Belle

Set in 18th century England, Belle follows Dido Elizabeth Belle, the mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy admiral who is raised within the Mansfield household as a ward of Lord Mansfield. She grows up among refinement and privilege while still grappling with a social order that marks her as different. As Dido builds friendships and learns from the people around her, she becomes entangled in debates over freedom, law, and humanity that reach into the heart of Britain’s growing abolitionist movement. Her intelligence and moral clarity quietly challenge assumptions about race, class, and what it means to act with conscience in a restrictive world. Inside their circle, Dido's wit earns praise and tension as she weighs loyalties with resolve.

Belle, released in 2013, was directed by Amma Asante with a screenplay by Misan Sagay. It is inspired by the real life Dido Elizabeth Belle, reflecting themes of race and justice in 18th century Britain and launching Asante's acclaimed career.

Belle grossed about 16.5 million worldwide on a budget of roughly 10.9 million, giving the film a modest but solid return and confirming it as a respected entry in British historical drama that finds audiences beyond the art-house circuit worldwide.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw delivers a restrained but persuasive turn as Dido, earning praise for bringing nuance to a figure often overlooked in history. The film sparked renewed interest in Dido Belle and conversations about race and abolition in Britain. Its visual style and period detail also drew praise for wider audiences.

Critics praised the film for its thoughtful handling of race and class and for an intimate portrait of Dido Belle within a crucial moment in reform. It threads identity and loyalty against a backdrop of abolition, blending personal stakes with clear historical context, and inviting reflection on present issues today.