Meet Bella Thorne: Zendaya’s former Disney Channel co-star had a music career and was on OnlyFans – now she’s starring alongside Ryan Phillippe, directing a film, getting married and dissing Ozempic

Aug 28 , 2024

She was a Disney Channel star alongside Zendaya and a source of OnlyFans controversy, but now Bella Thorne is planning her wedding and stars in the new film Saint Clare with Ryan Phillippe. Photo: @bellathorne/Instagram

Thorne was a Disney star who later carved out a niche in horror films and shows like American Horror Stories – now she’s making her directorial debut and starring in Saint Clare with Ryan Phillippe

After a brief music career and having got caught up in an OnlyFans controversy, Thorne is leaving the past behind as she gets married and focuses on improving her body image without Ozempic

Some people may remember Bella Thorne as a Disney star who spoke out about battling dyslexia at school, but she’s come a long way since. These days, she’s gearing up for her feature directorial debut, Color Your Hurt; hitting the press circuit for the latest film she’s in, alongside Ryan Phillippe, Saint Clare; and talking about the dysmorphic effects of weight-loss drug Ozempic, while preparing for her wedding.

Bella Thorne Dyslexia Story

But how did Annabella Avery “Bella” Thorne go from Disney sweetheart to a Hollywood career and body-positive activism? Her unusual route saw her dabble in music and start a wildly successful OnlyFans account. Here’s what we know about Thorne’s career trajectory and what she’s doing now.

She’s a former Disney star

Bella Thorne and Zendaya in the intro to their Disney Channel show, Shake It Up. Photo: @DisneyChannelUK/YouTube

Between 2010 and 2013, Thorne starred alongside fellow Disney alumna Zendaya in the Mickey Mouse channel’s Shake It Up. The duo would go on to star in multiple Disney films and shows, including 2012’s Frenemies, and K.C. Undercover, which aired from 2015 to 2018. Thorne also featured in the 2015 animated film Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip.

She’s shown off her versatile acting chops

A still of Bella Thorne from a trailer of the 2017 film The Babysitter. Photo: @KinoCheck.com/YouTube

Soon enough, Thorne decided to shed her wholesome Disney image by stepping out of the Mickey Mouse bubble and taking acting jobs across a variety of genres.

As an actress, she is now better known for her roles in the horror genre, with notable appearances in films like The Babysitter (2017) and The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020), as well as Amityville: The Awakening (2017). She also stars in horror TV shows such as Scream, which she appeared in from 2015 to 2019, and since 2021, American Horror Stories.

She’s taken a stab at music

Bella Thorne - B*TCH I'M BELLA THORNE (Music Video)

Not content to simply rack up acting credits, Thorne set out to conquer the world of music, too. While still appearing in Disney’s Shake It Up, Thorne released her first single, “Watch Me”, in 2010 with co-star Zendaya. This was followed by a series of bright pop songs related to her Disney shows and films. She signed with Hollywood Records in 2013, but her music career never quite took off – even with the parody hit “B***h I’m Bella Thorne”, which became a TikTok reference when users began using the song title to poke fun at Thorne’s Disney-era dyslexia commercial.