Bella Thorne has made it clear that while she is happily engaged, her immediate creative project is taking precedence over any plans to start a family. The 28-year-old actress and filmmaker revealed that her current "baby" is the movie she recently wrote and directed.
Creative Focus Over Family Plans
Speaking at The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Gala on December 3, Thorne told Entertainment Tonight about her latest venture. "I just directed a movie that I wrote, so I think that's my baby currently and I'm in editing," she explained. The event was held at The Beverly Hills Hotel.
While she didn't name the project during the interview, it has been confirmed as the coming-of-age drama Color Your Hurt. This marks Thorne's feature-length directorial debut, following earlier short films like Unsettled and Paint it Red.
The Story Behind 'Color Your Hurt'
The film is based on a true story, centring on a young gay man's struggle for acceptance within a hostile, religious community in America's Bible Belt. The cast includes notable names such as Christopher Eccleston, Tammy Blanchard, and Gideon Glick. The story is drawn from the experiences of actor Jason Parks, who also appears in the film.
A Modern Engagement Story
Thorne's personal life has also been in the spotlight. She is engaged to British producer Mark Emms, 45. The couple met in August 2022 and made their relationship Instagram-official on Valentine's Day the following year.
In a modern twist on proposals, Emms popped the question in May 2023, and Thorne reciprocated exactly one year later in August 2024. She documented her proposal on Instagram, showing a romantic setup at home with candles and flowers. "3 years ago we met, 1 year later he proposed, Now 1 year later so did I," she captioned the video.
Thorne has spoken warmly about their deepening bond. "Every day we kind of draw closer," she told People magazine. "It's really like, 'Oh wow, we're really, you're my partner.' Let's do this together... that kind of becomes more real every day."
Speaking Out on Body Image and Ozempic
Beyond her film work, Thorne has been vocal about body image pressures in Hollywood. Last month, she shared a video of herself dancing in a black bikini, confidently showcasing her figure.
This display of self-assurance came a year after she criticised the Ozempic trend, blaming the weight-loss drug for fostering "unrealistic beauty standards." She expressed that the widespread use in the industry made her feel insecure about her own body for a period.
"I have swam every day and I have sweat out everything possible, and I have walked everywhere, and I'm finally feeling good about myself," she stated, advocating for exercise over pharmaceutical shortcuts. She ended her message with a blunt dismissal of the drug trend.
Advocacy for Child Star Welfare
Reflecting on her own childhood fame from Disney Channel's Shake It Up!, Thorne has become an advocate for better mental health support for young performers. She revealed she often felt she "didn't have a voice" growing up in the spotlight.
Thorne strongly believes that "real therapy" should be mandated for children who become famous overnight. She echoed sentiments shared by singer Chappell Roan about the overwhelming nature of sudden fame.
"If the correct guardrails aren’t in place - and even when they are in place - things can still go wrong," Thorne cautioned. She insists the only advice she'd give her younger self is to "go talk to somebody," lamenting that therapy is still viewed as somewhat taboo.
"Guys, what world are we living in? I think we all need therapy," she concluded.
