Byrdie Bell (born Evelyn Byrd Bell on March 13, 1985) is an American actress and model whose career has spanned independent film, international reality television, editorial fashion, and brand campaigns. Known for her patrician poise, downtown New York edge, and cross-Atlantic training in dramatic arts, Bell has built a diverse résumé both in front of the camera and within the fashion industry.
Early Life and Education
Bell was born in Chicago and raised between Connecticut and New York City. She attended Greenwich Country Day School before enrolling at the United Nations International School, an environment that reflected the global sensibilities she would later bring to her work.
Her artistic training is rooted in respected institutions: she studied at HB Studio in New York, completed coursework at the British American Drama Academy in London, and graduated from the conservatory program at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
Bell’s family history is notable on both sides. She is a descendant of Colonel William Byrd II, the 18th-century founder of Richmond, Virginia. Her mother, Evelyn Lorentzen Bell, is part of the Lorentzen family of Norway, which includes figures connected by marriage to the Norwegian royal family. Her father, Ted Bell, served as Vice Chairman and Creative Director of Young & Rubicam, one of the world’s largest and most influential advertising agencies, placing Bell squarely within a lineage of creative and cultural influence.
Career
Bell’s acting career gained international visibility in 2009 when she was cast in HaAh HaGadol 2, the Israeli edition of Big Brother. Her purpose on the show was strategic rather than competitive—she entered the house as a planted actor designed to confuse and unsettle the contestants, a role that required improvisational agility and an understanding of reality-TV dynamics.
She appeared in a small role in Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones concert documentary Shine a Light, and has participated in several independent film projects, including Blinders and Tragic Fairytale. Though both films sought distribution, they were not ultimately released.
Parallel to her acting pursuits, Bell launched a successful modeling career at age eighteen. She has appeared in editorial spreads for Vogue, V Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Paper Planes, Dossier Journal, and other style publications. Her campaign work has included major brands such as Club Monaco, Hogan, Rad Hourani, NAHM, Meredith Kahn, and Bloomingdale’s.
Her blend of fashion knowledge and creative sensibility led to a 2011 appointment as a featured editor for Piperlime, allowing her to merge her artistic background with a curatorial voice in style and retail.
In 2010, The New York Times named Bell to its “Nifty 50,” a spotlight on emerging American talents working across arts, design, entertainment, and innovation.
