THE PLATFORM

It feels like joining us at LeftLion, in a little office that we just vacuumed for the first time in about a year, is a bit different to chatting to the likes of GQ and Jimmy Kimmel… So, first of all, thank you for taking the time to visit us. But secondly, how have you found that process? Has it been difficult to adjust to the media frenzy?

First off, thank you for having me! But yeah, it’s been weird. I largely managed to avoid press right up until about September, when Catherine Called Birdy came out, and then The Last of Us arrived pretty much straight after that. But up until that point, I hadn’t experienced it much, because with Game of Thrones, I was too young to be involved. You know, it’s actually been okay. I enjoy the longer interviews more than the shorter ones. I feel like they’re almost free therapy sessions. I just get to talk!

You’ve been travelling a lot as part of that process. How does it feel to be back home? Has your relationship with your hometown changed because of it?

In a way, yeah. I was born in Nottingham and I live in Leicestershire, and I think coming home is a mixed bag. It’s a relief, in a way, because it’s familiar. But in another way, I feel more anonymous in the big cities, because there are so many people and nobody cares about you. When I'm back home, I definitely lose that a little bit. You have to get used to being in a cafe eating soup and having someone come up to you and go, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re Bella!’ But it can be really nice to have those interactions, and I love getting back to my family - and also my football team!

You said that these interviews feel like therapy, and I know you’ve spoken openly about your mental health within them. Now that you have this bigger platform, is that something you want to use it for - to speak openly about issues like these, and break down stigma?

Yeah, definitely. I want to make things visible and I want to use my platform for good reasons. For me, it’s all about being authentic, because I want people to know me as a person - not just some fabricated version of myself. The important balance there is being authentic while maintaining a certain level of privacy, which I’ve thankfully managed to do so far.

Is it scary being open in front of a bigger audience?

It is scary, but I’d be so uncomfortable being a version of myself that isn’t me. I’d feel like a fraud and I wouldn’t be happy. I don’t think I can pretend. It’s weird, because I acknowledge and I’m learning that maybe I'm ‘famous’, but I don’t like that kind of celebrity status. To me, being famous and being a celebrity are two different things. ‘Celebrity’ feels like when being famous is your job, but being famous comes as a byproduct of your job; that’s how I think about it. So, I don’t want to fall into that celebrity realm. I’d rather just keep doing my job, and if that means people know who I am, then that’s just something I have to deal with. I think if you either hate fame or you love fame, both of those are dangerous. I’m trying to maintain a neutral standpoint.

You use your platform for promoting a wide range of local charity initiatives, like the Young People's Forest and previously SkillForce. Will charity work always remain a priority for you?

Definitely. I’m a young patron of a charity called Bamboozle, who are based in Leicester. They provide theatre for children with profound learning difficulties, which is awesome. I actually just got to see one of their shows and I’m hoping to get even more involved. When I commit to a cause, I don’t just want my name attached, I actually want to do something. I’ve recently signed with an American agent, CAA, and they have a whole foundation sector, which is cool - so I’m going to be trying to make the most of that.

As part of our recent screen issue, we did a bunch of interviews with people from The Television Workshop. Why do you think that place creates such special actors?

TV Workshop is the best. I still go whenever I can, which has thankfully been a lot at the moment. It’s like nowhere else. You do have to audition to get in, but everyone who is interested gets an audition. It’s a kind process, and there are bursary schemes for those who can’t afford the termly fees. It’s very accessible and so not like any other ‘drama school’. When I think of the Workshop, I think mainly of all the improv they do, which I really miss when I can’t do it. It’s such an opportunity to practise life. When else will you be in a room and see thirty people break up with someone, in so many different ways? It's experience in itself. Then, in terms of acting, I think it's all about the realism. Workshop don’t teach you, they just allow you to be

Who were the Workshoppers you looked up to when you were learning your craft?

When I first auditioned, I was inspired by Kia Pegg, who played Jodie in The Dumping Ground. I was so starstruck by her, and I joined the Saturday group precisely because Jodie from The Dumping Ground was there! I looked up to Kia massively. In the under-eleven session, she came in as an older helper and would do improvisations with us, and I just thought she was the coolest ever. We’re friends now and I told her all of this - and thankfully she didn’t file a restraining order! Then, as I got into the eleven-to-sixteen category, there were the older, cool people who were in the group. There were so many who just took the younger ones under their wing, and so many I was mesmerised by. Even now I still go and I learn every time I visit, because the people there are so good.

We recently spoke to Alison Rashley, the Executive Artistic Director at The Television Workshop, and she said Nottingham partly produces such strong actors because of the absence of ego in the city. Do you agree with that? Totally. And if there is any ego going into the Workshop, it’s quickly gone. You have to be open to making a fool out of yourself and taking risks. Any ego holding you back just isn’t a thing because you have to fully throw yourself into every role and every task.