Bella Thorne

Bella Thorne is an American actress, singer, director, model and entrepreneur who has spent almost her entire life in the public eye, building one of the largest personal followings of any performer of her generation. Born Annabella Avery Thorne on 8 October 1997 in Pembroke Pines, Florida, she began working as a child model and actress before she was old enough for school, appearing in commercials, print campaigns and small screen roles throughout the 2000s.

Disney breakout

Thorne became a household name as a teenager through the Disney Channel series Shake It Up, in which she played dancer CeCe Jones opposite Zendaya. The show ran for three seasons and turned her into one of the channel’s marquee young stars, complete with a music career, merchandise and a devoted fanbase.

Film, music & directing

As she moved into adulthood, Thorne deliberately shed her child-star image, taking on edgier film and television roles and releasing her own pop and alternative music. She has appeared in a string of feature films and series, published poetry, and stepped behind the camera as a director, winning early recognition for her directorial work in the adult industry before returning her focus to mainstream projects.

Business & influence

Beyond acting, Thorne has become a prolific entrepreneur and one of the most-followed celebrities on Instagram, with tens of millions of followers. She has launched beauty and cannabis ventures, fronted fashion campaigns, and been an early, high-profile adopter of creator-economy platforms, using her reach to promote her films, music and businesses directly to fans.

Public profile

Known for her candour about her personal life, her ever-changing look and her willingness to court controversy, Thorne remains one of the most closely followed figures in entertainment, straddling acting, music, directing and business at once.