Lights, Camera, Healing: A Birthday Wish in Two Acts.

This year for my 28th birthday I'm not asking for cake. (Well...maybe one slice. Carrot. With a candle.) But mostly - I'm asking for you.

I'm an actress, filmmaker and daughter with two stories burning inside me. To date I have three short films under my belt which have screened at various festivals across Europe, as well as countless screenplays sat on my desktop waiting to be made. So for my birthday this year, I'm raising funds to bring two of my next passion projects to life:

Act One: A documentary I'm co-creating with my mum. It's intimate. Tender. Fierce. It follows her story - our story - navigating a cancer diagnosis with courage, humour and depth. We believe this film can heal. Not just us. But others too.

At its heart this documentary chronicles her journey and our shared story, through the turbulent landscape of a triple negative cancer diagnosis. We explore what it means to face illness and uncertainty head-on. We believe deeply in the healing power of storytelling for the masses; our hope is that this film becomes a source of strength, not only for ourselves but for others walking similar paths. It's more than a documentary—it's a lifeline, a love letter to resilience, and an invitation to find beauty and hope even amidst life's greatest challenges.

Act Two: A feature film. Raw, brave and beautifully messy - a poetic dance between imagination and truth. Straight out of the imagination factory in my brain that never ever sleeps. It tells the story of two unlikely friends who cross the Atlantic in the eerie stillness of a global lockdown—but their journey takes an unexpected turn when fate brings them face-to-face with an impossible choice. In open waters, where borders blur, humanity is tested, and compassion becomes the ultimate act of rebellion. Inspired by my upbringing in the yachting community and the countless hours I spent captivated by the wild sea adventures told by pirates like my Dad.

These two stories aren't just passion projects - they're purpose. And while I can bring the vision, the grit and the love.... I need help with the rest. What would your donation be going towards?

For the documentary:

For the feature film:

Your donation, no matter how small, is a candle lit on this journey. If you can't donate, sharing this campaign with your community means the world.

I'll be sending updates, behind the-scenes glimpses, and perhaps the odd dance break. And of course thank-yous so heartfelt they may involve interpretative movement or terrible puns.

Thank you for believing in art.

In healing. In storytelling.

And in me.

Love,

Bella