The real reason Amelia Reid-Meredith left Shortland Street

It was a sad day for Shortland Street fans when Bella Durville left Ferndale. 

But why was Bella written out of the scripts so suddenly?

The actress behind the role, Amelia Reid Meredith, has revealed why she had to make the decision to leave. 

Talking to NEXT, Amelia didn't leave because she had a new role, or wanted to spend more time with her toddler. It was because her Mum had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Amelia left her job, packed up her family and they moved to Nelson to care for her mother.

Keeping it a secret from many, Amelia told NEXT magazine that it wasn't a hard decision to make.

“Mum struggled because I think she felt guilty – she didn’t want us to stop our lives,” she told NEXT. “People have said things to me like, ‘You’ve sacrificed your career’, and I hate that word ‘sacrifice’. I haven’t sacrificed a thing. She gave me life, so if I can do one little thing to make hers a little easier, why wouldn’t I?”

Sending love your way Amelia!