UNSCRIPTED LAYERS w/Bella Glanville

Arabella Glanville is more than the sum of her roles—though they’re impressive, spanning from ‘Mission Impossible 8’ to Netflix’s ‘A Whole Lifetime’. As an award-winning actress, screenwriter, international model, and UN human rights ambassador, she’s constantly shifting between identities, both real and fictional. In this candid conversation, Bella reveals what anchors her, challenges her, and how she’s writing a narrative that’s unapologetically her own...

​ALLIÉ: You’ve embodied characters in everything from high-stakes action films to thought-provoking dramas, while also using your real-life voice as a UN ambassador. How do you shift between playing fictional roles and standing in your own truth when the ‘performance’ ends?

BELLA: I love that question because I feel like my answer has changed a lot over the last few years, especially since I went into film. I actually came from theatre, so when I first transitioned to film, I thought, Oh, this is a completely different job. The camera picks up everything—every mannerism, every little detail—so rather than doing what I did on stage, where I had to be big and really embody certain characteristics and movements, I decided to take a different approach. 

Since the camera captures even the smallest expressions, I thought, I’m going to be a method actor. I’m going to fully embody these characters and live in their mindset. The first time I did that, I played a gothic character with PTSD. To immerse myself in the role, I dressed up as the character and went to goth nightclubs in Camden, London, introducing myself as the character and truly living in that world. It was an intense experience because taking on the traits of someone who has experienced PTSD is a lot to carry. A couple of years later, I played a female psychopath, which really fascinated me because my degree is in psychology. To prepare, I watched countless videos and interviews with female psychopaths, took notes, and even journaled as the character. But when I got to set, I realized something—I don’t need to be Bella and then become the character. When I took on such heavy roles, I found that method acting didn’t serve me the way I thought it would. I know actors like Daniel Day-Lewis swear by it, but for me, the emotional toll wasn’t necessary once I was actually on set. Instead, I discovered that it’s more important to connect with my own truth and draw from my own experiences to understand how a character might feel. Now, I want to be me when they call "action" and still be me when they call "cut," rather than disconnecting and feeling like I have to become someone else entirely.

ALLIÉ: I love that. You. That’s the best thing to be, yeah?

BELLA: Exactly. There’s no one you-er than you. That’s what Dr. Seuss says.

ALLIÉ: One of my favorite authors, I must say. Let’s not talk about TED. In your TEDx talk, The Myth of Perfection, you challenge societal ideals. How has your own relationship with perfection evolved, especially working in industries where image and perception often take center stage?

BELLA: Yeah, I love that question as well. My relationship with perfection has changed and evolved a lot over the years. Before I was an actor, I was a model. And, you know, I still do it—I still model—but I joke that, in model years, I’m 107 now. It was something I did full-time as a teenager, and it was really tough being in this industry at that age. There’s a stereotype that if you’re a model, you represent what society sees as "perfect." But I’ve always said that modeling can either make you or break you. You either develop thick skin so that nothing can hurt you, or you become incredibly insecure. Some of the most insecure girls I’ve ever met are also some of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever met—girls that society would consider “perfect." I actually talked about this in my TED Talk on The Myth of Perfection because I learned from a really young age that perfection isn’t what people think it is. And oddly enough, this realization didn’t even come from modeling—it happened before I became a full-time model. It all comes down to the labels we take on, whether from ourselves or from others. I came up with this way of looking at it: If you take the letter ‘e’ from the end of the word hate and put it at the beginning, it becomes e-hat. So, when someone hands you hate, they’re really handing you an e-hat with a label on it. And it’s up to you whether or not you wear it. The more you put on, the heavier it gets. But at the end of the day, a mirror is just a piece of glass—what you see in it is up to you. The definition of perfection is simply aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It’s not about one specific feature or trait. If you Google it, that’s what you’ll find: aesthetically pleasing to the eye. So when someone says, I think you’re perfect, what they’re really saying is, You embody everything I admire and aspire to be. But perfection is a moving target. What I see as perfect might not be what someone else sees as perfect. When I was a teenager, I decided I wasn’t going to wear anyone else’s e-hats. I was going to define my own perfection—because in the end, we all create our own definition of it. So, I told myself, Perfect is Bella. I’ve carried that mindset with me ever since. There’s no one newer than you. There’s no one else I’d rather be. Perfection is so often tied to comparison, and in any industry—especially one as competitive as mine—comparison is the fastest way to lose yourself. I’ve always believed that the only person I should compare myself to is who I was yesterday. The only question I need to ask is, How can I be a better version of her? That’s practical. That’s useful. So yeah, I don’t believe perfection exists.

​ALLIÉ: I love how you say that you only compare yourself with yourself. You're not looking outside, you're at yourself. Let's switch gears again. From starring in Mission Impossible 8 to being the face of global brands, you've experienced both cinematic and commercial storytelling. What story are you most passionate about telling in your own life that the world hasn’t seen yet?

BELLA: That’s really interesting because I actually had this conversation with my sister the other day. She said, The problem with you, Bella, is that you leave no mystery to the world. Everyone knows everything about you. You share too much about yourself. Everyone even knows what you had for breakfast on Instagram. And she’s right—I do share a lot. I think I’m a pretty open person. I talk a lot about self-love and self-confidence, but something that’s very new—something I’m just starting to promote more—is actually related to health. This is how I first got involved with the United Nations, and it’s a story that hasn’t really been shared yet. So here’s your exclusive.

A year ago, I was invited to do a presenting job at a retreat in India. I didn’t have much information—I just knew I was going to India to make a documentary. When I arrived, I found out it was an Ayurvedic retreat. I had never heard of Ayurveda before, but it turned out to be a form of traditional medicine practiced in many Eastern cultures. It’s completely different from Western medicine, and I approached it with an open mind. I was especially intrigued because I’m vegan, which is something I strongly believe in and try to promote—though I’m careful about how I do it. I know that diet, like religion, can be deeply personal, so rather than being pushy, I just try to share my truth and facts. But I do believe in veganism, and I think what’s happening to animals in the world is horrific. So when I got to this retreat, I was very open to learning. The treatments and medicines they offered were all based on natural elements—things the earth provides. The simplest way I can explain Ayurveda is this: In the UK, if you’re walking through a forest and you get stung by a stinging nettle, you won’t have to walk far before you find dock leaves. If you rub a dock leaf on the sting, the pain goes away. It’s not a coincidence that nature provides a remedy so close to the problem. I believe the earth has given us an answer for everything—we just need to pay more attention to it.

There’s evidence that turmeric can help prevent Alzheimer’s and cancer. Ashwagandha is a natural anti-stress and anti-anxiety remedy. It’s all-natural. So for three weeks, I followed an Ayurvedic diet at this retreat. I didn’t drink alcohol, and I also went through a process called purgation, which completely cleanses everything inside you. When I left, I looked 10 years younger—so basically, in my 20s, I looked like a teenager again. But more importantly, I met people there whose lives had completely changed. Some said it cured their cancer, heart disease, and chronic pain. I met people who looked like they were in their 20s but had children in their 20s. They had been following this lifestyle for years, and their health reflected it.

This experience completely changed my life, and I’ve been trying to share this story because I believe it aligns with veganism and a plant-based diet. It made me realize that we really don’t have to put toxic things into our bodies. It’s also the reason I stopped drinking—which was really hard for me because, being English, I grew up in a strong drinking culture. But the benefits were undeniable. My skin cleared up, I stopped getting sick, I lost a significant amount of weight, and, on a practical level, I saved a lot of money.

Now, I’m not saying it’s easy to adopt an Ayurvedic diet into everyday life, but even incorporating parts of it can make a big difference. And for those unfamiliar with it, Ayurveda isn’t some obscure, complicated diet. At its core, it just means cutting down on gluten, avoiding processed foods, and eating more plant-based meals. If you’re not vegan, it includes things like ghee—foods that are nourishing for your body and system. I haven’t really shared this story publicly yet because it was supposed to come out in the documentary, but I think it’s important.

​ALLIÉ: It is important. With regard to importance as it pertains to humanity, you are a human rights ambassador in the film industry. How do you reconcile the glamour of Hollywood with the often harsh realities of global issues you advocate for?

BELLA: It’s really hard. It’s really hard because, even with what I was just talking about, so many people roll their eyes within the first 10 seconds of me mentioning anything that isn’t Western or that challenges what they’ve been brought up to believe. Especially when I say I’m vegan—people immediately want to debate me. The only debates I’ve ever had about veganism have been because other people started them. I never bring it up. I never try to debate anyone. ​But I actually have a pretty good response when people do try to argue with me about it. I shut it down immediately. I just say, Oh, I only do it for attention—but hey, it’s working! That usually ends the conversation right there.

I think it’s difficult to have a voice when you’re passionate about any form of activism. It all comes down to fully believing and standing in your truth. I’ve always been a big believer that actions speak louder than words. I could stand on a rooftop and scream—or, better yet, climb a mountain and shout—about how life-changing this is, how Ayurveda is so important, and how there’s actual evidence that it prevents disease and cancer. But the best way to make people understand is to show them.

It’s about presenting the studies that have been done. It’s about saying, Hey, look—I stopped drinking, and this is what it’s done for me. I changed my diet, and here are the benefits. That’s what I try to do, because, at the end of the day, showing is always more powerful than telling.

I also think it’s difficult in Western culture because I know that the Indian government actually approached Western medicine and said, Let’s work together. We can collaborate and save lives. And this might be a controversial thing to say, but apparently—and these aren’t my words, just what I’ve heard—the response from Western governments wasn’t positive. Why? Because it wouldn’t make money. You can call it a conspiracy theory, but there’s a lot of evidence for it. At the end of the day, all I can do is say, I know my truth, and I’m going to share it with you. Take it or leave it. 

​ALLIÉ: You've spoken about embracing uncertainty. In moments when doubt feels overwhelming, what anchors you—whether it’s a practice, a thought, or a person?

BELLA: I have a really specific answer for this—immediately. I used to talk about this in one of my speeches.

I used to have a deep need for certainty. It was almost obsessive—I couldn’t handle the fear of the unknown or any kind of uncertainty. I think a lot of that ties into what many people call anxiety. I don’t particularly like taking on labels, but that’s one I’ve been given in the past. Anxiety often stems from a fear of the unknown, a fear of uncertainty, where your mind starts flooding with thoughts.

As you said, it’s about anchoring yourself in the present moment. In NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), they teach something called primary questions. Your primary question is essentially the driving force behind everything you do. The best part? You can consciously decide what your primary question is the moment you become aware of what it currently is.

A lot of primary questions actually hold us back. They’re things like, How can I make my mom proud?—which, at first, might not sound bad, but it places you on a pedestal where everything you do is about impressing someone who probably already loves you no matter what. Another common one is, How can I be good enough?—which is rooted in self-doubt. So, I changed mine. To anchor myself in the present, I made my primary question: How can I appreciate this moment right now?

Because when you ask yourself that, your focus immediately shifts to now. You stop thinking about the past. You stop worrying about the future—about what might happen, what did happen, or what should have happened. Instead, you zero in on what’s happening right now.

So, how can I appreciate this moment right now? Well, I’m talking to you, having this amazing interview. I’m in L.A.—my dream place. I’m warm, and I’m grateful for that because it’s raining outside. I could go on and on. And the more I think about it, I can actually feel myself relaxing, sinking into the moment.

And the best part is, you don’t even have to say it out loud. I’ve been at a dinner table before, feeling overwhelmed and anxious, and I’ve silently asked myself, How can I appreciate this moment right now? Then I start listing things in my head: I’m surrounded by my family. I love my family. There’s food on the table. I love this food. Chocolate is the best. And suddenly, the shift happens. Because where focus goes, energy flows. The more you direct your thoughts toward gratitude, the more that becomes all you can think about.

So, the simple answer to that question? Just ask yourself: How can I appreciate this moment right now? That’s it. ∎

Find Bella on Instagram:
​@bellaglanville