Catherine Bell is a British-American actress born August 14, 1968, in London, England. She is best known for playing Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie on JAG and Cassie Nightingale in Hallmark’s Good Witch franchise.
Who is Catherine Bell?
Catherine Bell is a British-American actress, producer, and former model. Her full name is Catherine Lisa Bell.
She built her career across three major roles spanning nearly three decades of television.
Bell starred as Sarah MacKenzie on JAG from 1997 to 2005, then as Denise Sherwood on Army Wives from 2007 to 2013. She later became a Hallmark favorite as Cassie Nightingale in The Good Witch.
Early Life of Catherine Bell
Catherine Bell was born in London to a Scottish father, architect Peter Bell, and an Iranian mother, Mina Ezzati. Her parents divorced when she was two years old.
She was raised by her mother and maternal grandparents.
The family eventually moved to California’s San Fernando Valley, where Bell grew up speaking Persian at home. She has described herself as “definitely a Valley Girl,” recalling that she skateboarded and played football as a teenager.
Catherine Bell Age
Catherine Bell is 57 years old as of 2026, born on August 14, 1968. Her zodiac sign is Leo.
She continues to work steadily in television, appearing in Hallmark films as recently as 2024.
Catherine Bell Ethnicity and Nationality
Bell holds dual British and American citizenship. She was born in London and has lived in the United States since childhood.
Her father was of Scottish descent, and her mother is Iranian.
She is fluent in both English and Persian, a language she learned growing up in a Persian-speaking household.
Catherine Bell Height and Weight
Bell stands around 5 feet 8 inches tall. Her exact current weight is not publicly confirmed.
Her height was an asset early in her career, when she worked as a model in Japan before transitioning to acting.
Catherine Bell Education
Bell attended Our Lady of Corvallis High School, an all-girls Catholic school in Los Angeles. She then enrolled at UCLA, where she studied biomedical engineering.
She dropped out during her sophomore year after being offered a modeling job in Japan.
After returning to the United States, she studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse under acting coach Milton Katselas.
Catherine Bell Career
Bell began her entertainment career as a model in Japan before returning to the United States to pursue acting. She supported herself for eight years as a massage therapist at the Peninsula Beverly Hills while building her acting résumé.
In 1992, she worked as Isabella Rossellini’s body double in the film Death Becomes Her.
It was on that set that she met actor and production assistant Adam Beason, who later became her husband.
Breakthrough on JAG
Bell landed a three-line guest role on JAG in 1995, when the show still aired on NBC. After CBS picked up the series and restructured it, she auditioned for and won the new lead role of Marine Corps attorney Sarah MacKenzie.
She played the role from 1997 until the series ended in 2005, appearing in more than 200 episodes.
Army Wives and Good Witch
From 2007 to 2013, Bell starred as Denise Sherwood on Lifetime’s Army Wives, appearing in all 117 episodes of the series. She then took on the role of Cassie Nightingale in Hallmark’s The Good Witch television movie in 2008.
The franchise grew into seven television films before becoming a full television series in 2015.
Bell starred as Cassie Nightingale on Good Witch through its run until 2021, also serving as co-executive producer.
Recent Work
In 2019, Bell reprised her JAG role of Sarah MacKenzie for a multi-episode arc on NCIS: Los Angeles. She reunited with her original JAG co-star David James Elliott for the appearance.
She has continued starring in Hallmark holiday films, including Christmas on Cherry Lane in 2023 and Happy Holidays From Cherry Lane in 2024.
Catherine Bell Awards and Recognition
Bell earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2004 for her role on JAG. She also received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress on Television for the 2005 miniseries The Triangle.
Her performances across JAG, Army Wives, and Good Witch built her into one of television’s most recognizable leading actresses.
Catherine Bell Partner
Catherine Bell was previously married to actor and production assistant Adam Beason. The two met on the set of Death Becomes Her in 1992 and married on May 8, 1994.
They separated in 2011 after 17 years together, with their divorce finalized that same year.
Since 2012, Bell has lived with photographer and event planner Brooke Daniells in Los Angeles. The two have not publicly confirmed the nature of their relationship.
Catherine Bell Children
Catherine Bell has two children with ex-husband Adam Beason. Her daughter, Gemma, was born on April 16, 2003.
Her son, Ronan, was born on August 21, 2010.
Bell and Beason have continued co-parenting their children together since their divorce.
Catherine Bell Net Worth
Catherine Bell’s estimated net worth is $12 million as of 2026. Her income comes primarily from her decades-long acting and producing career.
She has also built income through business ventures, including Catherine Bell Jewelry and the beauty brand EVR.
Catherine Bell Social Media
Bell is active on Instagram as @therealcatherinebell, where she posts about her acting projects and family life. She also maintains an official website at catherinebell.com.
She keeps most details of her personal life private outside of her professional updates.
The Bottom Line
Catherine Bell built her career from a three-line guest spot on JAG in 1995 into a defining run as Sarah MacKenzie through 2005, followed by Army Wives and Hallmark’s Good Witch franchise.
She grew up in a Persian-speaking household in the San Fernando Valley after being born in London, and left UCLA’s biomedical engineering program to pursue modeling in Japan.
Bell continues acting today, most recently starring in Hallmark’s Cherry Lane holiday films alongside her ongoing business ventures.
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