A Missed Opportunity for Rebellion
Bella Ramsey, the 22-year-old British actor known for their role as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, spent their teenage years working with adults. As a result, they never truly experienced the stereotypical teenage phase of rebellion.
'I was like, I'm not going to be that,' Ramsey says, recalling their decision to avoid behaving like a typical teenager after hearing criticisms from adults.
A Chance to Relive Teenage Years
The film Sunny Dancer, which tells the story of a summer camp for young people affected by cancer, gave Ramsey the opportunity to experience teenage freedom, albeit at the age of 21. 'I got to be a teenager aged 21, which was brilliant,' Ramsey tells BBC News. 'It was really nice - and liberating.'
Learning from Others
Ramsey's co-stars, including Neil Patrick Harris, Jessica Gunning, and James Norton, helped fill in the gaps of their teenage experience. The younger co-stars shared stories of songs and nights out, teaching Ramsey what being a teenager meant to them.
'They were teaching me what being a teenager was for them and I was learning all the songs like five years later,' Ramsey says.
The Personal Story Behind Sunny Dancer
The film's writer and director, George Jaques, drew inspiration from his own life. His mother was diagnosed with cancer when he was 15, but it took him eight years to feel ready to turn those experiences into a script.
'I never seem to write in the moment I'm going through it,' Jaques says. 'You have to sort of get through and understand it and have that reflection of it.'
Allowing Space for Grief
Both Ramsey and Jaques believe that society could be better at allowing people to experience grief without expecting them to quickly return to normal.
'If we really were honest with how we feel we might be able to understand it a bit better,' Jaques says.
Embracing Individuality
Ramsey's advice for young people struggling to fit in is straightforward:
'Don't try and fit in. Please don't change to try and fit in because there are people who will fit in with you.'
Jaques agrees, adding that the responsibility should not all be placed on young people to become more resilient.
'Why don't we stop hating on young people? Maybe that's where we should start as well,' he says.