Bella Maclean
British actress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arabella Georgina Lucy Maclean (born 1997 or 1998)[1][2] is a British actress. On television, she appeared in the fourth season of the Netflix series Sex Education (2023) and the Disney+ series Rivals (2024). She is also known for her theatre work.
Bella Maclean | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 1997 or 1998 (age 28–29) New York City, New York |
| Alma mater | Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
| Years active | 2018–present |
She was named a 2025 Screen International Star of Tomorrow.[3]
Early life and education
Maclean was born in New York City to British parents.[4] She spent her early childhood in New York for her parents' work, before they returned to England and settled in East Sussex when she was 10.[5] Maclean has older twin sisters.[6] She attended Benenden School, a prestigious boarding school in Kent.
In 2020, Maclean graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting.[7][8][9]
Career
Stage
Maclean made her professional stage debut as Martha in the 2021 London revival of Spring Awakening at the Almeida Theatre.[10] Her performance was described as "an eye-catching turn as Martha" by theatre critic Fiona Mountford.[11] The production was directed by Rupert Goold, with Laurie Kynaston and Amara Okereke leading. A filmed performance of the production was screened at cinemas in the United Kingdom in November 2023.[12]
She returned to the stage in 2024 as Bella Wilfer in the National Theatre's London Tide, a musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel Our Mutual Friend.[6][13] The production was directed by Ian Rickson, adapted by Ben Power, and music by Powers and PJ Harvey.[14] While the play and score received mixed reviews, Maclean's performance was positively reviewed.[13][15] The official cast recording was released in October.[16]
Film and television
In 2023, Maclean made her television debut in two episodes of the BBC One police procedural Silent Witness.[17] She joined the cast of the Netflix comedy-drama Sex Education for its fourth and final season as Jem.[18] She has also appeared in the short films Dragged Up and La La Means I Love You.[19]
In 2024, Maclean had her breakout role in the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Rivals. She portrayed Agatha 'Taggie' O'Hara, the overlooked daughter of Declan (Aidan Turner) and Maud (Victoria Smurfit) who struggles with dyslexia while trying to pursue culinary dreams.[20][21] The show was met with widespread critical acclaim, while Maclean's scenes with love interest Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) were described as "engagingly complex".[22] The series was renewed in December, with Maclean set to return.[23]
Maclean was cast as a lead role in Ray Panthaki's directorial debut film In Starland. The film follows a middle-aged man struggling to break free from the confines of his small town until he meets a group of bold young artists that transform his perspective. She is starring alongside Clarence Maclin, Marcus Scribner, and Maxwell Cunningham.[4][24]
Recognition and awards
Maclean was a finalist in the Josephine Hart Poetry Prize in 2019, when a student at Guildhall.[7] The prize is awarded for reading a poem.[25]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | La La Means I Love You | Tallulah | Short film |
| 2023 | Dragged Up | Amy | Short film |
| Almedia on Screen: Spring Awakening | Martha | Filmed live performance | |
| TBA | In Starland | In production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Silent Witness | Sara Mendes | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Sex Education | Jem | 6 episodes (season 4) |
| 2024 | Rivals | Agatha 'Taggie' O'Hara | Main role |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Spring Awakening | Martha | Rupert Goold | Almeida Theatre, London | [26] |
| 2024 | London Tide | Bella Wilfer | Ian Rickson | National Theatre, London | [13] |
Discography
Cast recording
- 2024: London Tide (World Premiere Recording)[27]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | iTalk Telly Awards | Best Breakthrough | Rivals | Nominated | [28] |
| 2025 | Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | BPG Breakthrough | Won |