Isabella Kathleen Rusbridger (born 28 July 1983), known professionally as Bella Mackie, is an English author, journalist, and comedy writer.
Early life Mackie is the daughter of Alan Rusbridger, former editor-in-chief of The Guardian, and Lindsay Mackie. She grew up in Kentish Town, North London, where she lives to this day. Mackie began her studies at university, but withdrew for mental health reasons. She had dealt with anxiety, agoraphobia, panic attacks, and OCD since childhood.
Career After working as a journalist, Mackie's first book Jog On is a non-fiction account of how running helped her to alleviate mental health problems.
Her second book How to Kill Your Family, a loose adaptation of the movie Kind Hearts and Coronets, explores funny ways for women to kill people in an attempt to subvert the attention given to men who murder women. An adaptation of the book was commissioned by Netflix in 2024, with Anya Taylor-Joy attached to star.
Personal life Mackie met her first husband at age 28, but they divorced less than two years later. She took up running in the aftermath of her divorce. In 2018, Mackie married Greg James, a DJ on BBC Radio 1 and television presenter.
Mackie has spoken and written extensively about being child free.
Bibliography Nonfiction Jog On: How Running Saved My Life (2019) Jog On Journal: A Practical Guide to Getting Up and Running (2019)
Fiction How to Kill Your Family (2021) What a Way to Go (2024) Claws Out! (2026)
References