Alexis Bellino rejoins ‘RHOC’ in friend role, spotted filming with Heather Dubrow and Emily SimpsonĀ
Alexis Bellino has rejoined āThe Real Housewives of Orange Countyā in a friend role, Page Six can confirm.
āAlexis is back!ā a production source raves to us, adding that she is expected to film for the entirety of Season 18.
Earlier this month, Page Six exclusively reported that she received a āformal offerā to rejoin the cast.
Shortly after production kicked off, Bellino was spotted filming with Heather Dubrow and Emily Simpson this week.
The trio was seen enjoying a meal together, captured by a nearby camera person.
Per one photo, surfaced by fans via social media, Dubrow and Simpson are seen indulging in what appear to be espresso martinis, while only Bellinoās back and cascading blond curls are visible.
Page Six has reached out to reps for Bellino and Bravo for comment.Ā
The pic comes weeks after insiders told us that Bellino, 47, was asked to return to the Bravo hit as her relationship with John Janssen ā the ex-boyfriend of āRHOCā veteran Shannon Beador ā becomes more serious.
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āHer relationship with John is certainly interesting,ā one source told us. āBut itās not the only reason producers want Alexis back. Sheās a dynamic personality who has history with a good portion of the cast.ā
In November 2023, Bellino ā who starred on āRHOCā in Seasons 5 through 8 from 2009 until 2013 ā told Page Six that she was open to the possibility of reprising a role.
āIāll never say never,ā she said at one of Kathy Hiltonās several Christmas parties in Los Angeles, admitting that her presence would inevitably āstart a little dramaā with Beador given her new connection with Janssen, 60.
Dubrowās husband, āBotchedā star Dr. Terry Dubrow, recently shared his thoughts on Bellinoās return during an exclusive chat with Page Six, teasing that his wife ā who championed her comeback for years ā had something to do with it.
āHeather and Alexis have gotten really close over the last several years. They have a lot in common and sheās a really, really nice girl,ā the plastic surgeon, 65, said, adding that a Bellino-Beador crossover was inevitable with or without cameras.
āI will tell you that Orange County is a bubble. It is a very small community and Alexis and Shannon will run into each other one way or another and it would be nice for things to sort of work out.ā
Simpson has said she is holding out hope for some sort of showdown between the women.
āI want to see that! That is good TV,ā she told Page Six in November 2023. āIām sorry, but bring Alexis back and let Shannon spiral out of control.ā
Weeks prior, a photo of Bellino and Janssen seated together in a booth at The Quiet Woman ā a favorite haunt of Beadorās in Newport Beach, Calif. ā set the Bravo fandom ablaze, with many wondering if the two were romantically involved.
By December, the pair confirmed they were an item by packing on the PDA during a holiday party with friends. Subsequently, Bellino revealed via Instagram that Janssen gifted her a promise ring for Christmas ā and dropped the L-word while doing so.
āWords cannot. Actions do. I will no longer feel guilty. I will not apologize. Love will create itās [sic] own story. I love you Johnny J. šā„ļø #lovewins #notengaged #promised #merrychristmas,ā she captioned a close-up shot of the new rock on her right ring finger.
Meanwhile, Beador has admitted that she was āhurtā and āconfusedā by the relationship, adding that she did not āknow how to processā the news.
TMZ was the first to report on Bellino coming back to the show as a āfriend ofā the cast.
Bravo has yet to announce a cast or premiere date for the next installment of āThe Real Housewives of Orange County.ā