Isabella "Bella" Cooper is a fictional character on the New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 soap opera

Soap opera

A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...

 Shortland Street

Shortland Street

Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...

. She has been portrayed by Amelia Reid

Amelia Reid

Amelia Reid was a pilot, flight instructor, businesswoman, airshow performer and airport advocate.In 1960 Reid founded Amelia Reid Aviation, a flight school at Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose, California. She ran the business out of her 1959 Ford and later, two trailers...

 since her arrival in September 2010 as the oldest sibling in the Cooper family unit.

Introduction

It was announced in August 2010 that Wendy Cooper's family would be introduced throughout 2010, 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

Yvonne Jeffries

Yvonne Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is the mother of Maia, Libby, Hamish and Tania Jeffries...

.

Actress, Amelia Reid compared her character to past receptionist and Street icon, Waverley Harrison

Waverley Harrison

Waverley Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Claire Chitham and was introduced as a love interest for Nick Harrison who she eventually married 8 years after her arrival to the show.-1994-1995:Rachel was annoyed when her wacky...

 and her pairing with Yvonne

Yvonne Jeffries

Yvonne Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is the mother of Maia, Libby, Hamish and Tania Jeffries...

 similar to that of Waverleys and Marj's.

2010-

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 Kemp

Brodie Kemp is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Ari Boyland. He first appeared for four episodes in March 2010 as a guest character, before returning in a recurring role in July...

. Brodie shows little interest but after failing to impress Sophie

Sophie McKay

Sophie Juliette McKay is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was introduced in late 2006 as the daughter of surgeon Justine Jones and GP Callum McKay. She was briefly married to Kieran Mitchell in early 2010 before they separated.-2006-2008:Sophie McKay...

, he gives Bella a try. Bella tries to get on with fellow receptionists Yvonne Jeffries

Yvonne Jeffries

Yvonne Jeffries is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She is the mother of Maia, Libby, Hamish and Tania Jeffries...

 and Gerald Tippett

Gerald Tippett

Gerald Heathcliff Tippett is a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, who was played by Harry McNaughton from his first appearance in September 2007 up until his final appearance in September 2010.-2007-2008:...

 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

Murray Cooper

Murray Cooper is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He arrived in October 2010 as the patriarch to the new family unit; the Coopers and the replacement owner of the IV following Kieran's death.-Creation and Introduction:...

 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

Isaac Worthington

Dr. Isaac John William Worthington is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera, Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Matt Minto and has been on the show since March 8, 2010. He is the cousin of long time character Chris Warner. The characters badboy attitude and relationship with Dr...

, 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

Daniel Potts

Daniel Potts is a fictional character in the soap opera Shortland Street. The role was originated by actor Jarred Blakiston from 2004–2005 and again briefly in 2007 before Ido Drent took over in 2009...

 which ended in extreme embarrassment and Bella becoming homeless for a short period. In July Bella makes a self diagnosis of Asperger syndrome

Asperger syndrome

Asperger's syndrome that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development...

 much to the confusion of Gabrielle

Gabrielle Jacobs

Dr. Gabrielle Jacobs is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and has been portrayed by Virginie Le Brun throughout two stints, the first from 2009 to 2010 and the second from 2011 to present...

.

Reception

Bella has been generally well received by fans, being voted "Favorite Recurring Female" in the 2010 Throng Shortland Street Fan Awards. Hugh Sundae of The New Zealand Herald

The New Zealand Herald

- External links :* * *...

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".