Actor Bella Ramsey says playing a teenager in the film Sunny Dancer allowed them to experience a sense of freedom they missed while working as a child actor.
Key facts
- •Bella Ramsey debuted in Game of Thrones at age 11.
- •Sunny Dancer centers on a summer camp for young people affected by cancer.
- •Director George Jaques spent eight years before feeling ready to write the script.
- •The film features two young cancer survivors in acting roles.
- •Ramsey advises young people not to change themselves to fit in with others.
British actor Bella Ramsey, who began their career on Game of Thrones at age 11, says they missed out on a typical rebellious teenage phase due to working with adults. While filming the movie Sunny Dancer, which follows a group of young cancer survivors at a summer camp, the 21-year-old actor spent seven weeks experiencing the teenage freedom they previously avoided.
Experience on set
Ramsey plays Ivy, a cancer survivor in remission, in the film directed by George Jaques. Ramsey described the experience of playing a teenager as liberating, noting that younger co-stars helped fill in their knowledge of teenage life by sharing music and stories of nights out. Ramsey encouraged young people not to change themselves to fit in, stating that others will eventually align with them.
Personal inspiration for the film
Director George Jaques drew on his own experiences with his mother's cancer diagnosis when he was 15, though he noted the film is not a direct depiction of his family. Jaques consulted with the Teenage Cancer Trust to ensure the portrayal of young survivors was authentic, even casting two young people he met during his research. The project also led Jaques to reflect on the societal pressure to return to normal quickly after experiencing grief.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Entertainment & Arts.
