From Flint to Starfleet Academy: Bella Shepard’s Big Break

There are a lot of famous people who once called Flint, Michigan home. Terry Crews made a name for himself after starting out at ABC 12. Other famous names from Vehicle City include Sandra Bernhard, Seamus Dever, Tony Burton, and Bob Bell, who was the first Bozo the Clown. Host of The Newlywed Game, Bob Eubanks, and radio icon and the original voice of Shaggy from Scooby-Doo, Casey Kasem, also hail from Flint.

From Flint to Hollywood to The Final Frontier

Yes, we've had a lot of stars come out of Flint. But now, a Flint actress is heading to the stars. Bella Shepard was born in Royal Oak, but she lived in Grand Blanc, Flint, and Waterford before moving to Los Angeles in 2015. Now she is starring in the new series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as Genesis Lythe.

READ MORE: Terry Crews' Career Started as Sketch Artist for Flint's ABC 12

The new show debuted earlier this year with a strong cast, including Holly Hunter, Tig Notaro, Robert Picardo, and even Stephen Colbert as the voice of the Computer and Digital Dean of Starfleet. Paul Giamatti is also on board as Klingon Nus Braka, according to IMDb.

READ MORE: Five Headlines Michiganders Were Obsessed With in the 1980s

Shepard got her start in 2013 and now has 28 acting credits to her name. Not bad considering she was born in 2001. She has appeared in Life in Pieces, Grace and Frankie, iCarly, and Orange Is the New Black.

A Shout-Out to a Flint Favorite

When she was recently asked by Naluda Magazine about her favorite food, she gave a shout-out to her favorite restaurant on Miller Road right here in Flint. She said:

If you find yourself in Flint, Michigan, you will find some of the best Lebanese food in the United States. Shout out to Taboon on Miller Road!

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You can watch Bella Shepard on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, with new episodes dropping Thursdays on Paramount+.