Bella Ramsey vs. Millie Bobby Brown: Two Young Stars Who Redefined a Generation

Early Life & Origins

Bella Ramsey — A Nottingham Kid with a Fierce Drive

Isabella May Ramsey was born on 25 September 2003 in Nottingham, England, to father Alex Ramsey. From the age of four, Bella channelled a natural performance instinct into acting classes at the Loughborough branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts, attending for seven years. At ten they were accepted into the Television Workshop — a prestigious drama training and TV casting company in Nottingham — which would prove to be the gateway to professional stardom. Bella described acting not as a calculated career move but a genuine childhood passion, a hobby that grew unstoppably.

Millie Bobby Brown — Born in Spain, Raised Across Three Countries

Millie Bonnie Brown entered the world on 19 February 2004 in Marbella, Andalusia, Spain, the third of four children of British parents Kelly and Robert Brown. The family’s early years were comfortable until Robert Brown — convinced his youngest daughter possessed rare performance talent — liquidated the family’s savings to fund acting classes, headshots, and transatlantic relocation. By the time Millie was four, the family had returned to England, settling in Bournemouth. At eight they relocated again to Orlando, Florida, in pursuit of the American entertainment industry. By nine, the family was broke. This financial precariousness — described candidly by Millie in multiple interviews — instilled a lifelong frugality and resilience that defines her even at the height of fame.

“I grew up with no money. Even today, I can’t spend like someone who grew up with it.”
— Millie Bobby Brown

Career Timelines at a Glance

Bella Ramsey

Millie Bobby Brown

Their Defining Roles: Ellie vs. Eleven

Head-to-Head Comparison

Identity, Advocacy & Personal Life

Bella Ramsey — Non-Binary, Neurodivergent, and Vocal

Bella came out as non-binary in 2023, describing they/them pronouns as “the most truthful thing for me.” They have spoken openly about fluidity in both gender and sexuality — describing themselves as “not 100 per cent straight. I’m a little bit wavy.” Beyond their identity, Bella was diagnosed with autism while filming the first season of The Last of Us, calling the diagnosis “freeing.” This candour about neurodivergence has made Bella a significant figure for the LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent communities alike.

Millie Bobby Brown — Married, a Mother, and a Mogul

Millie’s personal life has been exceptionally public by her own design. She met Jake Bongiovi — son of rock legend Jon Bon Jovi — on Instagram in 2021, when she was 17. The pair dated openly, got engaged in April 2023 (the ring nearly lost during an underwater proposal), and married on 17 May 2024 in an intimate family ceremony in the United States officiated by her Stranger Things co-star Matthew Modine. A second, lavish destination wedding followed in September 2024 at Villa Cetinale, a 17th-century Baroque villa in Tuscany, Italy, where Millie wore four different designer gowns and the reception featured a performance by singer Raye.

Awards & Recognition

The Curious Connection: Same Role, Different Stars

One of the most remarkable footnotes in their parallel stories is this: Millie Bobby Brown auditioned for the role of Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones — and did not get it. That role went to Bella Ramsey.

This is not merely a trivia curiosity. It is a reminder that the paths of these two actors have been cosmically intertwined from the beginning — competing for the same breakthrough, each ultimately finding the role that fit them best, and going on to define a decade of television together (though never in the same show). The entertainment industry, for all its randomness, managed to give each the perfect vehicle at the perfect time.

Acting Style & On-Screen Presence

Despite their superficial similarities — young, British, prestige TV, franchise leads — Bella Ramsey and Millie Bobby Brown are fundamentally different performers.

Bella Ramsey is characterised by explosive naturalism. Critics consistently note that their performances feel less like acting and more like inhabiting — a quality that works especially well in the grounded, emotionally brutal world of The Last of Us. Bella brings an indestructible internal logic to every scene, making Ellie’s contradictions (sardonic and tender, reckless and loyal) feel entirely coherent. Their background in physical comedy and children’s TV (The Worst Witch, Hilda) also gives them an unusual tonal range: they can pivot from devastating grief to dark humour within the same scene.

Millie Bobby Brown is a virtuoso of minimalism. In the early seasons of Stranger Things, she built Eleven from almost nothing — a shaved head, a government jumpsuit, a bloody nose, and an expression capable of conveying entire galaxies of feeling without a single word. She is a technical actor who understands precisely how to use the camera, and her evolution from the silent, bewildered Eleven of Season 1 to the layered, assertive teenager of Season 4 and 5 is one of the great character arcs in modern television. Her film work (Enola Holmes, Damsel) has further showcased a confident physical charisma and comedic timing.