Bella Maclean is making waves as one of the standout stars in the new Dame Jilly Cooper series Rivals, now available on Disney+.
The eight-part drama delves into the fierce competition between two driven and charismatic men, Rupert Campbell-Black (played by Alex Hassell) and Lord Tony Baddingham (portrayed by David Tennant), a world filled with romantic entanglements, scandalous behaviour, and plenty of passion.
In the series, Bella Maclean takes on the role of Taggie, the eldest daughter of Declan and Maud. Despite her young age of 20, Taggie often proves to be the most responsible member of the O'Hara family, harbouring dreams of launching her own catering business and finding her ideal romantic partner.
Viewers have been drawn in by Taggie's profound relationship with Rupert Campbell-Black and the tantalising will they/won't they dynamic.
This is just the latest significant role for Bella, who previously shone in a breakout role in a Netflix drama and is now carving out an exciting acting career. Here's a closer look at who Bella Maclean is, her early life, career, and personal life.
Bella Maclean spent her childhood in New York where her parents were based for work.
When Bella was 10, her family relocated to East Sussex. She later secured a spot at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Prior to her final year, Maclean landed a major role in the musical Spring Awakening at the Almeida.
The Covid-19 pandemic temporarily halted the musical, but the cast and crew managed to stage the show during breaks in lockdowns. She graduated from Guildhall in 2020.
Bella featured in two short films during her studies, specifically La La Means I Love You in 2018 and Dragged Up in 2021.
What is Bella Maclean's biggest role so far?
Bella Maclean is best known for her role as Jem in the final season of Netflix's Sex Education. Jem was employed at her father's farm, teaching horse riding to children and developing a blossoming friendship and relationship with Adam.
Before Sex Education, Bella appeared in Silent Witness as Sara Mendes in series 26. She played the sister of Fiona (Hannah Rae), who becomes a central suspect in the investigation into the death of businessman and former influencer Jay Prain (Lewis Griffiths).
Bella Maclean's role in Rivals is anticipated to be another significant step for the British-American actress, who is an emerging talent in British television.
Earlier this year, Bella made her first appearance at the Royal National Theatre in 2024, starring in London Tide as Bella Wilfer.
Bella Maclean's life outside of TV
Bella currently resides in West London after relocating for acting opportunities. The young actress also revealed to the London Standard that she is actually 26, not 23, contrary to reports suggesting she was younger.
This also led to confusion among her co-stars, as she remembered: "I don't know where anyone got that from, even people in the cast keep saying that after reading it online. I'm 26."
Bella generally maintains a low-key life with limited updates on social media.
