From Birth To Stardom

Catherine Bell was born on August 14, 1968 in London, England, to a British father and an Iranian mother. When she was three years old, Catherine moved to America with her mother, and her family eventually settled in Los Angeles.

Catherine describes her adolescent self as being a tall, skinny kid that got straight A’s and wore glasses. When Catherine was in Junior High School, she did the programming for a computer game. She was a tomboy and not very popular, however, a friend showed her how to wear makeup and do her hair, and things improved for Catherine.

Catherine had excelled in maths and biology in High School, and had dreams of becoming a doctor or biomedical engineer. She was accepted into the University of California in Los Angeles, and along with her other subjects, she took an acting class (her very first), and was hooked.

She decided to leave UCLA to do modelling in Japan, however this was not one of her wisest choices. In Japan, the other models, some of who had anorexia or bulimia, were beginning to influence Catherine. She say’s of the time: “People were showing you how to throw up. You’re taking diet pills. Everyone’s partying, so you start drinking a lot, and drugs. A couple of years messed me up for a while”.

When Catherine returned home to the United States, she was still stuck in a downward spiral, however her acting teacher caught hold of her and introduced her to the religion of Scientology, which Catherine credits with helping her reclaim her life, and giving her clarity and success.

She returned to Los Angeles with a new goal: to prove herself as an actress. She soon found herself cast in guest spots on shows like Hercules, Dream On, and Friends.

When Catherine was on the set of the movie “Death Becomes Her”, she met her future husband, Adam Beason. She was the body double for Isabella Rossolini, and Adam was the directors assistant to Bob Zemekis. When Catherine put her phone number in Adam’s pocket, he didn’t call, he thought she was only joking!

Catherine had had a history of dating ‘bad boys’, and she discovered Adam was the first nice guy that she had ever dated. When they were first dating, Catherine thought: “He’s boring. He’s not interesting because he’s so normal. He calls when he says he’s going to call, shows up when he’s supposed to”. However, despite her attempts to dissuade him, Adam didn’t give up, and Catherine say’s it changed her as a person. “All of a sudden, I was able to have a relationship with somebody and stay in it”.

Catherine and Adam got married on the May 8th, 1994, after having been in a relationship for two years. They now reside in the Hollywood Hills with their two Italian Greyhounds, Leo & Zoe.

Her Big Break
A three-line part on the military drama J.A.G. - on an episode in which her character was brutally murdered - changed it all. She was in the final of “JAG”s first season on NBC, Catherine appeared as Lieutenant Dianne Schonke, USN.

Several months after that guest spot, Bell heard that the producers of J.A.G. were looking for a new female lead for the show. So she crossed her fingers and wrote a letter to executive producer Donald P. Bellisario, declaring her suitability for the role of Maj. Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie

Intrigued, Bellisario decided to take a gamble, and Bell won the part. Her chemistry with male lead David James Elliot, who plays Lt. Cmdr. Harmon "Harm" Rabb, ensured that the show, which had been struggling in the ratings, would thrive on a new network. J.A.G. now holds a steady position in Nielsen's Top 20.

Her role on J.A.G. allows Bell to showcase her athletic skills - she's been kickboxing for over 10 years, and knows her way around a shooting range. In her off-camera time, her tomboyish nature comes to the fore when she throws herself into snowboarding, riding motorcycles, wakeboarding, and other extreme sports.

After a fewyears of being on the show, Catherine now has amazing popularity among fans, especially those in Australia. In November 1999, Catherine became the very first television star to be presented with the “Associates for Breast and Prostate Cancer Research Spirit of Hollywood Award”. David James Elliott presented the award to his co-star, saying that Catherine was more than deserving of the great honour.

Bell now currently shares her Los Angeles-area home with her husband, actor Adam Beason, and their two Italian greyhounds, Leo and Zoe and still stares in JAG!!