Bella Maclean

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Bella Maclean
Bella Maclean.jpg
Born1997or1998(age 27–28)
New York City, New York
Alma mater Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Years active2018–present

Bella Maclean (born 1997or1998) [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 portraying Martha in the 2021 London revival of Spring Awakening.

Contents

Early life and education

Maclean was born in New York City to British parents. [3] 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. [4] Maclean has older twin sisters. [5]

In 2020, Maclean graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting. [6] [7] [8]

Career

Stage

Maclean made her professional stage debut as Martha in the 2021 London revival of Spring Awakening at the Almeida Theatre. [9] Her performance was described as "an eye-catching turn as Martha" by theatre critic Fiona Mountford. [10] 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. [11]

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 . [5] [12] The production was directed by Ian Rickson, adapted by Ben Power, and music by Powers and PJ Harvey. [13] While the play and score received mixed reviews, Maclean's performance was positively reviewed. [12] [14] The official cast recording was released in October. [15]

Film and television

In 2023, Maclean made her television debut in two episodes of the BBC One police procedural Silent Witness . [16] She joined the cast of the Netflix comedy-drama Sex Education for its fourth and final season as Jem. [17] She has also appeared in the short films Dragged Up and La La Means I Love You. [18]

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. [19] [20] 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". [21] The series was renewed in December, with Maclean set to return. [22]

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. [3] [23]

Recognition and awards

Maclean was a finalist in the Josephine Hart Poetry Prize in 2019, when a student at Guildhall. [6] The prize is awarded for reading a poem. [24]

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018La La Means I Love YouTallulahShort film
2023Dragged UpAmyShort film
Almedia on Screen: Spring Awakening MarthaFilmed live performance
TBAIn StarlandIn production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023 Silent Witness Sara Mendes2 episodes
2023 Sex Education Jem6 episodes (season 4)
2024 Rivals Agatha 'Taggie' O'HaraMain role

Stage

YearTitleRoleDirectorVenueRef.
2021 Spring Awakening Martha Rupert Goold Almeida Theatre, London [25]
2024London TideBella Wilfer Ian Rickson National Theatre, London [12]

Discography

Cast recording

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2024iTalk Telly AwardsBest Breakthrough Rivals Nominated [27]
2025 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards BPG BreakthroughWon

References

  1. ↑ Clark, Nick (3 May 2024). "Meet Bella Maclean star of London Tide and Jilly Cooper's Rivals". The Standard. Retrieved 8 December 2024. "I don't know where anyone got that from, even people in the cast keep saying that after reading it online. I'm 26."
  2. ↑ Haynes, Suyin (16 February 2025). "ELLE UK Profiles Rising British Talent: David Jonsson, Nabhaan Rizwan, Bella Maclean and Ella Hunt". ELLE. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  3. 1 2 Kelly, Roisin (4 April 2025). "Bella Maclean: 'Rivals doesn't normalise the age gap — it tackles it'". The Times. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Clark, Nick (3 May 2024). "London Tide's Bella Maclean on making her National debut, Sex Education and starring in Jilly Cooper's Rivals". Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  5. 1 2 Hawkins, Laura (20 September 2024). "A Cut Above: Inside Bella Maclean's Stylish Breakout Year". Vogue. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Bella Maclean". Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "Bella Maclean". National Theatre. April 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  8. ↑ Emily, Olivia (25 October 2024). "Who Is Bella Maclean? Introducing Rivals Taggie". Country and Town House. Retrieved 18 November 2024. Bella Maclean is a 26-year-old British-American actress...
  9. ↑ Wyver, Kate (6 December 2021). "'I cried every day at work – now I am here!' Spring Awakening's fresh cast step on stage". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  10. ↑ Mountford, Fiona (20 December 2021). "Spring Awakening at the Almeida features the single most thrilling theatrical moment of 2021". The i Paper. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  11. ↑ Culwell-Black, Logan (21 September 2023). "Almeida Spring Awakening Musical to Get Movie Theatre Screenings". Playbill. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 Akbar, Arifa (18 April 2024). "London Tide review – Dickens and PJ Harvey team up for a melodrama as murky as the Thames". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  13. ↑ Muk, Isaac (6 November 2024). "How PJ Harvey's 'London Tide' score was brought to life onstage". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  14. ↑ Bano, Tim (18 April 2024). "London Tide review: The National's moody Dickens musical is hamstrung by PJ Harvey's dirge-like songs". The Independent. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  15. ↑ Meline, Lily (19 September 2024). "PJ Harvey Releases First Track from London Tide Soundtrack "Holloway" -". mxdwn Music. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  16. ↑ Clark, Nick (20 October 2024). "Rivals is autumn's TV hit — and Bella Maclean is its stand-out star". The Standard. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  17. ↑ Cormack, Morgan (18 October 2024). "Meet the cast of Rivals on Disney Plus". Radio Times. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  18. ↑ Hall, Daisy (25 September 2023). "Who Is Sex Education's Bella Maclean?". Grazia. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  19. ↑ Palmer, Katie (18 October 2024). "Rivals cast in full: Where you've seen stars of Jilly Cooper series before from Poldark to Doctor Who". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  20. ↑ Mangan, Lucy (18 October 2024). "Rivals review – even the naked tennis scene is a triumph". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  21. ↑ Ewing, Jeff (8 October 2024). "'Rivals' Review: The Ids Are Alright in This Vibrant Showcase of 1980s Lust and Ambition". Collider. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  22. ↑ Lovitt, Maggie (4 December 2024). "Romance Fans Rejoice! 'Rivals' Renewed For Season 2". Collider. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  23. ↑ Ford, Lily (25 June 2025). "'Rivals' Breakout Bella Maclean Cast in Ray Panthaki's Directorial Debut 'In Starland' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  24. ↑ "Guildhall School announces end of year prize winners". Guildhall School of Music & Drama. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  25. ↑ Lukowski, Andrzej (20 December 2021). "'Spring Awakening' review". Time Out. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  26. ↑ Shutler, Ali (19 September 2024). "PJ Harvey shares new track 'Holloway' from 'London Tide' play". NME. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  27. ↑ Gonzalez, Elliot (9 November 2024). "Voting is now OPEN for the 10th annual I Talk Telly Awards as nominations are revealed". I Talk Telly. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
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