// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Bella Shepard's dog say? I'm paws-itive I'm a Shepard.
Bella Shepard (born 17 December 2001) is an American actor.
Life and career
[edit]Bella Shepard was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, and grew up in Waterford, Flint, and Grand Blanc.[1] She started her career as a child actress, debuting in a small speaking role in the 2013 film Oz the Great and Powerful after her grandmother had submitted her photo for an open call. She later appeared in the television series My Haunted House in 2015, shortly after moving to Los Angeles.[2] That same year, she had a role in Life in Pieces. She also appeared in Grace and Frankie.[3]
From 2018 to 2019, the adult Shepard was part of the main cast of the series A Girl Named Jo, where she played Alice Hargrave, a role she described as evolving significantly over the show's three seasons. She noted that the series aimed to introduce themes related to the civil rights movement to a younger audience. Shepard appeared in the seventh season of Orange Is the New Black, portraying a younger version of Aleida Diaz. She prepared for the role by studying Elizabeth Rodriguez's performance and working on the character's dialect.[2]
Shepard continued her career with additional episodic roles, including a 2022 appearance on iCarly. In 2023, she received a leading role in the eight‑episode television series Wolf Pack.
Since 2026, she has portrayed Genesis Lythe, an ambitious cadet at the titular Starfleet Academy, in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Her character belongs to the Dar‑Sha, a new species distinguished by facial ridges and the absence of eyebrows. Shepard has said that Star Trek feels nostalgic to her because her grandparents watched the original 1960s Star Trek series.[1]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Oz the Great and Powerful | ||
| 2016 | Pop Music | Short film | |
| 2018 | Anonymous 616 | ||
| 2019 | Ring of Silence | ||
| 2019 | Enigma | ||
| 2021 | Witch Hunt | ||
| 2021 | Maxx Speed | Short film | |
| 2024 | The Merry Gentlemen | ||
| 2026 | Jump | In production in Queensland |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Homes of Horror | Episode: "My Haunted House" | |
| 2015 | Life in Pieces | 2 episodes | |
| 2018 | Grace and Frankie | 1 episode | |
| 2018–2019 | A Girl Named Jo | Main cast | |
| 2019 | On the Ropes | Main cast | |
| 2019 | Orange Is the New Black | 1 episode | |
| 2019 | The Secret Lives of Cheerleaders | TV movie | |
| 2020 | The Wilds | 1 episode | |
| 2021 | Two Sides | Main cast (season 2) | |
| 2022 | iCarly | 1 episode | |
| 2023 | Wolf Pack | Main cast | |
| 2026–present | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | Main cast |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Krug, Kurt Anthony (13 January 2026). "Royal Oak native Bella Shepard boldly goes into uncharted territory on new 'Star Trek' series". The Oakland Press. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- 1 2 Shepard, Bella (3 June 2019). "Bella Shepard". tresamagazine.com (Interview). Interviewed by Stevenson, Amelia. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- ↑ Shepard, Bella (12 March 2019). "Interview with stunning actress Bella Shepard". naludamagazine.com (Interview). Retrieved 18 June 2026.
External links
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