The 19-year-old Bella Ramsey might have received global applause and fame by now — thanks to their phenomenal performance as Ellie in The Last of Us — but it was the gritty and brutal world of Westeros that catapulted the actor into mainstream recognition.
Yes, we all still recall Bella Ramsey from the HBO hit series Game of Thrones, which aired from 2011 to 2019. The 12-year-old Ramsey appeared in nine episodes in total from season six to season eight, playing the headstrong and brave Lyanna Mormont. The latter’s character in the show remains an honest adaptation of the book.
She is the Lady of Bear Island, the daughter of Maege Mormont, and the first cousin of Ser Jorah Mormont. Ramsey’s performance as Lyanna earned them critical acclaim and immense popularity, as they successfully retained the essence of the character from the book. That is, a strong, determined, and effective leader is determined to achieve any goal they have set their eyes on.
Saying so, let’s revisit Ramsey’s brief presence and very solid role in the series.
Bella Ramsey as Lyanna Mormont
We first get to see Ramsey in the seventh episode of season six. “The Broken Man” prior to the Battle of Bastards. Jon, Sansa, and Ser Davos proceed to Bear Island to seek House Mormon’s assistance and loyalty in the upcoming battle.
To their relief, Lady Lyanna agrees to offer help and enables the Starks to take back Winterfell from the Boltons. It was the first time the audience encounter Lady Lyanna, who came across as a precocious and straightforward child leader with no time for pleasantries or small talk. Her first words to Jon and Sansa were, “Welcome to Bear Island”.
Throughout the show’s run, we see Lyanna retaining her position as a leader as well as a political ally of the Starks. In season seven, she vehemently supports the training of women to defend themselves in any crisis.
Ramsey’s performance as Lyanna achieved a breakthrough in the third episode of season eight, “The Long Night” which also marked her final appearance.
While the women and children were expected to stay inside the crypt in the war against the White Walkers, Lyanna chose to be at the forefront and fight. Before succumbing to wounds inflicted by a White Walker giant, Lyanna stabs it in the eye, killing it, and subsequently earning the posthumous title of Giantslayer.
