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Kristen Anne Bell (born July 18, 1980) is an American actress. Beginning her acting career by starring in stage productions while attending the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, she made her Broadway stage debut as Becky Thatcher in the comedy musical '' The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' and appeared in a Broadway revival of '' The Crucible'' the following year. She later appeared in the action thriller film '' Spartan'' (2004) and received praise for her performance in the television drama film ''
Gracie's Choice ''Gracie's Choice: A Story of Love'' is a 2004 American drama film that premiered on Lifetime. It is written by Joyce Eliason; directed by Peter Werner; and stars Kristen Bell, Anne Heche, Diane Ladd, and Kristin Fairlie. Plot Gracie is a 17-y ...
'' (2004). Her first major role was the title character in the teen noir drama television series '' Veronica Mars'' (2004–2007), receiving critical acclaim and a Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television for her performance. She reprised the eponymous role in the 2014 film and the 2019 revival. During her time on ''Veronica Mars'', Bell starred as Mary Lane in the musical film '' Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical'' (2005), a reprise of the role she had played in the New York musical of the same name. Bell starred as Elle Bishop in the superhero drama series ''
Heroes Heroes or Héroes may refer to: * Hero, one who displays courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good Film * ''Heroes'' (1977 film), an American drama * ''Heroes'' (2008 film), an Indian Hindi film Gaming * ''Heroes of Might and Magic'' ...
'' from 2007 to 2008. She voiced the titular narrator in the teen drama series '' Gossip Girl'', reprising the role in the 2021 sequel. Bell also starred as Jeannie van der Hooven, the female lead on the
Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...
comedy series '' House of Lies''. She starred in the lead role of Eleanor Shellstrop on the critically acclaimed NBC comedy series '' The Good Place'', receiving a
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...
nomination for her role. In addition, Bell portrayed the lead role in streaming series ''
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window , creator = {{Plainlist, * Rachel Ramras * Hugh Davidson * Larry Dorf , starring = {{Plainlist, * Kristen Bell * Michael Ealy * Tom Riley * Mary Holland * Cameron Britton * Shelley Hennig * Samsara Yett , director ...
''. In film, she had her major breakout film role as the title character in '' Forgetting Sarah Marshall'' (2008). She has since appeared in a number of comedy films, including ''
Couples Retreat ''Couples Retreat'' is a 2009 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Billingsley marking his directorial debut, and written by Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, and Dana Fox. Vaughn and Favreau star with Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Kristin Davi ...
'' (2009), '' When in Rome'' (2010), '' You Again'' (2010), '' The Boss'' (2016), '' Bad Moms'' (2016), and '' A Bad Moms Christmas'' (2017). Bell garnered further recognition for voicing Princess Anna in the Disney animated films ''
Frozen Frozen may refer to: * the result of freezing * a paralysis response in extreme cases of fear Films * ''Frozen'' (1997 film), a film by Wang Xiaoshuai * ''Frozen'' (2005 film), a film by Juliet McKoen * ''Frozen'' (2007 film), a film by Sh ...
'' (2013), ''
Ralph Breaks the Internet ''Ralph Breaks the Internet'' is a 2018 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The 57th animated film produced by the studio and the sequel to ...
'' (2018), and '' Frozen II'' (2019).


Early life and family

Bell was born on July 18, 1980, in Huntington Woods, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, where she was raised. Her mother, Lorelei (''née'' Frygier), is a
registered nurse A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated or successfully passed a nursing program from a recognized nursing school and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar government-authorized licensing body to o ...
, and her father, Tom Bell, works as a television news director in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her parents divorced when she was two years old. Bell has two stepsisters from her father's second marriage, and three stepsisters and a stepbrother from her mother's second marriage. Her mother is of Polish descent, and her father has German, Scottish and Irish ancestry. Bell stated that she did not like her first name at the age of four. Bell's mother convinced her to go by her middle name, Anne, instead; she used the name Annie until high school. Just before her first year of high school, Bell's parents decided to remove her from the
public school Public school may refer to: * State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government * Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...
system. She attended Shrine Catholic High School in nearby
Royal Oak The Royal Oak is the English oak tree within which the future King Charles II of England hid to escape the Roundheads following the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The tree was in Boscobel Wood, which was part of the park of Boscobel House. C ...
, where she took part in the drama and music club. Before attending Shrine, she attended Burton Elementary School and Norup Middle School (now known as Norup International School), a part of the
Berkley School District Berkley School District is a United States school district serving the entirety of Berkley, Huntington Woods, and the northern portion of Oak Park, in the state of Michigan. The superintendent is Scott Francis. Created in 1840, the district cu ...
. During her time at the school, she won the starring role in the school's 1997 production of ''
The Wizard of Oz ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' or ''The Wizard of Oz'' most commonly refers to: *'' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', a 1900 American novel by L. Frank Baum often reprinted as ''The Wizard of Oz'' ** Wizard of Oz (character), from the Baum novel serie ...
'', as Dorothy Gale, and also appeared in productions of ''
Fiddler on the Roof ''Fiddler on the Roof'' is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in or around 1905. It is based on ''Tevye and his Daughters'' (or ''Tevye the ...
'' (1995), ''
Lady, Be Good ''Linda, Be Good'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Elyse Knox, John Hubbard and Marie Wilson. The film's sets were designed by the art director Lewis H. Creber.Stephens p.65 Sidney W. Pink took the film ...
'' (1996), and '' Li'l Abner'' (1998). In 1998, the year she graduated, Bell was named the yearbook's "Best Looking Girl" by senior class vote. Shortly after her high school graduation, Bell moved to New York City to attend New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, studying musical theater. In 2002, during her senior year, Bell left a few credits shy of graduating to take a role in the Broadway musical version of ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer''.


Career


1992–2003: Early work

In 1992, Bell went to her first audition and won a dual role as a banana and a tree in a suburban Detroit theater's production of ''
Raggedy Ann and Andy Raggedy Ann is a character created by American writer Johnny Gruelle (1880–1938) that appeared in a series of books he wrote and illustrated for young children. Raggedy Ann is a rag doll with red yarn for hair and a triangle nose. Gruelle re ...
''. Her mother had established her with an agent before Bell was 13, which allowed her to appear in newspaper advertisements for several Detroit retailers and television commercials. She also began private acting lessons. In 1998, she appeared with an uncredited role in the locally filmed movie '' Polish Wedding''. In 2001, Bell left New York University to play a role as Becky Thatcher in the short-lived Broadway musical of '' The Adventures of Tom Sawyer''. That same year, she made her credited film debut in '' Pootie Tang''. Her one line in the film was cut, and her appearance exists only as a scene shown during the credit sequence. Additionally, she auditioned for the television series ''
Smallville ''Smallville'' is an American superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produced by Millar Gough ...
'' for the role of Chloe Sullivan, which was eventually won by Allison Mack. In 2002, she appeared in the Broadway revival of '' The Crucible'' with Liam Neeson,
Angela Bettis Angela Marie Bettis (born January 9, 1973) is an American actress, film producer, and director. Following her breakthrough role as Janet Webber in the drama film ''Girl, Interrupted'' (1999), she earned acclaim for her portrayals of Carrietta Wh ...
and
Laura Linney Laura Leggett Linney (born February 5, 1964) is an American actress. Having studied acting at Juilliard School (1986-1990), she became known for her complex and multilayered performances on stage and screen. She has received various accolades, ...
. Bell then moved to Los Angeles in 2002 because of her friendship with writers Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, and appeared in a handful of television shows as a special guest, finding trouble gaining a recurring role in a television series. Bell said she "tested like eight times and booked nothing and every show hetested for got picked up", including auditions for '' Skin'' and a Norm Macdonald series. In 2003, Bell appeared in FX's "The Shield," season 2, episode 1, which aired on January 7, 2003. She also co-starred in the film "The King and Queen of Moonlight Bay," playing the role of Alison, a 17-year old girl who travels to Arizona to reconnect with the father that abandoned her family when Alison was only 5 years old.


2004–2006: ''Veronica Mars'' and other roles

In 2004, Bell earned acclaim for her starring role in the
Lifetime Lifetime may refer to: * Life expectancy, the length of time a person is expected to remain alive Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Lifetime (band), a rock band from New Jersey * ''Life Time'' (Rollins Band album), by Rollins Band * ...
television film ''
Gracie's Choice ''Gracie's Choice: A Story of Love'' is a 2004 American drama film that premiered on Lifetime. It is written by Joyce Eliason; directed by Peter Werner; and stars Kristen Bell, Anne Heche, Diane Ladd, and Kristin Fairlie. Plot Gracie is a 17-y ...
'', which received one of the network's highest ratings. She made her debut in a theatrically released film with David Mamet's action thriller '' Spartan'', as Laura Newton, the kidnapped daughter of the U.S. president, acting alongside Val Kilmer. Bell also guest-starred on the
HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
period drama series ''
Deadwood Deadwood may refer to: Places Canada * Deadwood, Alberta * Deadwood, British Columbia * Deadwood River, a tributary of the Dease River in northern British Columbia United States * Deadwood, California (disambiguation), several communiti ...
'', in a two-episode story arc (" Bullock Returns to the Camp" and "
Suffer the Little Children "Suffer the Little Children" is a horror short story by American writer Stephen King. It was first published by ''Cavalier'' in February 1972. The story was later published as part of the collection ''Nightmares & Dreamscapes'' in 1993. In the ...
"). At 24, she won the role of the title character in the UPN noir drama series '' Veronica Mars'', which was launched in the fall of 2004. Created by Rob Thomas, the series starred Bell as the seventeen-year-old anti-establishment high school student and private detective. Bell drew on the parallels between the character of Veronica and her own life, since Bell's parents had divorced and her best friend had also died. The series earned acclaim from critics. Bell's performance earned her the Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television and a nomination for the
TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama The TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama is an award given by the Television Critics Association. Winners and nominees Multiple wins ;3 wins * James Gandolfini (consecutive) ;2 wins * Andre Braugher (consecutive) * Jon Hamm * Hugh Lau ...
, among numerous others. Some critics asserted that her performance was overlooked, and deserved consideration for a
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
. Aside from working on ''Veronica Mars'', Bell starred in '' Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical'', reprising the role she played in the short-lived 2001
Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
musical. The musical was a spoof of the 1936 exploitation film of the same name. ''Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical'' debuted on the
Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...
network on April 16, 2005. Also in April, Bell starred as Gracie in ''
Fifty Pills ''Fifty Pills'' (also known as ''50 Pills'') is the debut comedy film of director Theo Avgerinos, which premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. Plot After being blamed for a party which he didn't throw or have any knowledge of, that resulte ...
'', an entry for the Tribeca Film Festival. She appeared in a short independent film called ''The Receipt'' and the horror film ''Roman'', which was directed by her ''Crucible'' co-star Angela Bettis. Released on August 11, 2006, '' Pulse'' starred Bell as the lead Mattie. A remake of the Japanese horror film ''
Kairo Kairo may refer to: * Kairo (band), Mexican boy band from 1993 to 1999 with Eduardo Verástegui as member until 1996 * ''Kairo'' (video game), independently published exploration video game made by Richard Perrin * ''Kairo'' (film), A.K.A. ''Pul ...
'', the film grossed US$27.9 million worldwide but garnered negative response from critics. Frank Scheck of '' The Hollywood Reporter'' commented, "despite the starring presence of Kristen Bell, heyoung actress has far less interesting material to work with here than she does as he character'Veronica Mars.'"


2007–2011: Film breakthrough and ''Gossip Girl''

''Veronica Mars'' continued on UPN for a second season; for the third season, the show was renewed and appeared on the newly created The CW. On January 19, 2007, CW Entertainment President
Dawn Ostroff Dawn Ostroff is an American businesswoman. She is the chief content officer and advertising business officer of Spotify, and the former president of entertainment of The CW and former president of Condé Nast Entertainment. Early life and educ ...
announced that while she was pleased with the gradual improvement of ''Veronica Mars'' ratings, the series would be put on hiatus after February sweeps to air a new reality series, ''
Pussycat Dolls Present ''Pussycat Dolls Present'' is an American reality television series that premiered on March 6, 2007 on The CW, and took place over the course of eight weeks. It was a joint venture between Ken Mok's 10 by 10 Entertainment, Pussycat LLC, and Warne ...
''. On May 17, 2007, Ostroff announced the cancelation of the series. A two-hour series finale aired in the United States on May 22, 2007, and on June 11, 2007, Thomas officially announced in an email to '' TV Guide'' Michael Ausiello that ''Veronica Mars'' had been canceled by the CW. A ''Veronica Mars'' feature film and comic book series continuation had been discussed, and for a short time there was talk of another collaboration between Bell and creator Thomas that would be unrelated to the ''Veronica Mars'' series. Following the cancelation of ''Veronica Mars'', Bell voiced interest in appearing on ''Heroes'' because she was a fan. On July 29, 2007, during a train ride back to Los Angeles from the San Diego Comic-Con with ''Heroes'' actors Zachary Quinto and
Masi Oka is a Japanese actor, producer, and digital effects artist who became widely known for starring in NBC's ''Heroes'' as Hiro Nakamura and in CBS's ''Hawaii Five-0'' as Doctor Max Bergman. Early life Oka was born in Tokyo, Japan, to Setsuko Oka. Hi ...
, and writers from the series, the writers had mentioned that if she "ever want dto come on ''Heroes'', give us ritersa call," to which Bell said she would "love to". Meanwhile, there were discussions about a role on ''
Lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography *Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland * Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...
'', but Bell turned down the roleJensen, Jeff, Lindelof, Damon & Cuse, Carlton,
'Lost' producers – 5
", '' Entertainment Weekly''. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
of
Charlotte Staples Lewis Dr Charlotte Staples Lewis is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Lost'', played by Rebecca Mader. Charlotte is introduced in the second episode of season four and is a cultural anthropologist on a mission to the island where Oc ...
. Bell portrayed Elle Bishop on ''Heroes'', a "mysterious young lady" with an "awesome power". She did not have to audition for the role of Elle, who made her first appearance in an October 2007 episode, and appeared in twelve episodes during the run of the series. The casting of Bell, ''Heroes'' creator
Tim Kring Richard Timothy Kring (born July 9, 1957) is an American screenwriter and television producer, best known for his creation of the drama series '' Strange World'', ''Crossing Jordan'', '' Heroes'', and ''Touch''. Early life Kring was born in El D ...
explained, "was not easy to pull off", but because of the large ensemble cast of the series and multiple story arcs, "we found a way to jump into a small window in ell'sschedule." Bell lent her voice to the CW series '' Gossip Girl'': she voiced the title character in every episode of the series, appearing in person only for a surprise cameo in the final episode, portraying herself. Shortly after the cancelation of ''Veronica Mars'' in early 2007, Bell filmed on location in Hawaii for a starring role as the title character in the Judd Apatow comedy '' Forgetting Sarah Marshall''. She regarded the improvisational comedy in the film as "a lovely experience". The film, written by and also starring Jason Segel, was released theatrically on April 18, 2008, and greatly increased Bell's profile. Bell lent her voice and likeness to the video game ''
Assassin's Creed ''Assassin's Creed'' is an open-world, action-adventure, and stealth game franchise published by Ubisoft and developed mainly by its studio Ubisoft Montreal using the game engine Anvil and its more advanced derivatives. Created by Patrice D ...
'', which was released in November 2007 for consoles and April 2008 for the PC. Bell reprised her role of Lucy in '' Assassin's Creed II'', released in November 2009, and again in '' Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'', released in November 2010. In the spring of 2006, she finished filming the ''
Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
''-themed comedy '' Fanboys''. Director Kyle Newman received additional funding to shoot new scenes, but the busy schedules of the actors only allowed for filming in September 2007. As a result, the release was delayed until January 14, 2008. Bell also starred in the 2009 comedies '' Serious Moonlight'', alongside Meg Ryan, and ''
Couples Retreat ''Couples Retreat'' is a 2009 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Billingsley marking his directorial debut, and written by Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, and Dana Fox. Vaughn and Favreau star with Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Kristin Davi ...
'', which chronicles four couples who partake in therapy sessions at a tropical island resort.
Jason Bateman Jason Kent Bateman (born January 14, 1969) is an American actor, director and producer known for his roles of Michael Bluth in the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox/Netflix sitcom ''Arrested Development (TV series), Arrested Development'' and of Mart ...
played her husband. She also provided the voice for Cora in '' Astro Boy''. On March 31, 2008, Bell began shooting the
Mark Steven Johnson Mark Steven Johnson (born October 30, 1964) is an American filmmaker. Life and career Johnson began his career writing the Warner Bros. films '' Grumpy Old Men'' and its sequel ''Grumpier Old Men''. Johnson wrote and directed two comic book bas ...
-written Disney film '' When in Rome'' on location in Rome and New York; the film was released in 2010. Bell reprised her role as Sarah Marshall for a cameo appearance in the film '' Get Him to the Greek'', a spin-off sequel from ''Forgetting Sarah Marshall'', released June 4, 2010. Bell co-starred alongside singers Christina Aguilera and
Cher Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...
in the backstage musical film ''
Burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.
'', which was released in November 2010. She also had a cameo appearance alongside Anna Paquin in the slasher horror film '' Scream 4'', which was released on April 15, 2011.


2012–2019: ''Frozen'' and ''The Good Place''

In 2012, Bell starred in the family drama film ''
Big Miracle ''Big Miracle'' is a 2012 drama film directed by Ken Kwapis, and stars Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski. The film is based on Tom Rose's 1989 book '' Freeing the Whales'', which covers Operation Breakthrough, the 1988 international effort to ...
''. She has also appeared in the music video for "Madder Red" by Brooklyn experimental rock band Yeasayer. Bell portrayed
Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to crucifixion of Jesus, his cru ...
in ''The Truth & Life Dramatized Audio New Testament Bible'', a 22-hour, celebrity-voiced, dramatized audio adaptation of the New Testament that uses the
RSV-CE The Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) is an English language, English translation of the Bible first published in 1966. In 1965, the Catholic Biblical Association adapted, under the editorship of Bernard Orchard OSB and Reginald C ...
translation. Bell starred as Jeannie van der Hooven, the female lead on the
Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...
comedy series '' House of Lies'', which premiered on January 8, 2012. The series ended on June 12, 2016. Bell appeared in a supporting role in the science-fiction comedy ''
Safety Not Guaranteed ''Safety Not Guaranteed'' is a 2012 American science fiction romantic comedy film directed by Colin Trevorrow and starring Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass. The picture was screened at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Waldo Salt Scr ...
'' (2012). She starred in the drama film ''
The Lifeguard ''The Lifeguard'' is a 2013 American drama produced, written, and directed by Liz W. Garcia, and starring Kristen Bell and David Lambert. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, and was released via video on demand on July 30, ...
'', written and directed by
Liz W. Garcia Liz W. Garcia is an American television producer and writer. Career As a writer her credits include ''Dawson's Creek'', ''Wonderfalls'' and ''Cold Case'' (also executive story editor and consulting producer). Garcia's film credits include worki ...
, which began filming in July 2012 and was released in August 2013. She also voiced Anna in ''
Frozen Frozen may refer to: * the result of freezing * a paralysis response in extreme cases of fear Films * ''Frozen'' (1997 film), a film by Wang Xiaoshuai * ''Frozen'' (2005 film), a film by Juliet McKoen * ''Frozen'' (2007 film), a film by Sh ...
'', which was released on November 22, 2013. In 2013, for multiple episodes, Bell played Ingrid de Forest, an Eagleton City Councilwoman, on ''
Parks and Recreation ''Parks and Recreation'' (also known as ''Parks and Rec'') is an American political satire mockumentary sitcom television series created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. The series aired on NBC from April 9, 2009, to February 24, 2015, for 125 ...
''. On March 13, 2013, it was confirmed that a '' Veronica Mars'' film would finally be coming to fruition. Bell and series creator Rob Thomas launched a fundraising campaign to produce the film through
Kickstarter Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative projects to life". As of July 2021, ...
and attained the $2 million goal in less than ten hours. The main cast members of the series all reprised their roles in the feature film. Production of the film took place during summer 2013, and it was released theatrically and on video-on-demand on March 14, 2014. In September 2014, Bell starred with her husband,
Dax Shepard Dax Randall Shepard (born January 2, 1975) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker and podcast host. Since 2018, he has hosted '' Armchair Expert'', a podcast that interviews celebrities, journalists, and academics about their lives. Shepard h ...
, in a commercial for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S. It was so popular (with over 20 million YouTube views) that they did another for the holiday season. The ad agency McKinney was behind both. In 2016, Bell voiced the sloth Priscilla in the animated comedy film ''
Zootopia ''Zootopia'' (titled ''Zootropolis'' in various regions) is a 2016 American computer-animated buddy cop action comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 55th Disney animated feature film, ...
'', and starred as Claire in the comedy film '' The Boss''. Bell starred as Kiki in the 2016 comedy film '' Bad Moms'', a role she reprised in the 2017 sequel, '' A Bad Moms Christmas''. In 2016, Bell began starring as Eleanor Shellstrop in the NBC comedy series '' The Good Place''. For her performance, she received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy, the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy, and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, among numerous others. Also in 2017, she appeared in the biographical comedy-drama '' The Disaster Artist'', the action comedy '' CHiPs'' and the comedy ''
How to Be a Latin Lover ''How to Be a Latin Lover'' is a 2017 American comedy film directed by Ken Marino, written by Chris Spain and Jon Zack and stars Eugenio Derbez, Salma Hayek, Raphael Alejandro, Raquel Welch, Rob Riggle, Rob Huebel, Rob Corddry, Renée Taylor, Li ...
''. In November 2017, she played a housewife (with
Dax Shepard Dax Randall Shepard (born January 2, 1975) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker and podcast host. Since 2018, he has hosted '' Armchair Expert'', a podcast that interviews celebrities, journalists, and academics about their lives. Shepard h ...
as her husband) preparing for a Christmas party in Sia's music video for "
Santa's Coming for Us "Santa's Coming for Us" is a song written by Sia and Greg Kurstin and released on 30 October 2017 as the lead single from Sia's eighth studio album and first Christmas album, '' Everyday Is Christmas''. Background and release Sia wrote "Santa ...
". In 2018, she began hosting the web series ''Momsplaining with Kristen Bell'', with episodes airing on the Ellen DeGeneres video platform Ellentube. In the series, Bell gives new and expecting mothers tips about motherhood. The title of the series is a pun on the commonly used term " mansplaining". Bell later had the leading role in the Netflix comedy-drama film '' Like Father''. She also voiced the character of Jade Wilson in the animated comedy film '' Teen Titans Go! To the Movies'' and reprised her voice role as Princess Anna in the animated comedy sequel film ''
Ralph Breaks the Internet ''Ralph Breaks the Internet'' is a 2018 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The 57th animated film produced by the studio and the sequel to ...
''. On September 20, 2018,
Hulu Hulu () is an American subscription streaming service majority-owned by The Walt Disney Company, with Comcast's NBCUniversal holding a minority stake. It was launched on October 29, 2007 and it offers a library of films and television serie ...
confirmed that Bell would reprise her role of Veronica Mars in an 8-episode fourth season of the drama series ''Veronica Mars'', which would premiere in July 2019. In 2019, she again reprised her role of Princess Anna in the video game, ''
Kingdom Hearts III is a 2019 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch. It is the twelfth installment in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, and serves as a conclusion of the ...
'' and the sequel, '' Frozen II'' which was released on November 22, 2019. Bell served as host and executive producer on the Disney+ docuseries '' Encore!'', which premiered in November 2019. She made her directorial debut with the eighth episode of the fourth season of ''The Good Place''. The series concluded after its fourth season, airing its final episode in January 2020. At the
25th Critics' Choice Awards The 25th Critics' Choice Awards were presented on January 12, 2020, at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, honoring the finest achievements of filmmaking and television programming in 2019. The ceremony was broadcast on The CW and T ...
, Bell received the #SeeHer Award, which recognizes women who "push boundaries on changing stereotypes and acknowledge the importance of authentic portrayals of women across the entertainment landscape".


2020–present

In 2020, Bell published the children's book ''The World Needs More Purple People'', which she co-wrote with
Benjamin Hart Benjamin Hart (born 17 October 1977) is an English actor best known for his roles as Foz in the British soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', and as Adam Rhodes in the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours''. Biography Acting career Hart attended Rodborough ...
. Also in 2020, Bell voiced Molly Tillerman in the Apple TV+ animated musical comedy series '' Central Park'', which reunited her with ''Frozen'' co-star Josh Gad and ''Bad Moms'' co-star Kathryn Hahn. ''Central Park'' received a two-season order from Apple and the series premiered on May 29, 2020. In June 2020, it was announced that Bell, who is white, would no longer voice the biracial character of Molly. The role would be re-cast with a black or mixed race actress, with Bell voicing a new role. In 2021, Bell produces and voices a lead character in the
Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, streaming and Renting, rental service of Amazon (c ...
animated musical pre-school series ''Do, Re, & Mi''. She also returned to narrate as the titular character of the HBO Max teen drama series '' Gossip Girl'', a soft reboot and sequel to the 2007–2012 series of the same. Bell also starred alongside Kirby Howell-Baptiste as a pair of housewives who created a multi-million dollar coupon scam in the comedy film '' Queenpins''. The film was released to Paramount+ on September 10, 2021. Her miniseries, ''
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window , creator = {{Plainlist, * Rachel Ramras * Hugh Davidson * Larry Dorf , starring = {{Plainlist, * Kristen Bell * Michael Ealy * Tom Riley * Mary Holland * Cameron Britton * Shelley Hennig * Samsara Yett , director ...
'' was released on Netflix on January 28, 2022. Bell also appeared in 2 episode of ''The Tiny Chef Show'' and serves as the show's executive producer.


In the media

In 2006 and again in 2013, Bell was selected "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" on
PETA Peta or PETA may refer to: Acronym * Pembela Tanah Air, a militia established by the occupying Japanese in Indonesia in 1943 * People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an American animal rights organization * People Eating Tasty Animals, an ...
's yearly poll. She was placed No. 68 on ''Maxim'''s 2005 "Hot 100" list, No. 11 in ''Maxim''s 2006 "Hot 100" list, and No. 46 in ''Maxim''s 2007 "Hot 100" list in which she was stated to have "single-handedly saved The CW from becoming the worst network ever". In 2006, ''Maxim'' also placed Bell at the top of the "Fall TV's Criminally Sexy Investigators" List. In 2008, she was featured at No. 59 on AskMen's Top 99 Women of 2008 List. Reflecting on her admitted popularity with "geeks", Bell was voted the fourth-sexiest woman on TV by the staff at ''Wizard'' magazine. Bell stated she never thought of herself as womanly because "I always play and look and act 10 years younger than I am." However, she said, "Something magical happened when I turned 25—I looked in the mirror and was like, 'You might not get carded for an R-rated movie anymore.' Like I didn't have a little stick figure anymore." Bell has said that many of her characters are
tomboy A tomboy is a term for a girl or a young woman with masculine qualities. It can include wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and actively engage in physical sports or other activities and behaviors usually associated with boys or men. Wh ...
s because she was "not homely enough to play the nerdy girl and not nearly pretty enough to play the pretty girl". Bell has been associated with the idea that " nerdy is the new cool", and she explained, "what was previously perceived as nerdy is now viewed as original. What I like about nerdiness, geekiness, is it doesn't really matter what you're into—it just means you're not a follower." She has also said, "I love nerds. Comic-Con junkies are the tastemakers of tomorrow. Isn't that funny? The tables have turned." Vanessa Juarez of '' Entertainment Weekly'' commented that Bell's roles on ''Veronica Mars'', ''Heroes'' and as a ''
Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
'' fanatic in '' Fanboys'' have "solidif edher placement at the center of the geek universe," while Rodney Rothman stated, "I guess she's cornered the market on losers." Bell's work is often compared to Sarah Michelle Gellar's portrayal of the title character on the television series ''
Buffy the Vampire Slayer ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. It is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film of the same name, also written by W ...
''. Frank Scheck of '' The Hollywood Reporter'' stated that Bell was "arguably the television successor o Gellar's portrayal of Buffywhen it comes to fighting bad guys." Bell is sometimes confused with
Lauren Conrad Lauren Katherine Conrad (born February 1, 1986)) is an American television personality, fashion designer and author. In September 2004, as an 18-year-old, Conrad came to prominence after being cast in the reality television series '' Laguna Beac ...
from '' The Hills''. "Yeah, sometimes fans yell, 'Hey, Lauren' to me, but usually from a distance," said Bell. Despite "new celebrity" status, Bell claimed that she was not concerned because "no one ever recognizes me anyway". She has said that her friend Hayden Panettiere is more famous than she is and attracts more attention; as Bell explained, "I hang out with Hayden quite a bit—they never take pictures of me. I just step to the side, and I push myself in front of her when she wants to get out of it, or put her in the car." Bell was a recurring guest on '' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'', appearing in interviews as well as sketches. On ''The Late Late Show'', she shows a humorous hostility towards
Craig Ferguson Craig Ferguson (born 17 May 1962) is a Scottish-born American comedian, actor, writer, and television host. He is best known for hosting the CBS late-night talk show ''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'' (2005–2014), for which he won a ...
's robot skeleton sidekick Geoff Peterson, claiming that she had wanted to be Ferguson's sidekick on his show and taking it upon herself to cut Peterson down every chance she gets. Both Bell and Peterson appeared with Ferguson during the five ''Late Late Show'' episodes filmed in France. In January 2011, it was announced that Bell would be the new face of
Neutrogena Neutrogena Corporation, trading as Neutrogena, is an American company that markets skin care, hair care and cosmetics owned by parent company Johnson & Johnson and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
. In 2014, Bell posed nude for the May issue of '' Allure'' magazine – alongside Jenna Dewan, Minnie Driver, and Nia Long. In April 2019, Bell was featured on the cover of '' Entrepreneur'' magazine's April–May issue. In the article, she discussed her snack bar company, This Saves Lives, which donates its sales to help feed malnourished children around the globe. In November 2019, Bell and Idina Menzel, who play sisters in
Disney's The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
''Frozen'' franchise, received neighboring stars—Bell's was the 2681st and Menzel's was the 2682nd—on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...
.


Personal life


Relationships and family

In 2007, Bell ended a five-year relationship with former fiancé Kevin Mann. She later told '' Complex'' magazine that dating "makes me want to vomit. And not out of grossness—OK, a little bit out of grossness, but just nerves... I've always been a
serial monogamist Monogamy ( ) is a form of dyadic relationship in which an individual has only one partner during their lifetime. Alternately, only one partner at any one time (serial monogamy) — as compared to the various forms of non-monogamy (e.g., polyga ...
." In late 2007, Bell began dating actor
Dax Shepard Dax Randall Shepard (born January 2, 1975) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker and podcast host. Since 2018, he has hosted '' Armchair Expert'', a podcast that interviews celebrities, journalists, and academics about their lives. Shepard h ...
, who is also from Metro Detroit. The couple announced their engagement in January 2010. They decided to delay marriage until the state of California passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage. They co-starred in the 2010 film '' When in Rome'', the 2012 film '' Hit and Run'', and the 2017 film '' CHiPs''. After section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
on June 26, 2013, Bell asked Shepard to marry her through Twitter, which he accepted. They were married at the Beverly Hills County Clerk's Office on October 16, 2013. They have two daughters born in 2013 and 2014.


Beliefs, interests, and charity work

At age 11, Bell became a vegetarian. In an interview with PETA, Bell stated, "I have always been an animal lover. I had a hard time disassociating the animals I cuddled with—dogs and cats, for example—from the animals on my plate, and I never really cared for the taste of meat. I always loved my Brussels sprouts!". By 2012 Bell had become vegan with Shepard after watching the documentary '' Forks Over Knives''."Kristen in the Kitchen"
, ''Women's Health'', March 8, 2012.
During her first pregnancy, she returned to eating dairy products and eggs, however. During her time in Michigan, Bell fostered animals from the
Michigan Humane Society The Michigan Humane is a private, non-profit organization providing animal welfare and sheltering services to the metropolitan Detroit area. Events at Michigan Humane are featured in the Animal Planet channel's reality television series '' Animal ...
, and she now supports the San Diego-based
Helen Woodward Animal Center Helen Woodward Animal Center (‘HWAC’ or ‘the Center’) is an animal center located in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Located on 12 acres, the Center provides a variety of services that benefit the community through educational and therapeutic p ...
. Bell often attends fundraisers for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other non-profit organizations dedicated to protecting animals. She has had several dogs, including a Welsh Corgi- Chow Chow mix named Lola, a Welsh Corgi-
Chihuahua Chihuahua may refer to: Places *Chihuahua (state), a Mexican state **Chihuahua (dog), a breed of dog named after the state **Chihuahua cheese, a type of cheese originating in the state **Chihuahua City, the capital city of the state **Chihuahua Mun ...
mix named Shakey and a black Labrador Retriever named Sadie, who was 11 years old when she was rescued from
Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
and adopted by Bell in 2005. Bell has stated she is non-religious and identifies as a humanist. She and her husband Dax Shepard are pro- vaccination. She practices the Transcendental Meditation program, stating: "I really enjoy powering down for 20 minutes because it's like shutting off light switches in my brain". Bell showed support for the Writers Guild of America in the writers' strike, appearing in the picket lines in December 2007, stating, "the writers are just looking for some fairness". Bell and other ''Veronica Mars'' cast members, including
Ryan Hansen Ryan Hansen is an American actor, entrepreneur and comedian. He is best known for starring as Dick Casablancas on the noir drama series ''Veronica Mars'' (2004–2019), as Kyle Bradway on the Starz comedy series ''Party Down'' (2009–2010), and ...
, are involved with the charity Invisible Children, Inc. The goal of the organization is to create awareness of the plight of Northern Ugandans who are caught in the midst of a civil war between the government and Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army. Bell supported and campaigned for Barack Obama during the
2008 United States presidential election The 2008 United States presidential election was the 56th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. The Democratic ticket of Barack Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, and Joe Biden, the senior senator from ...
. Along with Rashida Jones, she visited college campuses in Missouri to discuss the candidates and encourage voter registration. In 2013, Kristen Bell, along with actors
Ryan Devlin Ryan Patrick Devlin (born June 5, 1980) is an American actor. He is known for his recurring roles in the television series '' Brothers & Sisters'', ''Cougar Town'', ''Veronica Mars'', '' Big Shots'', ''Jane the Virgin'' and ''Grey's Anatomy ...
,
Todd Grinnell Todd A. Grinnell (born March 29, 1976) is an American actor, known for playing Jason in the series ''Four Kings'' and for playing building superintendent Schneider in the Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand ov ...
, and Ravi Patel, founded the granola bar company This Bar Saves Lives to help fight malnutrition. The business donates food aid in the form of nutrition packets to children in
Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Since its launch, the company has donated more than 10 million packets as of February 2019. In 2014, Bell launched a Prizeo campaign offering fans a chance to win a date with her in return for donating to Invisible Children, Inc. In 2018, Bell participated in a television advertisement for bone marrow donations, specifically the Gift of Life Marrow Registry. Her actions resulted in several matches that are documented on the Gift of Life website. Bell won a 2020 Webby Special Achievement Award.


Mental health

In May 2016, Bell stated that she has received treatment for depression and anxiety. She said, "It's important for me to be candid about this so people in a similar situation can realize that they are not worthless and that they do have something to offer." In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel in August 2018, Bell discussed why she wears scuba gloves while swimming. She stated that she fears the sensation of touching things with water-immersed, wrinkled fingers, otherwise known as "pruney fingers". The gloves have allowed her to swim with her children without fearing touching them.


Entrepreneurship

In 2019, Bell and her husband founded the company Hello Bello that markets plant-based baby care products said to be environmentally friendly and affordable. As of 2021, Hello Bello's estimated annual revenue was $26.1 million a year with 104 employees.


Filmography

* '' Reefer Madness'' (2005) * '' Pulse'' (2006) * '' Forgetting Sarah Marshall'' (2008) * '' Fanboys'' (2009) * ''
Couples Retreat ''Couples Retreat'' is a 2009 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Billingsley marking his directorial debut, and written by Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, and Dana Fox. Vaughn and Favreau star with Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Kristin Davi ...
'' (2009) * '' When in Rome'' (2010) * ''
Burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.
'' (2010) * '' You Again'' (2010) * '' Hit and Run'' (2012) * ''
Frozen Frozen may refer to: * the result of freezing * a paralysis response in extreme cases of fear Films * ''Frozen'' (1997 film), a film by Wang Xiaoshuai * ''Frozen'' (2005 film), a film by Juliet McKoen * ''Frozen'' (2007 film), a film by Sh ...
'' (2013) * '' Veronica Mars'' (2014) * '' Frozen Fever'' (2015) * '' The Boss'' (2016) * '' Bad Moms'' (2016) * '' A Bad Moms Christmas'' (2017) * ''
Olaf's Frozen Adventure ''Olaf's Frozen Adventure'' is a 2017 American 3D computer-animated featurette produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and directed by Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers. The screenplay was written by Jac Schaeffer, with Josh Gad, Kristen Bell, ...
'' (2017) * ''
Ralph Breaks the Internet ''Ralph Breaks the Internet'' is a 2018 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The 57th animated film produced by the studio and the sequel to ...
'' (2018) * '' Teen Titans Go! To the Movies'' (2018) * '' Frozen II'' (2019) * '' Queenpins'' (2021) * ''
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window , creator = {{Plainlist, * Rachel Ramras * Hugh Davidson * Larry Dorf , starring = {{Plainlist, * Kristen Bell * Michael Ealy * Tom Riley * Mary Holland * Cameron Britton * Shelley Hennig * Samsara Yett , director ...
'' (2022) * ''
The People We Hate at the Wedding ''The People We Hate at the Wedding'' is a 2022 American comedy film directed by Claire Scanlon from a screenplay by the Molyneux sisters, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Grant Ginder. It stars Allison Janney, Ben Platt, Cynthia Ad ...
'' (2022)


Awards and nominations


References


External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Kristen 1980 births 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses Actresses from Detroit American child actresses American film actresses American humanists American musical theatre actresses American people of German descent American people of Irish descent American people of Polish descent American people of Scottish descent American stage actresses American television actresses American video game actresses American voice actresses American web series actresses Living people People from Huntington Woods, Michigan Tisch School of the Arts alumni