Catherine Bell (actress)

Catherine Lisa Bell (born 14 August 1968) is an American actress, known for her roles as Major Sarah MacKenzie in the television series JAG from 1997 to 2005, Denise Sherwood in the series Army Wives from 2007 to 2013, and Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale in Hallmark's The Good Witch films and television series since 2008.
== Early life ==
Catherine Lisa Bell[1] was born August 14, 1968[2][3] in London, England to a Scottish father Peter Bell and an Iranian mother Mina Ezzati. Her father Peter was an architect who signed a contract with the oil company in Iran, while Mina had emigrated to London to study nursing. Bell's parents divorced when she was two years old, and she was raised by her Iranian mother, grandmother and grandfather, with the family eventually moving to California's San Fernando Valley.[citation needed] Bell was exposed to diverse influences growing up. She and her family spoke Persian in their home. Her grandparents were Muslim, but she was also raised with Catholicism and attended a Baptist summer camp. In her teenage years, she came under the influence of her California surroundings, explaining, "I am definitely a Valley Girl. I was a tomboy. I liked to skateboard, play football, and push the envelope a little bit."[citation needed]
Bell enrolled at UCLA, where she considered a career in medicine or research. However, when she was offered a modeling job in Japan, where advertisers value "American beauty," she dropped out during her sophomore year.[3]
== Career ==
When Bell returned to the United States, she decided to try acting.[3] She studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas. She also worked as a massage therapist, and her clients included singer Peter Gabriel. Her first television acting role was one line spoken to Gabriel on the short-lived 1990 sitcom Sugar and Spice.[4]
Among her first parts was serving as Isabella Rossellini's nude body double for the 1992 film Death Becomes Her.[3]
In 1994 Bell starred in the Dolph Lundgren film Men of War. While filming the movie in Thailand, Bell and her co-star Trevor Goddard, bonded over mutually contracting amoebic dysentery. Goddard would later play Bell's off-and-on love interest Mic Brumby the following year on JAG. They remained friends until Goddard's death from a drug overdose in June 2003, an event that the bereaved Bell described as "horrible".[4]
In 1995, she obtained a three-line role in one episode of the NBC TV series JAG, which centers on the work of the United States Department of the Navy's Judge Advocate General office. NBC canceled the show after which it was picked up by CBS, which restructured the series, incorporating a female Marine Corps lawyer character, Sarah MacKenzie. Bell auditioned for that role and won it. One episode of the show established that MacKenzie is an Iranian-American, and featured Bell speaking Persian.[3] She continued in this role until the series ended in 2005.[5]
Beginning in 2007, Bell starred in Lifetime's ensemble drama series Army Wivesas Denise Sherwood, the wife of a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel,[6] who endures domestic violence at the hands of her teenage son during the show's first season.[7]
Bell was the Grand Marshal of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on June 3, 2007.[8]
Bell played the role of Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale, the main character of Hallmark's The Good Witch (2008), and its sequels The Good Witch's Garden(2009), The Good Witch's Gift (2010), The Good Witch's Family (2011), The Good Witch's Charm (2012), The Good Witch's Destiny (2013), and The Good Witch's Wonder (2014). She was also a co-executive producer of all of the movies.[9] She also starred in another Hallmark movie titled Last Man Standing.[10]
In 2015 it was reported that Bell would star in the movie Love Finds Its Way, which would begin filming in 2016.[11] Production began on the film in March 2017, with Vancouver as the filming location, and July 9, 2017 as the date for the film's premiere on the Hallmark Channel.[12]
== Awards ==
In 2006, Bell was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for her role in The Triangle.
== Personal life ==
Bell is fluent in Persian and English. She is fond of motorcycling, skiing, snowboarding and kick-boxing. Her hobbies include cross-stitching and making model cars, which she has done since age 8.[13]
In 2002, The Sporting News falsely reported that Bell correctly predicted that the New England Patriots would beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, 20 to 17 in a celebrity survey conducted just before the season started.[14] In actuality, Bell's prediction occurred after the NFC and AFC championship games had already been completed, so she did not predict the teams that would be participating, only the final score.[15]
During the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, Bell took flying lessons in a Cirrus SR22.[16]
Bell met actor-production assistant Adam Beason on the set of the 1992 film Death Becomes Her. They were married on May 8, 1994. They are the parents of daughter Gemma (b. 2003) and son Ronan (b. 2010).[17][18] They lived in a nearly 5,700-square-foot faux-Tuscan-style mini-mansion in Calabasas, California.[19]The couple sold the house in 2010,[19] and publicly confirmed that they had separated sometime before September 2011.[20]
Since 2012, Bell has lived with fellow Scientologist, photographer and party planner Brooke Daniells in Los Angeles.[21] In 2014, Bell paid $2.05 million for a recently remodeled, 3,380-square-foot, single-story ranch house on a 1.2 acre lot in the gated Hidden Hills community in the western suburbs of Los Angeles.[19]
=== Scientology ===
Bell was raised Roman Catholic and attended an all-girls Catholic school (Our Lady of Corvallis High School in Los Angeles). She is currently a practicing Scientologist.[22] Bell has attested to attaining the Scientology state of Clear.[23]She has supported Scientology's Hollywood Education and Literacy Project.[24]
In December 2005, Bell helped promote the gala opening of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (a Scientology supported group), "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death" museum.[25]
In February 2006, Bell appeared in a Scientology music video called "United". The film includes cameo performances by Isaac Hayes, Erika Christensen, Jenna Elfman and Lynsey Bartilson and promotes human rights with a rapsong.[26]
== Filmography ==
=== Actress ===
Title 	Date 	Role 	Notes
A Summer to Remember 	2018 	Jessica Tucker 	Television film (Hallmark); Leading Role [27]
Home for Christmas Day 	2017 	Jane McKendrick 	Television film (Hallmark); Leading Role & Executive Producer [28]
Christmas in the Air 	2017 	Lydia 	Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries); Leading Role
High-Rise Rescue 	2017 	Beth Davis 	Leading role[29]
The Do-Over 	2016 	Dawn Difazio 	Television film (Netflix)
The Bandit Hound 	2015 	Joanne 	
Good Witch 	2015–present	Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale	Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
The Good Witch's Wonder 	2014 	Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale	Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
Los Angeles, RIGHT NOW 	2014 	K-PUB's station manager 	Episode #5 The Bully
The Good Witch's Destiny 	2013 	Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale	Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
King & Maxwell 	2013 	Joan Dillinger 	Episodes #1.05 and #1.10
The Good Witch's Charm 	2012 	Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale	Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
Good Morning, Killer 	2011 	FBI Special Agent Ana Gray 	Leading role; shown as part of the TNTMystery Movie Night series
The Last Man Standing 	2011 	Abby Collins 	Leading role
The Good Witch's Family 	2011 	Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale	Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
The Good Witch's Gift 	2010 	Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale	Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
The Good Witch's Garden 	2009 	Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale	Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
The Good Witch 	2008 	Cassandra Nightingale 	Leading Role & Co-Executive Producer
Army Wives 	2007–2013 	Denise Sherwood 	Series Regular
Evan Almighty 	2007 	Susan Ortega (Uncredited) 	sequel to Bruce Almighty
Still Small Voices 	2007 	Michael Summer 	
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	2006 	Naomi Cheales 	Episode #8.09: "Choreographed"
Company Town 	2006 	Maggie Shaunessy 	unaired pilot
Threshold 	2006 	Dr. Daphne Larson 	Episode #1.11: "Outbreak"
The Triangle 	2005 	Emily Patterson 	
Babak and Friends: A First Norooz	2005 	Layla 	Voice
JAG 	1996–2005 	Maj./Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie 	Leading Role
Episode #1.22: "Skeleton Crew" (1996) as Lieutenant Junior Grade Diane Schonke 
Episode #3.19: "Death Watch" (1998) as Lieutenant Junior Grade Diane Schonke (archive footage)
Episode #5.11: "Ghosts of Christmas Past" (1999) as Jenny Lake
Episode #6.23: "Mutiny" (2001) as Mrs. Alexander MacKenzie
Episode #8.14: "Each of Us Angels" (2003) as Ensign Beverly Tromatore
Hot Line: Seductive Tales 	1996 	Cat 
The Brunch Club 	
Bruce Almighty 	2003 	Susan Ortega 	
Thrill Seekers 	1999 	Elizabeth Wintern 	
Cab to Canada 	1998 	Sandy 	
Black Thunder 	1998 	Lisa 	
Sin City Spectacular 	1998–1999 	 	Episode #1.10 and #1.16
Crash Dive 	1997 	Lt. Cmdr. Lisa Stark 	
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys 	1997 	Cynea 	Episode #3.10: "The Lady and the Dragon"
Hot Line 	1996 	Cat 	Episode "The Brunch Club" 
aka Hotline Volume 3 (VHS release title)
The Naked Truth 	1995 	 	Episode #1.11: "Comet Nails Star and Vice Versa!"
Friends 	1995 	Robin 	Episode #2.06: "The One with the Baby on the Bus"
Alien Nation: Body and Soul 	1995 	Cop 	
Vanishing Son 	1995 	 	Episode #2.06: "Miracle Under 34th Street" as Kelly, 
Episode #2.12: "Long Ago and Far Away" as Rachel
Men of War 	1994 	Grace Lashield 	
Dream On 	1994 	Kay Meadows 	Episode #5.09: "Those Who Can't, Edit"
Mother of the Bride 	1993 	Chastity 	
Death Becomes Her 	1992 	Lisle's Body Double 	Isabella Rossellini
True Colors 	1991 	Donna 	Episode No. 2.08: "Brotherly Love"
=== Self ===
Title 	Date 	Notes
Battle of the Network Stars 	2017[30] 	
Hallmark's Home & Family 	26 October 2012, 25 October 2013, 3 April 2015, 6 May 2016,	
Rachael Ray 	23 April 2010 	
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 	1 August 2008 	
The View 	16 June 2008 	
Live with Regis and Kelly 	2 June 2008 	
Martha 	17 January 2008 	
Live with Regis and Kelly 	16 January 2008 	
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 	8 August 2007 	
The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet	1 August 2007 	
Live with Regis and Kelly 	31 July 2007 	
Late Show with David Letterman 	30 July 2007 	
Sci Fi Inside: The Triangle 	2005 	
United 	2005 	
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 	23 May 2003 	
The View 	13 May 2003 	
DVD Exclusive Awards 	2003 	Presenter
CBS at 75[1] 	2003 	
Yes, Dear 	2003 	Episode #3.14: "Let's Get Jaggy with It"
Sidewalks Entertainment 	2002 	Episode #13.1: "Wedding Planner (Special Edition)"
The Howard Stern Show 	24 July 2002 	
Hollywood Squares 	24 September 2001 	
The Rosie O'Donnell Show 	15 January 2001 	
Miss Universe 2000 	May 2000 	Judge
Celebrity Jeopardy! 	May 1999 	
The Howie Mandel Show 	1998 	
To Tell the Truth 	1990 	in episode with Shelley Michelle as Cathy Bell
== See also ==
* Agra catbellae - a species of beetle named after Catherine Bell
Category:American film actresses