profound grief expected. This perceived character flatness led to countless debates in the digital realm about the credibility of their performance.

Additionally, Bella Ramsey's physical appearance has been a point of discussion among the game-to-screen adaptation’s fans, as they argued that Ellie did not resemble the video game version of their character at all, which they felt affected the character's believability. These critiques highlight the challenges of bringing a beloved gaming character to life and meeting fans' expectations. Luckily for Ramsey, she had a few supporters arguing that a living being cannot be expected to fully embody a gaming model, especially when it comes to physical aspects.

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Their performance was not the only aspect of the show getting judged by fans, though, as every detail from storyline to pacing faced intense scrutiny.

Fans of The Last of Us gaming IP had sky-high expectations going into the series, which made every scene feel under a microscope. Many relentlessly compared the show closely to the game, from key storyline moments to character interactions, and pacing of the narratives, which, needless to say, put additional pressure on the creators and ensemble. Even though the series was largely a hit, these challenges illustrated how tough it is for Hollywood to balance staying true to a previously popular source material while telling the same story that does not appear stale on screen. All of this will be taken into account by Emmys as well, for sure. 

Bella Ramsey has been nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards for their portrayal of Ellie in The Last of Us 2. However, their chances of winning this year are slim due to the aforementioned criticism and mixed reviews, as well as strong competition in their category. Kathy Bates is the predicted winner for her role in Matlock, while other contenders include Sharon Horgan for Bad Sisters, Britt Lower for Severance, and Keri Russell for The Diplomat.

Clearly, despite delivering a standout performance, Bella Ramsey faces an uphill battle at the 2025 Emmys. The intense competition, combined with unfavorable reviews of their performance in The Last of Us and debates over pacing and character arcs, dims their chances this year. Yet the story is not over. Bella Ramsey, whose return to the show’s season 3 remains dicey, continues to captivate audiences. If anything, the anticipation of what comes next may cement them as one of television’s most compelling young actors.

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Do you think Bella Ramsey will win an Emmy this year? Let us know in the comments.