If you spent any part of the early 2010s glued to the Disney Channel, you definitely remember the fiery, red-headed ball of energy that was CeCe Jones. She was the impulsive, street-smart, and occasionally chaotic half of the Shake It Up Chicago dance duo. But beyond the glitter and the high-energy dance numbers, people still find themselves asking: who played CeCe Jones, and where did she go after the curtains closed in 2013?
The answer is Bella Thorne.
Honestly, it’s wild to think about how much has changed since she first stepped onto that neon-lit stage. At the time, she was just a teenager launched into the stratosphere of child stardom alongside her co-star Zendaya. But Thorne’s journey to becoming CeCe wasn’t exactly a smooth ride, and her life after Disney has been anything but "typical."
The Audition That Almost Didn’t Happen
When people ask who played CeCe Jones, they often assume it was just another easy win for a seasoned child actor. It wasn't. Bella Thorne actually had zero professional dancing experience when she landed the role. Think about that for a second. She was auditioning for a show literally called Shake It Up, where the entire premise was based on being a professional background dancer.
She’s mentioned in interviews that she had to take dance classes three times a week just to keep up with the choreography.
There was also a massive personal hurdle. In the show, CeCe Jones struggles with dyslexia. This wasn't just a random plot point cooked up by writers; it was a reflection of Bella’s real life. She has been very open about the fact that she grew up struggling to read and was even bullied for it. Incorporating that into CeCe’s character was a huge move for Disney at the time. It gave a lot of kids someone to look up to who wasn't "perfect" at school but was still killing it in their passion.
Quick Facts About the Casting
- Real Name: Annabella Avery Thorne
- Age During Premiere: Just 13 years old when the pilot aired in 2010.
- The Zendaya Connection: Disney executives once said the chemistry between Bella and Zendaya was the most "engaging" they had seen on the network.
- The "Secret" Audition: She actually had to audition several times to prove she could handle the physical demands of the dancing.
Why CeCe Jones Was Different from Other Disney Leads
Most Disney protagonists back then were the "girl next door" types. They were usually good students who occasionally got into wacky misunderstandings. CeCe was different. She was a bit of a troublemaker. She was failing classes. She was frequently irresponsible, like that one episode where she and Rocky straight-up forgot her little brother Flynn at the park.
Bella played that "wild child" energy perfectly. She brought a certain edge to the Disney formula that hadn't really been seen since maybe Miley Cyrus in the early days of Hannah Montana.
Life After the Mouse: The Bella Thorne Pivot
So, we know who played CeCe Jones, but what happened after the show ended in 2013? While her co-star Zendaya took a more traditional path toward prestige acting (think Euphoria and Dune), Bella Thorne went in a completely different direction.
She basically tore up the Disney playbook.
She moved into horror and "darker" indie films almost immediately. You might have seen her in The Babysitter on Netflix, where she played a high schooler who definitely wasn't dancing on Shake It Up Chicago. She also starred in The DUFF, playing the classic mean girl, which was a huge departure from the lovable-but-clumsy CeCe.
The Directorial Debut and Beyond
In 2019, she shocked the industry by making her directorial debut with a film for Pornhub titled Her & Him. It wasn't what anyone expected from a former Disney star, but it won her a Visionary Award. Since then, she’s leaned heavily into her own brand, launching a cannabis company, writing books, and even joining OnlyFans—where she reportedly made millions in a single day.
It’s been a polarizing path, for sure. Some fans from the Disney days were confused, while others praised her for taking full control of her image after years of being "managed" by a massive corporation.
The Legacy of Shake It Up in 2026
Looking back from 2026, the impact of the show is still visible. It wasn't just a show about dancing; it was the launching pad for two of the most talked-about women in Hollywood.
If you're revisiting the series now, you'll notice things you missed as a kid. The fashion was... interesting (so many layers!). The humor was broader than we remember. But the core friendship between CeCe and Rocky felt real. That's largely because Bella Thorne and Zendaya were actually close in real life, navigating the weird world of fame together.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators:
- Look for the Nuance: If you're a writer or creator, notice how Disney used Bella’s real-life dyslexia to add depth to her character. Authenticity usually wins.
- Support the Pivot: Understand that child stars often feel the need to "break" their image to find their adult selves. Whether you like her new projects or not, Bella’s career is a masterclass in rebranding.
- Rewatch with Context: Go back and watch the "Add It Up" episode of Shake It Up. Knowing Bella was struggling with those same issues in real life makes her performance much more moving.
At the end of the day, Bella Thorne is the one who played CeCe Jones, but she’s proven she’s a lot more than just a girl who likes to dance. She’s a mogul, a director, and a survivor of the child-star machine who decided to play by her own rules.
If you want to keep up with what she’s doing now, her production company "Filthy Fangs" is usually the best place to see her latest indie ventures or music projects. She’s still out there, still shaking things up—just on a much different stage.
