Angela is an actress, screenwriter, and producer based in the vibrant city of Toronto. With a diverse educational background, including studies at McGill University, The Barrow Group in New York, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Angela has honed her craft and showcased her talents on both the big and small screens.
Beyond her flourishing career in film, Angela is driven by a deep passion for ethical veganism and animal rights advocacy. Firmly committed to creating a compassionate world, she utilizes her platform to raise awareness about the inherent violence in animal agriculture and the urgent need for change. With unwavering dedication, Angela urges others to embrace a plant-based diet, showcasing the positive impact it can have on both animal welfare and the environment.
Meatless Movement recently had a chance to chat with her.
Angela firmly believes in the power of collective action to combat animal cruelty and foster a kinder world. Through her artistic endeavors and activism, she strives to inspire others to join the movement towards a more compassionate and sustainable future. With every role she portrays, every word she writes, and every message she shares, Angela endeavors to make a profound difference and ignite change.
Join Angela on her remarkable journey as she continues to captivate audiences with her talent, while also championing the cause of animal rights. Together, let us work towards a world where all beings are treated with respect, compassion, and kindness.
Please tell us more about yourself
I am vegan. I believe living this way is a path of compassion toward all living creatures, and it’s opened my eyes
ANGIE BELL Ⓥ
I am a Toronto-born actress & writer, and Host of The Vegan Fashion Show in Toronto. I’ve been vegan for the past three years, and vegetarian for many years before that.
While I was born in Toronto, I’ve lived in multiple cities including Sussex and Montreal (studied at both for university), and then afterwards in Orlando, where I worked for The Walt Disney Company. Each time I’ve moved to a new place was nerve-wracking (meeting new friends, building new roots, learning new cultures and traditions), but I learned three valuable lessons that have served me throughout my life: 1) Growth happens outside your comfort zone 2) There are people like you everywhere you go and 3) It always seems scary until it’s done. Lean into the unknown.
What Inspired Your Transition to Vegetarianism?
Deciding that a dog or cat deserves to live their life in comfort, versus a cow being cramped in a slaughterhouse and killed, is illogical to me
ANGIE BELL Ⓥ
I attended the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto on a school trip when I was about 12 years old. It was my first major exposure to the big agriculture industry, and I remember walking by the sections of the fair and noticing that the animals were labelled differently. The cows were marked “beef”, chicken were marked “poultry”, and pigs were labelled “pork”. Beside them, stacked brochures described their skin as “tender and juicy” and listed the steroid hormones and antibiotics they’d been injected with. Meanwhile, these sentient beings unknowingly moved around their tight enclosures, cuddling against each other for comfort.
As we moved to the section with the pigs, our group passed by a gestation crate that held a mother pig and her babies behind glass. The metal enclosure was cramped, giving barely any room for the piglets to move around their mother who had been forced onto her side. Meanwhile, crowds were gathered around them, banging on the glass. The mood of the crowd was frenzied and loud, and I could see fear in the mother pig’s eyes. She was powerless to protect her babies.
Instinctively, my heart hurt for her and her piglets, and yet I didn’t know what I could do.
I felt powerless to stop what I instinctively knew was wrong, but what was accepted by the law, government, and society as legal and acceptable. That was the first day that something clicked in my mind, and that I truly questioned our food system. In my gut, I knew something was broken and grossly unfair. That was the beginning of my journey to veganism.
What are some obstacles encountered when seeking vegan food or dining out with friends?
For me, learning to cook plant-based came gradually and in stages. Growing up, my mother cooked primarily plant-based for us, so adjusting to plant-based proteins as an adult wasn’t very difficult as I already had a strong foundation for how to do it.
That said, the biggest challenge for me as a vegan was learning to shake up my recipes – it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, cooking the same recipes over and over. What helped me shake things up was putting myself out there – attending vegan events and connecting with our community. This is one of the most kind and inclusive communities I’ve ever been a part of; I owe some of the best recipes I have to my vegan friends. Attending local events like Vegandale, Mississauga Vegfest, and Planted Expo was also eye-opening for me. Events are a fun way to learn about the new, exciting things happening in the plant-based world, from new products to popular cookbooks, and hearing from industry-leading speakers about their journey.
What are your sentiments regarding your choice to embrace veganism?
I believe no life should be held higher in regard than another
ANGIE BELL Ⓥ
It’s something that has become a part of my identity. While it is a lifestyle that impacts my diet, it is also a lifestyle that impacts my entire outlook on life. Since going vegan, I feel healthier than I have ever felt, and that I’m living a life that is more in line with my inner principles.
The best way to describe it, for me, is a lightbulb switching on – before the lights went up, life was simpler. It was easier to eat out with friends and family, I didn’t feel the ethical weight I feel now when I walk through a grocery store, pass a slaughterhouse or a local dairy farm. Yet now that the light switch has gone on, I wouldn’t take it back. I wouldn’t trade the simplicity I felt before, for the sense of agency I feel now.
I feel like most of us in society want to make ethical choices, but we find ourselves unconsciously making decisions that don’t align with those values. I’m grateful to have made this shift, and if I’m able to encourage others to open their minds, live a healthier life, and make our planet a kinder and more sustainable place, then I’m using my time well and hopefully creating a better future for my daughter (my husband and I are expecting in November 2023).
How would you encourage someone who hasn’t embraced veganism to give meatless food a try?
Also, vegan food is delicious. Give it a try! 🌱
ANGIE BELL Ⓥ
I’d say that it is a lot easier and tastier than you might think – there is a misconception that vegan food is plain, flavourless and lacking in critical protein and other nutrients. It’s a narrative that is often perpetuated by the meat and dairy industry, who want us to believe that a healthy diet cannot exist on a 100% plant-based diet.
I’d recommend people try easy-to-cook meat alternative substitutes like Beyond Meat and Impossible Meat, which taste almost identical to beef but are a fraction of the cost, don’t involve animal cruelty, and use significantly less water, land and energy – and generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a beef burger. I’d recommend picking up Plant You, a fantastic cookbook written by Canadian author Carleigh Bodrug because the recipes are simple, delicious, and full of heart-healthy nutrients.
Putting it simply: before you knock it, try it. But don’t try your grandma’s vegan cooking, try some of the modern alternatives at our fingertips. Not only will the animals thank you, but so will your body, mind and wallet.
For someone embarking on the journey of going meatless, what guidance or advice would you offer?
Together, our actions – big or small – can make an impact. And the animals & planet will thank you 🙏🌎
ANGIE BELL Ⓥ
Don’t try to do it alone. Reach out to other friends who are already plant-based to get their recommendations, check out local restaurants, and join online communities that align with your interests. If you want to get active for the animals, join activist groups; if you are a foodie, join vegan foodie groups online. And experiment with new recipes – some will be failures, but you’ll discover gems you didn’t know about before.
And be kind to yourself. When you’re trying to make a big life transition, don’t aim for perfection. Try going meatless 1-2 days per week, then 2-3 days – work your way up gradually. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
All amazing forces doing beautiful things for the animals & our planet ✨
ANGIE BELL Ⓥ
I’ve met some of the loveliest, kindest, and most empathetic people when I became vegan. As an actress, I’ve attended many classes and one was a Stage and Film Combat class at Rapier Wit in Toronto where my path coincided with Vikki Lenola, the Executive Producer of The Vegan Fashion Show. It’s funny how you never know how your path will cross with like-minded people, and what paths they will lead to. Since then, we’ve attended protests together, visited sanctuaries and helped launch Toronto’s first ever vegan fashion show. When I look back, I’m just very grateful I took that acting class.
ANGIE BELL Ⓥ
Actress, Writer & Animal Activist 🥷
Host & Spokesmodel | @theveganfashionshow
Vegan #ForTheAnimals 🌱#untileverycageisempty ✊
all images courtesy of ANGIE BELL Ⓥ