Her career was closely associated in particular with
Alan Ayckbourn whom she knew from her early work in Scarborough to being her neighbour in London. Bell appeared with English Stage Company at the
Royal Court Theatre, the National theatre, the Almeida, the Pleasance, the Bush and in the West End. She appeared in the first season of the dedicated
Theatre in the round at Stoke-on-Trent. Bell was also a regular on television and in radio productions. She was a founder member of the Victoria theatre, which is now known as the
New Vic. Bell went on to become a mentor for Central School students as well as an external examiner for
Trinity College London ==Awards and criticism==