In 1992, Bell went to her first audition and won a dual role as a banana and a tree[13] in a suburban Detroit theater's production of Raggedy Ann and Andy.[6] Her mother had established her with an agent before Bell was 13, which allowed her to appear in newspaper advertisements for several Detroit retailers and television commercials. She also began private acting lessons.[6] In 1998, she appeared with an uncredited role in the locally filmed film Polish Wedding.