Alison Bell

Alison Bell is an Australian stage, film and television actress and writer.

Early life and education Born in Young, New South Wales, Bell grew up in Grenfell where she attended St Joseph’s School. The family then moved to Canberra in 1984, where she went to Sacred Heart Primary School, before going on to study high school at St Clare's College, where she became School Captain.

Bell studied drama while at school, with the intent of pursuing a career as an actor. However, after her graduation she enrolled at Australian National University (ANU), completing an Arts/Law degree in 2001.

Career Bell has worked in television, documentary film and theatre. In 2010, she starred in comedy drama series I Rock, as Jane, music journalist and ex-girlfriend of central character, Nash Taylor (played by Josh Mapleston). She became known for her performance as Roo McVie on ABC TV series Laid, from 2011 to 2012, for which she was nominated for an AACTA Award.

After appearing in several television guest roles, Bell played Liz Linton, mother of one of the protagonists in the 2016 drama miniseries Tomorrow When the War Began, an adaptation of the 1993 John Marsden novel of the same name.

From 2017 to 2019, Bell starred in the acclaimed ABC TV series The Letdown, as Audrey, the main character. She also served as co-writer, co-creator, producer and director of the series. She won the AACTA Award for Best Television Comedy Series for both seasons as well as Best Comedy Performer and Best Screenplay. Her role as Audrey also won her the AACTA Award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy. Additionally, she earned a nomination for Best Director of a TV Comedy or Drama.

Bell featured in 2021 four-part colonial drama miniseries New Gold Mountain for SBS, in the role of Clara, society wife of the Ballarat Commissioner (played by Rhys Muldoon).

Bell has also acted for the stage, including a noteworthy performance in Sydney Theatre Company's production of Doubt in 2006, for which she won a Helpmann Award.

Awards Year Work Award Category Result Ref. 2006 Doubt Helpmann Awards Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play The Letdown AACTA Awards Best Television Comedy Series

Filmography

Television

Film Year Title Role Notes 2007 Bookstore Reunion Sarah Short film 2008 Wasting Away Alice Griggs Short film 2009 Further We Search Sue Feature film 2013 The Exchange Mother Short film Purcell Purcell Purcell Purcell Short film 2014 Meeting Susan Jen Short film 2018 Joy Boy Lynn Short film

Theatre Year Production Role Theatre Ref. 2005 King Lear Cordelia and the Fool Melbourne Theatre Company 2006 Doubt Sydney Theatre Company 2008 Blackbird Una Melbourne Theatre Company 2011 As You Like It Rosalind Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney 2017 Three Sisters Olga Sydney Theatre Company 2025 Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice Melbourne Theatre Company