| Bella Cooper | |||||||||||
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| Shortland Street character | |||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Amelia Reid | ||||||||||
| Introduced by | Steven Zanoski | ||||||||||
| Duration | 2010– | ||||||||||
| First appearance | 8 September 2010 Episode 4578 |
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| Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||
| Date of birth | 1989 | ||||||||||
| Occupation | Receptionist at Shortland Street Hospital (2010–) | ||||||||||
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Isabella "Bella" Cooper is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She has been portrayed by Amelia Reid since her arrival in September 2010 as the oldest sibling in the Cooper family unit.
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It was announced in August 2010 that Wendy Cooper's family would be introduced throughout 2010[1], with her two youngest children arriving throughout the month. It was announced that the oldest sibling, Bella would be arriving as the new receptionist alongside Yvonne Jeffries.[2][3]
Actress, Amelia Reid compared her character to past receptionist and Street icon, Waverley Harrison and her pairing with Yvonne similar to that of Waverleys and Marj's.[4]
Bella arrives to Shortland Street after dropping out of Makeup school because she burnt a mans face. She gets a job at the hospital as a receptionist and soon sets upon a romance with Brodie. Brodie shows little interest but after failing to impress Sophie, he gives Bella a try. Bella tries to get on with fellow receptionists Yvonne Jeffries and Gerald Tippett but both find her annoying and immature, however both soften to Bella. Bella becomes besotted and moves in with Brodie. She tries desperately to get her father Murray and mother, Wendy to get on with Brodie, but the couple consider Brodie childish. However Bella is pleased when Brodie goes into business with her parents.
In 2011 Bella starts to suspect Brodie is having an affair and breaks up with him to be with manipulative doctor Isaac Worthington, however Brodie alerts her that Isaac only wants to marry her to gain access to his trust fund and Bella returns to Brodie. Bella learns Brodie is in financial strife and offers to leave the country with him, however Brodie skips the country without Bella, saying it was too dangerous for her. Bella then attempted to start a relationship with Daniel which ended in extreme embarrassment and Bella becoming homeless for a short period. In July Bella makes a self diagnosis of Asperger syndrome much to the confusion of Gabrielle.
Bella has been well received by fans, being voted "Favorite Recurring Female" in the 2010 Throng Shortland Street Fan Awards.[5] In the 2011 awards, Bella took out "Favourite Female Character" and her relationship with Luke won "Favourite Couple".[6] Bella also took out "Best Hair" and "Funniest Moment".[6] Her relationship with Luke also won "Best Thing to happen in 2011".[6] Hugh Sundae of The New Zealand Herald praised Reid's portrayal of Bella, stating; "Amelia Reid (as Bella Cooper) wasn't firing at 100 percent in her first week either, but now she's one of The Street's best new characters".[7]