If you’ve spent more than five minutes on Twitter or certain corners of Reddit lately, you’ve probably seen the rumors. There is this weird, persistent obsession with diagnosing celebrities from afar. People take a high-definition screenshot, zoom in on a specific facial feature, and suddenly they’re amateur doctors. Lately, the target of this "internet diagnosis" culture has been Bella Ramsey, the star of The Last of Us and Game of Thrones.
The question everyone seems to be typing into Google is pretty blunt: does Bella Ramsey have fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)?
Honestly, it’s a heavy thing to throw around. FAS isn’t just some "internet aesthetic" or a way to describe someone with a unique face. It’s a serious medical condition. But because the internet is... well, the internet, a few viral posts have snowballed into a massive misconception. Let's look at the facts, what Bella has actually said, and why these rumors started in the first place.
The Reality of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Rumors
Let’s get the big answer out of the way immediately. There is zero evidence that Bella Ramsey has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Bella has never mentioned having the condition. Their parents have never mentioned it. There are no medical records or reputable reports suggesting it. Basically, it’s a theory cooked up by people on social media who think they can diagnose complex neurodevelopmental disorders by looking at a 1080p stream of an HBO show.
Usually, these rumors lean on "facial markers." You’ve probably seen the diagrams. People point to things like a thin upper lip or a smooth philtrum (the little groove between your nose and lip). But here’s the thing: those features can also just be... genetics.
The medical community, including organizations like CanFASD, has actually come out to warn people about this exact trend. They’ve noted a rise in people trying to "spot" FAS in celebrities like Bella Ramsey or Greta Thunberg. It’s not just inaccurate; it’s actually kind of harmful. It reduces a complex disability down to a "look," which ignores the 90% of people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) who don’t have those specific facial features at all.
🔗 Read more: Why Sexy Pictures of Mariah Carey Are Actually a Masterclass in Branding
What Bella Ramsey Has Actually Said About Their Health
While Bella hasn’t addressed the FAS rumors directly (and why should they? It’s a bit insulting), they have been incredibly open about their actual life and health.
In early 2025, Bella shared something huge during an interview with British Vogue. They revealed they were diagnosed with autism while filming the first season of The Last of Us.
Bella described the diagnosis as "freeing." They’ve talked about how they always felt like a bit of an outsider—a self-proclaimed "weirdo" or "loner"—and finally having a label helped them move through the world with more grace.
"The label of being autistic has been so helpful to me because that’s helped me to understand myself," Bella told Vogue.
They also mentioned that a crew member on set, who has an autistic daughter, was actually the one who first spotted the traits. This led to a formal psychiatric assessment. It’s a great example of how neurodivergence actually works—it’s about how you process the world, not just how your face is shaped.
💡 You might also like: Lindsay Lohan Leak: What Really Happened with the List and the Scams
Why Does the Internet Keep Asking This?
It’s worth asking why this specific rumor won’t die. Part of it is the "Ellie" factor.
When Bella was cast as Ellie in The Last of Us, a vocal group of "fans" was upset that they didn’t look exactly like the character in the video game. This sparked a wave of online bullying. People started using medical terms as insults, which is a pretty gross move.
When Season 2 trailers started dropping in late 2025, the scrutiny got even worse. People were obsessed with whether Bella looked "tough" enough or "old" enough. When people can't find a legitimate reason to dislike a performance, they often pivot to attacking someone’s physical appearance.
But there’s also a bit of a "science-y" reason for the confusion. There is some overlap in how people perceive "neurodivergent traits." Sometimes, the way an autistic person moves or their facial expressions (what some call "flat affect") can be misinterpreted by people who are looking for signs of other conditions like FAS.
The Danger of "Armchair Diagnosis"
We need to talk about why it’s a bad idea to diagnose celebrities.
📖 Related: Kaley Cuoco Tit Size: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Transformation
- FAS is a spectrum. You can't see it in a photo. According to The Lancet, most people with FASD have no visible facial markers.
- Genetics are wild. Humans have a massive range of facial structures. A thin lip or a certain eye shape doesn't mean there was prenatal alcohol exposure.
- It’s stigmatizing. Using a disability as a "gotcha" or a way to explain why you don't like an actor’s face is messed up. It makes life harder for people who actually live with these conditions.
Bella Ramsey is a 21-year-old nonbinary actor (they/them) who has been in the spotlight since they were a kid in Game of Thrones. Growing up on camera is hard enough without the entire world debating your DNA.
What We Know for Sure
If you’re looking for the "truth" about Bella Ramsey’s health, stick to what they’ve actually said.
- Autism: Yes. Bella has confirmed this and advocates for neurodivergent creators.
- Neurodivergence: Yes. They’ve spoken about the challenges of sensory overload during press tours and the comfort of the routine on a film set.
- Gender Identity: Bella is nonbinary and has expressed that while the "autism" label is helpful, they find gender labels a bit more "trapping."
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: No. There is no factual basis for this.
Moving Forward
Instead of focusing on baseless medical theories, it’s a lot more interesting to look at how Bella is changing the industry. They are one of the most prominent autistic actors working today, and they’ve been very vocal about making sets more accessible.
Next time you see a TikTok or a Reddit thread claiming a celebrity has a specific condition based on a "side-by-side" photo, take a second to check the source. Usually, the source is just someone with a lot of free time and a lack of medical training.
What to do if you want to support neurodivergent actors:
- Watch their work for the performance, not the appearance.
- Listen to their actual interviews (the Awardsist podcast by EW is a great start).
- Avoid engaging with "look-ism" threads that use medical terminology as a weapon.
Bella Ramsey is doing just fine. They’re starring in one of the biggest shows on television, they’ve found a community that understands their autism, and they’re busy filming Season 3. Let's let them act without the amateur medical exams.
Next Steps for You
If you’re interested in learning more about how neurodivergence is represented in Hollywood, you should check out the latest interviews with Bella regarding their work with Autism Speaks or read the CanFASD report on celebrity speculation. It's a fascinating look at how our culture treats people who don't fit a specific "look."