Bella Ramsey has revealed that they underestimated what it would really be like to take part in The Celebrity Traitors, admitting that their expectations were shaped by their love of the Mafia party game.
The Last of Us and Game of Thrones star is among the celebrities taking part in the second season of the reality competition, which is scheduled to air later this year. Ramsey has now offered a glimpse into their experience, suggesting that playing the televised version of the game was considerably more complicated than they had imagined.
Ramsey, who uses they/them pronouns, said they initially viewed the opportunity almost like an extended Mafia game in a castle. However, the reality of filming quickly challenged that expectation.
Bella Ramsey Says They Were ‘Too Naive’
Speaking about their decision to join The Celebrity Traitors, Ramsey explained that their enthusiasm came from years of playing Mafia, the social deduction game that shares some similarities with the format of The Traitors.
They said they first became familiar with Mafia while attending the Television Workshop in Nottingham and have continued playing the game for years, including organising games at their own home.
Because of that experience, Ramsey imagined the television competition would be relatively straightforward.
In their words, they had pictured themselves travelling to a castle, playing the game and spending around two weeks immersed in the experience.
Ramsey acknowledged that they should perhaps have expected more after spending years working in the entertainment industry.
They described themselves as being “too naive” about how the reality show would actually operate and suggested that the finished programme may not fully represent what contestants experience while filming.
‘What You See on Screen Isn’t Actually What It Is’
One of Ramsey’s most intriguing comments concerned the difference between the televised version of a reality competition and what happens behind the scenes.
The actor suggested that viewers should not assume everything about the experience is exactly as it appears on screen.
Their comment is likely to add another layer of interest to Ramsey’s participation, particularly because The Traitors relies heavily on strategy, secrecy, relationships and psychological pressure.
Unlike a conventional acting role, contestants have to navigate an unscripted environment while also dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing which other participants may be working against them.
For Ramsey, the experience appears to have been a lesson in how different reality television can be from simply playing a social deduction game with friends.
Ramsey Jokes About Escaping the Spotlight
Ramsey also joked about the attention that could follow once the series begins airing.
The actor suggested that they might even try to be outside the country when the programme is broadcast, anticipating that the show could temporarily make its contestants much more recognisable to the public.
Their comments were delivered with humour, but they also highlight one of the unusual consequences of appearing on a high-profile reality programme.
Ramsey is already internationally recognised because of their acting work, particularly their performances as Ellie in HBO’s The Last of Us and Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. A reality television appearance could nevertheless introduce them to an audience that may know little about their work away from scripted television.
Who Is Bella Ramsey Playing in Celebrity Traitors?
Details of Ramsey’s exact role and strategy on The Celebrity Traitors remain closely guarded ahead of the new season.
The series brings together well-known public figures and places them in a social strategy game where contestants must work out who among them can be trusted.
The format divides players into two broad groups: the Faithful and the Traitors. The Faithful attempt to identify and eliminate the hidden Traitors, while the Traitors try to remain undetected and remove their opponents from the competition.
That combination makes personal relationships and deception central to the show.
Ramsey’s longstanding familiarity with Mafia could potentially give them an advantage when reading other players, although their own comments suggest that the real television experience was much more demanding than playing the game recreationally.
Celebrity Traitors Season 2 Cast
Ramsey will appear in the second season alongside a high-profile group of celebrities, including Richard E. Grant, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart and James Blunt.
The programme follows the successful first season of the celebrity edition, which attracted substantial attention in the UK.
The first season’s finale reportedly drew an average live audience of 11.1 million viewers, making it one of the UK’s biggest unscripted television episodes in recent years.
Comedian Alan Carr ultimately won the first celebrity series while playing as a Traitor. He secured £87,500 for Neuroblastoma UK after successfully deceiving Faithful contestant Nick Mohammed.
When Will Bella Ramsey’s Celebrity Traitors Season Air?
The Celebrity Traitors Season 2 is expected to air later in 2026.
The exact impact of Ramsey’s appearance remains to be seen, but their candid comments have already generated curiosity about how the actor handled a format very different from their usual scripted work.
For Ramsey, the biggest surprise may have been discovering that being inside the game is very different from watching it from home.
With the new season approaching, viewers will soon find out whether their experience playing Mafia translated into success when the stakes were much higher and the game unfolded under the scrutiny of television cameras.
