'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAA3ckPQ//EAB0QAAEEAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQRABMSIaL/2gAIAQEAAT8AXCeehz206uMObXZIsttJs+jiZjJSDrVn/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQADIf/aAAgBAgEBPwCnRn//xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARED/9oACAEDAQE/AN1If//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Martha Madison was born in Newport News, Virginia, on July 27, 1977. She is best known for her portrayal of Belle Black on Days of Our Lives. Belle was a famous character on the soap and her presence in numerous storylines kept the fans hooked. Fans were left heartbroken when news broke that Madison was leaving the show.
Martha James Madison stepped into the role of Belle Bleak in 2004. Belle is the daughter of iconic characters Marlena Evans and John Black. In 2023, she announced her departure from Days of Our Lives.
In an interview, Madison reasoned that she left the show to explore new opportunities and shared disappointment over how her character was being planned on the show.
Why did Martha Madison leave Days of Our Lives?
In 2023, the actress said goodbye to the soap and announced her departure from Days of Our Lives.
Trending
In an interview with Soaps In Depth, the actress shared that she had played the role of Belle Black for over two decades and expressed creative differences with the show's creators. She added that she felt it was time to leave and explore new opportunities.
While explaining her decision to leave, Madison said,
"In my opinion, Belle was never meant to be a peripheral character. She is the only child of Marlena and John, and after 19 years of coming and going from the show, it just finally clicked for me that they were never going to showcase the character the way I felt she should be."
She added,
"So I declined the opportunity to recur and shot that last episode in April. Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful to have played Belle for two decades, but I’m ready for more. It was just time to leave.”
The actress did appear on the show in November 2024 to mark the 59th anniversary of the show.
As per her LinkedIn profile, Madison worked as the vice president of recruitment at hospitality-focused recruitment agency One Haus from November 2021 to December 2023.
She is currently listed as the founder and CEO of The Madison Collective, "a specialized recruitment agency serving the hotel, restaurant and private service industries." The 47-year-old took up this role in January 2024.
Belle Black's Storylines on The Days of Our Lives
Belle Black and Shawn Brady's love story is among the most famous ones on the show. Their relationship has had many challenges ranging from betrayals to misunderstandings, and fans root for their love to endure.
Outside of her romance, Belle's a lawyer by profession. Her dynamics with her parents, Marlena and John, add to the emotional weight of the show. Belle as the character is caught between her ambitions for happiness and her family responsibilities.
The Legacy of Belle Black
While Madison's departure marks a substantial turning point in the Days of Our Lives, Belle Black remains one of the most pivotal characters of the soap opera's history. Madison's depiction has given the character a certain degree of authenticity and vulnerability, which makes her leaving even more bittersweet to those who have followed her character's twists and turns for a much longer time.
She earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2019 for playing Belle. Martha Madison's exit from Days of Our Lives has indeed forced the closure of an era for many fans. Fans of the show can watch the soap on Peacock Network.
