Belle Black
| Isabella "Belle" Brady | |||||||||||||||||
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| Days of our Lives character | |||||||||||||||||
| File:Belle Black.jpg Martha Madison as Belle Black (2004–2008) | |||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Brianna & Chalice Fischette Brianna and Brittany McConnell Ashlyn & Kayley Messick Chelsea Butler Kirsten Storms (1999–2004) Charity Rahmer (2004) Martha Madison (2004–2008) | ||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 1993 | ||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | March 25, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||
| Created by | James E. Reilly | ||||||||||||||||
| File:Kirstenstorms-belleblack.jpg Kirsten Storms as Belle Black (1999–2004) | |||||||||||||||||
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Isabella "Belle" Black Brady (formerly Isabella Black Kiriakis), born onscreen October 21, 1993, is a fictional character on the U.S. daytime television drama Days of our Lives. The only child of supercouple John Black and Marlena Evans, she is also one half of the supercouple Shawn Brady and Belle Black. Belle the toddler quickly morphed into teen-Belle when Kirsten Storms[1] portrayed the character from 1999-2004. Martha Madison[2] appeared in the role from 2004-2008. Created by head writer James E. Reilly, Kirsten Storms is most recognizable in the role.
Character history
Belle is the daughter of Alamain Industries tycoon, Basic Black CEO, John Black and Salem Hospital's Head of Psychiatrics, Dr. Marlena Evans, making her the half-sister of Sami Brady, Eric Brady, and Brady Black (the only sibling with whom she was raised). Originally, the residents of Salem believe that Belle is the daughter of Marlena and Roman Brady. Belle however is conceived on John's private jet on the night of Marlena's wedding anniversary to Roman. John and Marlena's airplane encounter also marks the beginning of a torrid affair to which Sami Brady witnesses when she sees the couple making love several weeks later on the Titan Industries board room table.[3]
Aware of the affair, Sami Brady, keeps the knowledge secret for several months. When Marlena discovers that she is pregnant, John asks for a blood test that will determine if he is the father of the unborn child. By then, Sami is working as a volunteer at Salem Hospital. She accesses the results of the paternity test that confirm John as the father, and change the results. Later, the severely disturbed teen kidnaps Belle and tries to have her legally adopted. Stefano DiMera eventually forces Marlena to confess to Roman and all of Salem the truth of her affair with John. Later still, Stefano reveals the truth of Belle's paternity to the Brady family after reading Sami's diary.
Adolescence
As a teen at Salem High School, Belle begins an ill-fated relationship with bad boy Philip Kiriakis but soon falls in love with Shawn-Douglas Brady. Best friends with Mimi Lockhart, Belle's peers are shocked to see her burgeoning friendship with "Ghoul Girl" Chloe Lane. In 2000, Belle goes on a class trip to Puerto Rico. Belle, Shawn and Philip embark on their own on a missing-jewel hunt in search of a ruby that belongs to Alice Horton. After a near-drowning, the teens are successful and Shawn is able to return the ruby to his great-grandmother.[3]
Once back in Salem, a troubled classmate, Jan Spears, confides to Shawn that she had been raped by the father of recent arrivals to Salem, siblings Nicole and Brandon Walker, and is now pregnant. Shawn agrees to claim paternity, thereby destroying his blossoming relationship with Belle. Despite her sense of loss, Belle is accepted to Columbia University, and makes it through her senior year as class valedictorian. Moreover, after Jan's miscarriage and the truth of her rape comes out, Belle forgives Shawn and tentatively reunites with him at the "Last Blast" Dance.
Later that summer, during meteor showers on the Fourth of July, Belle and Shawn rescue the faux-alien-Gemini-twins, Rex Brady and Cassie Brady, who as it turns out were the children of Roman Brady and Kate Roberts.
Young Adult
Deciding not to move to New York City, Belle attends Salem University where she lives in the same campus dorm with Shawn, Rex and Cassie, while more economically-challenged Mimi lives at home. Belle and Shawn commit to a future together, but suffer another setback during Victor and Nicole's New Year's Eve wedding when Colin Murphy is murdered. Though Shawn shot at Colin and missed, he still felt responsible. Meanwhile, Belle works as an intern at her father's company, Basic Black. Her highly-focused work ethic contrasts sharply with Shawn's more easy-going approach, causing her to break up with him once again. Belle then begins to date ex-marine Philip Kiriakis, who now works for the ISA.
Headed for success as a fashion designer, Basic Black opts to feature Belle's designs, but Belle becomes increasingly disturbed when some of Salem's most prominent citizens are murdered by the Salem Stalker. The killer murders nine people before police uncovered the killer's identity, Belle's own mother Marlena. A devastated Belle lies to Shawn to provide an alibi for her mother. When Alice Horton, Shawn's grandmother is murdered, Shawn leaves town.
Harboring a secret crush, Philip provides Belle with some much-needed solace and eventually persuades her to be with him. When Shawn returns, his personality undergoes a profound change. Philip and Belle agree to marry; Shawn only realizes his true feelings for Belle on the eve of her wedding to Philip. Belle also realizes the true extent of her feelings for Shawn, but fails to tell Philip before he ships out with his Marine unit. Shawn then attempt to rescue his former friend when Philip is taken hostage.
Belle stays married given the extent of Philip's injuries. Later, Belle gives birth to Claire, who is really Shawn's daughter. Eventually, Claire's paternity is revealed, and Belle tells Phillip that she does not love him.
Pregnant again, doctors tell Belle the baby would not survive. Philip makes the decision to terminate Belle's pregnancy after assuring her that he would not let the baby die. Utterly devastated, Belle leaves Philip and moves in with her parents. Ready to resume her relationship with Shawn, Belle begins to pressure Shawn to be a more responsible father. Shawn opts to respond by sleeping with former prostitute, Willow Stark. After Victor kidnaps Claire, a custody battle ensues, pitting Brady against Kiriakis. The conflict came to a head while at sea when Philip loses hold of Claire and the baby is swept overboard.
Belle and Shawn eventually reunite with Claire; Shawn proposes marriage even as Belle and Philip grew closer. The passion-tossed triangle continues to undergo several more trials and predictable miscommunications when in November 2007, Shawn and Belle marry even though Belle continued to have feelings for Philip. In March 2008, Shawn and Belle once again reconcile, and together are written off the daytime soap, deciding to sail the world, strengthen their marriage, and take Claire with them.[4]
References
- ^ "Kirsten Storms - Bio - General Hospital - Soap Opera Digest and Weekly". Soapoperadigest.com. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
- ^ "Martha Madison Bio - Belle - DAYS OF OUR LIVES - Photos". Soapoperadigest.com. 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
- ^ a b "Character Bio - Belle Black". Soapscafe.com. 2006-03-09. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
- ^ "Two More DAYS Stars Fired". Daysofourlives.about.com. Retrieved 2010-05-31.