Bella Nixon is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Courtney Miller. The actress previously appeared in the serial as an extra. When the part of Bella came up, Miller felt a strong connection to the character and storyline. She was cast in June 2018 and Home and Away marks her first major television role. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 26 November 2018. The character was introduced as the younger half-sister of Colby Thorne (Tim Franklin) and she received several on-screen mentions as part of his early storylines. Bella's fictional backstory establishes that she and her mother were taken away by her father Ross Nixon (Justin Rosniak) when she was young. Bella is portrayed as sheltered, but independent and feisty. Miller found herself being able to live out her rebellious side through her, and she uses her qualifications in psychology and rehabilitation counselling to help her portray Bella's feelings.
Miller praised Bella's unglamorous and realistic style as a positive characteristic for young female viewers to see. When Colby and Bella are reunited, Bella protects herself with a crossbow and Franklin described her as "completely feral". Bella moves to Summer Bay with Colby, but Miller said she is greatly affected by Ross's crimes and lies. The character's early storylines dealt with Ross's return, as he kidnaps her and tries to get revenge on Colby, her fears that she is messing up Colby's life, and her rebellious behaviour, which results in a new living situation. The script writers used the character to highlight the growing issue of online predators targeting and grooming young Australians. Bella's predator, 25-year-old Tommy O'Reilly (Adam Sollis) attempts to sexually assault her when they meet, but is stopped by Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger). Miller hoped the storyline would lead to more awareness of the issue, and she later received positive feedback from parents after the scenes aired.
Towards the end of 2019, Bella starts feuding with Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir), after she breaks up with Colby. Miller believed that Bella sees Mackenzie as a threat and wants to get revenge. She is also diagnosed with tetanus, and she uses her illness to manipulate Colby into spending all his time with her. Bella and Mackenzie are among several characters caught up in a siege at the hospital during the 2019 season finale. Mackenzie risks her own life to save Bella, who has taken an overdose. Miller received a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent for her portrayal of Bella. The character's introduction was branded memorable by New Ideas Jackie Brygel, while her polarising behaviour led one critic from Inside Soap to call her "trouble with a capital 'T'". The character departed during the episode broadcast on 2 June 2022, as she moves to New York City for work. She later made a brief appearance on 21 July 2022, before returning for a longer stint from 23 February until 2 March 2023.
Casting The character received several on-screen mentions following the introduction of her elder brother Colby Thorne (Tim Franklin) in February 2018. Miller's casting as Bella was confirmed in September when she replaced injured co-star Olivia Deeble at the Bundaberg Ability Ball. Miller had appeared in the serial as an extra when she was 15. Years later, she attended three auditions for roles, including that of Ziggy Astoni, which went to Sophie Dillman. When the part of Bella came up, Miller felt "a strong connection" to the character and her storyline, despite there being very few similarities between them. Miller met Franklin at the audition and he commented, that "she was my pick" of all the actresses. Miller learned she had been cast in June 2018, and she had to keep the news to herself until her on-screen debut. Miller, who was studying psychology at university at the time, did not put much pressure on herself to secure the part. Home and Away marks Miller's first major television role. Her first scenes aired on 26 November 2018.
Development Characterisation Miller described Bella as "an independent – but sheltered – 16-year-old who is still discovering herself and the world around her. Although she is feisty, underneath her hard exterior, she wants to be loved." She called Bella "a bit cheeky" and someone who "will tell it how she sees it". Miller also said that Bella wants to fit into the Bay, but as she is not sure how, it leads to her vulnerable side coming out. Miller, who is around six years older than her character, found herself being able to live out her "rebellious side" through Bella.She admitted that she was nothing like Bella in school and never received a detention, which makes the character fun for her to portray. She commented, "I think it's good being older because I know when I can tap into the emotions that I did feel when your hormones are a little bit everywhere. It's good looking back and being able to play it."
Miller did not think she and Bella would be close friends in real life, but she could sympathise with her. Kerry Harvey of Stuff.co.nz pointed out that Bella has been popular with girls who watch Home and Away, and Miller believed that it was partly due to Bella's style, which she described as unglamorous and realistic. Miller liked looking "a bit rough on screen, in like the hair's never perfect and the clothes are never perfect", which she thought was a positive thing for younger female viewers to see.
Miller's qualifications in psychology and rehabilitation counselling help her to portray how Bella is feeling during her storylines. She explained to Harvey that she uses her knowledge of PTSD and bi-polar to justify Bella's behaviour and what she says and feels. She also told Jackie Brygel of New Idea: "Helping people has always been a part of my life and I think that's one of the reasons I love acting – because I get to empathise with a character. I really love playing Bella, because she is ultimately a troubled child due to her upbringing, and I wanted to bring some truth to that."
Bella's behaviour is greatly affected by her father, his crimes and death. Her feisty persona helps her avoid getting close to anyone, as she fears they will leave or do something bad. Miller added, "Her dad who she thought she loved has killed her mum and then her brother who she began to love has now killed her dad. I think it now sets up for tough issues within Bella." Miller believed that when Bella plans to get revenge on those that have wronged her or Colby, she thinks it is acceptable because she saw her father do it. In November 2019, Miller confirmed that Bella's behaviour will begin to change and improve. She hoped that viewers would like the new side of Bella, as she just gets to be a teenager for a while.
Introduction The character's fictional backstory established that she and her mother were taken away by her father Ross Nixon (Justin Rosniak), leaving behind her half-brother Colby, who began searching for them. Scenes airing in November 2018 saw Colby gain an address for Ross, shortly after learning that he killed Colby and Bella's mother. When Colby and his friend Dean Thompson (Patrick O'Connor) eventually track Bella down, her first instinct is to protect herself with a crossbow. Franklin described Bella as "completely feral" and said Colby had imagined they would have a much happier reunion. After firing the crossbow, Bella flees and hides out in the backyard. Miller explained her character's reaction: "Bella is terrified – she's been told repeatedly by her dad that Colby is not to be trusted. Her first instinct is to protect herself, and she won't leave without a fight, or firing an arrow." Jackie Brygel of New Idea observed that Bella is "traumatised", while Miller said her character views Colby as an enemy thanks to her father.
Miller admitted that she was already nervous about filming her first scene before she was handed the crossbow. But she felt the weight of the weapon helped her get into character, saying "as an actor, it allowed me to place all my nervous energy into one solid object." A safety officer was present on set, and the potential for something to go wrong helped Miller and Franklin to bond. Knowing that his violent stepfather could return home at any moment, Colby decides to kidnap Bella. Franklin believed his character has no other option but to take Bella against her will. He and Dean take her to an old River Boys gang hideout, where they attempt to undo Ross's brainwashing. Upon hearing about Ross's criminal history, Bella initially denies it, as she questions how her father, who has protected her, could be that bad. Miller told Inside Soap'''s Sarah Ellis that most of Bella's "anger and hints of her dark personality" comes from learning this information, as she wonders if her childhood has been a lie. Colby eventually brings Bella back to Summer Bay to live with him.
Early storylines Bella's arrival causes tension and a break-up between Colby and his fiancée Chelsea Campbell (Ashleigh Brewer), who realises that he lied to her and kidnapped his own sister. Bella goes through "a harrowing" police interview about her parents, which leaves her feeling responsible for her mother's death. She also feels guilty about Colby and Chelsea's break-up, and encourages the couple to talk. Following Colby and Chelsea's reconciliation, the family take a break off-screen. Upon their return, they announce they are moving to the city after the wedding. Chelsea and Bella then come into conflict over Bella's schooling, as Chelsea wants her level of education assessed.
During the show's 2018 season finale, Colby and Chelsea marry, and an armed Ross takes Bella, Chelsea and Willow Harris (Sarah Roberts) hostage. The first episodes of the new season focused on resolving the cliffhanger. Bella tries to reason with her father, but soon learns that Ross wants revenge on Colby for taking her away from him. He plans to lure Colby into a trap and kill him. Colby opts not to call in back up and goes to meet Ross with Dean. He finds Chelsea and Bella tied up, while Dean helps an unconscious Willow. Ross tries to force Colby into choosing between his wife and his sister, but he runs at him and Bella strikes his arm to force him into dropping the gun, which goes off. Miller commented, "Ultimately, there are some things you just can't recover from. It's an incredibly intense time." Franklin explained that after Colby witnesses Ross shooting Willow, he believes that Ross will not stop until he has killed everyone Colby loves, so he shoots Ross dead. Colby initially keeps Ross's death a secret from Bella, but when he learns that she is worried that her father will return, he decides to tell her the truth. He admits that he was trying to protect her, but "a terrified" Bella struggles to understand what he is saying, before he admits that Ross is dead.
The character's early storylines also dealt with her fears that she is "messing up" Colby's life, after she overhears him telling his Sergeant that he is unable to return to work, as he is too busy caring for her. Bella runs away and her disappearance leads Colby, Dean and Willow to come together to find her. Bella also worries that she is going to lose the "family" she has in Willow and Dean, when the latter grows closer to Ziggy Astoni (Sophie Dillman). She stows away in the boot of their car as they head to a rally, with the aim of revealing herself once they are far enough away. Bella hopes the pair will return her to the Bay, so she can reunite Dean with Willow, but Dean calls Colby to collect her instead. The scenes were filmed on-location in Flinders Ranges.