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
The New York University Tisch School of the Arts (commonly referred to as Tisch) is the performing, cinematic and media arts school of New York University.
Founded on August 17, 1965, Tisch is a training ground for artists, scholars of the a ...
at
New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then- Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.
In 1832, ...
, 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'' (2004).
Her first major role was
the title character in the teen
noir drama television series ''
Veronica Mars
''Veronica Mars'' is an American teen noir mystery drama television series created by screenwriter Rob Thomas. The series is set in the fictional town of Neptune, California, and stars Kristen Bell as the eponymous character. The series prem ...
'' (2004–2007), receiving critical acclaim and a
Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television for her performance. She reprised the
eponym
An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''.
Usage of the word
The term ''epon ...
ous 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'' 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 ...
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''.
In film, she had her major breakout film role as the title character in ''
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
''Forgetting Sarah Marshall'' is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Russell Brand. The film, which was written by Segel and co-produced by Judd Apatow, was releas ...
'' (2008). She has since appeared in a number of comedy films, including ''
Couples Retreat'' (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'' (2018), and ''
Frozen II
''Frozen 2'' (stylized as ''Frozen II'') is a 2019 American computer-animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The 58th animated film produced by the stud ...
'' (2019).
Early life and family
Bell was born on July 18, 1980, in
Huntington Woods, Michigan, a suburb of
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...
, where she was raised. Her mother, Lorelei (''née'' Frygier), is a
registered nurse, and her father, Tom Bell, works as a
television news
News broadcasting is the medium of broadcasting various news events and other information via television, radio, or the internet in the field of broadcast journalism. The content is usually either produced locally in a radio studio or telev ...
director in
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish language, Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the List of United States cities by population, 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the U.S. state, state of Neva ...
, 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 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 ...
, 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
Dorothy Gale is a fictional character created by American author L. Frank Baum as the protagonist in many of his ''Oz'' novels. She first appears in Baum's classic 1900 children's novel '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' and reappears in most of it ...
, and also appeared in productions of ''
Fiddler on the Roof
''Fiddler on the Roof'' is a musical theatre, musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and musical theatre#Book musicals, book by Joseph Stein, set in the Pale of Settlement of Russian Empire, Imperial Russia in or around 190 ...
'' (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
''Li'l Abner'' is a satirical American comic strip that appeared in many newspapers in the United States, Canada and Europe. It featured a fictional clan of hillbillies in the impoverished mountain village of Dogpatch, USA. Written and drawn b ...
'' (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
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then- Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.
In 1832, ...
's
Tisch School of the Arts
The New York University Tisch School of the Arts (commonly referred to as Tisch) is the performing, cinematic and media arts school of New York University.
Founded on August 17, 1965, Tisch is a training ground for artists, scholars of the a ...
,
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''.
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/ ...
'' for the role of
Chloe Sullivan
Chloe Sullivan is a fictional character in the television series ''Smallville'', which is based on the Superman and Superboy comics published by DC Comics. Portrayed by series regular Allison Mack, Chloe was an original character created exc ...
, 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. 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
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation.
Other cuticle, animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have diffe ...
'' and a
Norm Macdonald
Norman Gene MacdonaldThe capitalization of Norm Macdonald's surname has been inconsistently reported in publications such as ''TV Guide''. Books that discuss him, such as ''Shales'' (2003) and Crawford' (2000), as well as other sources such as ...
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'', which received one of the network's highest ratings.
She made her debut in a theatrically released film with
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet (; born November 30, 1947) is an American playwright, filmmaker, and author. He won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays ''Glengarry Glen Ross'' (1984) and '' Speed-the-Plow'' (1988). He first gained cri ...
'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 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").
At 24, she won the role of the title character in the
UPN noir drama series ''
Veronica Mars
''Veronica Mars'' is an American teen noir mystery drama television series created by screenwriter Rob Thomas. The series is set in the fictional town of Neptune, California, and stars Kristen Bell as the eponymous character. The series prem ...
'', 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
* Hug ...
, 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 th ...
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 ...
network on April 16, 2005. Also in April, Bell starred as Gracie in ''
Fifty Pills'', an entry for the
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive programming. Tribeca was ...
. 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
In medicine, a pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the cardiac cycle (heartbeat) by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed near the surface of the body, such as at the ...
'' starred Bell as the lead Mattie. A remake of the Japanese horror film ''
Kairo'', the film grossed US$27.9 million worldwide but garnered negative response from critics. Frank Scheck of ''
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly large ...
'' 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
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...
. On January 19, 2007, CW Entertainment President
Dawn Ostroff 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''. 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
TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program TV listings, listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news.
The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine, TV Guide Mag ...
'' 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
San Diego Comic-Con International is a comic book convention and nonprofit multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California since 1970. The name, as given on its website, is Comic-Con International: San Diego; but it is co ...
with ''Heroes'' actors
Zachary Quinto
Zachary John Quinto (; born June 2, 1977) is an American actor and film producer. He is known for his roles as Sylar, the primary antagonist from the science fiction drama series '' Heroes'' (2006–2010); Spock in the film ''Star Trek'' (2009) ...
and
Masi Oka, 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'', but Bell turned down the role
[Jensen, Jeff, Lindelof, Damon & Cuse, Carlton,]
'Lost' producers – 5
", ''Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cult ...
''. 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 Do ...
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
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only ...
for a starring role as the title character in the
Judd Apatow
Judd Apatow (; born December 6, 1967) is an American comedian, director, producer, and screenwriter, best known for his work in comedy and drama films. He is the founder of Apatow Productions, through which he produced and directed the films '' ...
comedy ''
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
''Forgetting Sarah Marshall'' is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Russell Brand. The film, which was written by Segel and co-produced by Judd Apatow, was releas ...
''. 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 Patric ...
'', 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
''Assassin's Creed II'' is a 2009 action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montréal and published by Ubisoft. It is the second major installment in the ''Assassin's Creed'' series, and the sequel to 2007's ''Assassin's Creed''. The ...
'', 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 space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various film ...
''-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'', which chronicles four couples who partake in therapy sessions at a tropical island resort.
Jason Bateman played her husband. She also provided the voice for Cora in ''
Astro Boy''. On March 31, 2008, Bell began shooting the
Mark Steven Johnson-written
Disney
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 ...
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
Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice o ...
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 "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female autonomy in a male-dominated industr ...
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''. She has also appeared in the music video for "Madder Red" by Brooklyn
experimental rock
Experimental rock, also called avant-rock, is a subgenre of rock music that pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique or which experiments with the basic elements of the genre. Artists aim to liberate and innovate, with ...
band
Yeasayer
Yeasayer () was an American experimental rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2006. The band consisted of Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton, and Anand Wilder. They announced their split on December 19, 2019.
History Formation
The band's thr ...
. 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 his crucifixion and
resurr ...
in ''The Truth & Life Dramatized Audio New Testament Bible'', a 22-hour, celebrity-voiced, dramatized audio adaptation of the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
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 ...
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, f ...
''.
On March 13, 2013, it was confirmed that a ''
Veronica Mars
''Veronica Mars'' is an American teen noir mystery drama television series created by screenwriter Rob Thomas. The series is set in the fictional town of Neptune, California, and stars Kristen Bell as the eponymous character. The series prem ...
'' 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, K ...
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 ha ...
, in a commercial for the
Samsung Galaxy Tab S. It was so popular (with over 20 million
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second most ...
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'', 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''. 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 ha ...
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
Ellen Lee DeGeneres ( ; born January 26, 1958) is an American comedian, television host, actress, writer, and producer. She starred in the sitcom '' Ellen'' from 1994 to 1998, which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for " The Puppy Episode". S ...
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
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a ...
comedy-drama film ''
Like Father''. She also voiced the character of Jade Wilson in the animated comedy film ''
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
''Teen Titans Go! To the Movies'' is a 2018 American animated superhero comedy film based on the television series ''Teen Titans Go!'', which is based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name. This film is directed by Peter Rida Mi ...
'' and reprised her voice role as Princess Anna in the animated comedy sequel film ''
Ralph Breaks the Internet''.
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 seri ...
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 t ...
''
and the sequel, ''
Frozen II
''Frozen 2'' (stylized as ''Frozen II'') is a 2019 American computer-animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The 58th animated film produced by the stud ...
'' which was released on November 22, 2019. Bell served as host and executive producer on the
Disney+
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 1 ...
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, 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. Also in 2020, Bell voiced Molly Tillerman in the
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is an American subscription streaming service owned and operated by Apple Inc. Launched on November 1, 2019, it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service was announced ...
animated musical comedy series ''
Central Park
Central Park is an urban park in New York City located between the Upper West Side, Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. It is the List of New York City parks, fifth-largest park in the city, covering . It is the most visited urban par ...
'', 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 subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming and rental service of Amazon offered as a standalone service or as part of Amazon's Prime subscription. The service p ...
animated musical pre-school series ''Do, Re, & Mi''. She also returned to narrate as the titular character of the
HBO Max
HBO Max is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in the United States on May 27, 2020, the service is built around the libraries of HBO, Warner Bros., Cartoon Netwo ...
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+
Paramount+ is an American subscription video on-demand service owned by Paramount Global. The service's content is drawn primarily from the libraries of CBS Media Ventures (including CBS Studios), Paramount Media Networks (formerly Viacom Med ...
on September 10, 2021.
Her miniseries, ''
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'' was released on
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a ...
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
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat ( red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter.
Vegetaria ...
" 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, ...
'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
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...
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 ...
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,
geek
The word ''geek'' is a slang term originally used to describe eccentric or non-mainstream people; in current use, the word typically connotes an expert or enthusiast obsessed with a hobby or intellectual pursuit. In the past, it had a genera ...
iness, 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
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cult ...
'' commented that Bell's roles on ''Veronica Mars'', ''Heroes'' and as a ''
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various film ...
'' 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
Sarah Michelle Prinze ( ; born April 14, 1977) is an American actress. After being spotted at the age of four in New York City, she made her screen acting debut in the television film ''An Invasion of Privacy'' (1983). A leading role on the te ...
's portrayal of the
title character
The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piece. The title of ...
on the television series ''
Buffy the Vampire Slayer''.
Frank Scheck of ''
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly large ...
'' stated that Bell was "arguably the television successor
o Gellar's portrayal of Buffy
O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), ...
when it comes to fighting bad guys." Bell is sometimes confused with
Lauren Conrad 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
''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish actor and comedian Craig Ferguson. This was the third iteration of the The Late Late Show (American talk show), ''Late Late Show'' franchise, airing ...
'', 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 ...
's robot skeleton sidekick
Geoff Peterson
Geoff Peterson is an Animatronics, animatronic human skeleton that served as the sidekick on the late-night talk show ''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson''. He was voiced and operated by Josh Robert Thompson and first appeared on ''The Late ...
, 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.
In 2014, Bell posed nude for the May issue of ''
Allure'' magazine – alongside
Jenna Dewan,
Minnie Driver
Amelia Fiona Jessica "Minnie" Driver (born 31 January 1970) is an English actress. She rose to prominence with her break-out role in 1995's '' Circle of Friends''. She went on to star in a wide range of films including the cult classic '' Grosse ...
, and
Nia Long.
In April 2019, Bell was featured on the cover of ''
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship is the creation or extraction of economic value. With this definition, entrepreneurship is viewed as change, generally entailing risk beyond what is normally encountered in starting a business, which may include other values t ...
'' 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 ''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, Calif ...
.
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 ha ...
, 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
Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being Mexico, constituting ...
. 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
Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...
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
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat ( red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter.
Vegetaria ...
.
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
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. ...
with Shepard after watching the documentary ''
Forks Over Knives''.
["Kristen in the Kitchen"](_blank)
, ''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, and she now supports the San Diego-based
Helen Woodward Animal Center. 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
The Chow Chow is a spitz-type of dog breed originally from northern China. The Chow Chow is a sturdily built dog, square in profile, with a broad skull and small, triangular, erect ears with rounded tips. The breed is known for a very dense ...
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 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
Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop immunity from a disease. Vaccines contain a microorganism or virus in a weakened, live or killed state, or proteins or toxins from the organism. In stimulating ...
. She practices the
Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of silent mantra meditation advocated by the Transcendental Meditation movement. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi created the technique in India in the mid-1950s. Advocates of TM claim that the technique promotes ...
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
The Writers Guild of America is the joint efforts of two different US labor unions representing TV and film writers:
* The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), headquartered in New York City and affiliated with the AFL–CIO
* The Writers G ...
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
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...
between the government and
Joseph Kony
Joseph Rao Kony (likely born 1961) is a Ugandan militant who founded the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a Christian fundamentalist organization, designated as a terrorist group by the United Nations Peacekeepers, the European Union and vario ...
's
Lord's Resistance Army.
Bell supported and campaigned for
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...
during the
2008 United States presidential election. Along with
Rashida Jones
Rashida Leah Jones (; born February 25, 1976) is an American actress.
Jones appeared as Louisa Fenn on the Fox drama series ''Boston Public'' (2000–2002), as Karen Filippelli on the NBC comedy series '' The Office'' (2006–2009; 2011), and a ...
, she visited college campuses in
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
to discuss the candidates and encourage voter registration.
In 2013, Kristen Bell, along with actors
Ryan Devlin,
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
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the ...
,
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the Er ...
, and
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constitut ...
. 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
Anxiety is an emotion which is characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil
Turmoil may refer to:
* ''Turmoil'' (1984 video game), a 1984 video game released by Bug-Byte
* ''Turmoil'' (2016 video game), a 2016 indie oil tycoon video ...
. 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
James Christian Kimmel (born November 13, 1967) is an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He is the host and executive producer of ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', a late-night talk show that premiered on ABC on January 26, 2003, ...
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
''Reefer Madness'' (originally made as ''Tell Your Children'' and sometimes titled ''The Burning Question'', ''Dope Addict'', ''Doped Youth'', and ''Love Madness'') is a 1936 American propaganda film about drugs, revolving around the melodrama ...
'' (2005)
* ''
Pulse
In medicine, a pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the cardiac cycle (heartbeat) by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed near the surface of the body, such as at the ...
'' (2006)
* ''
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
''Forgetting Sarah Marshall'' is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Russell Brand. The film, which was written by Segel and co-produced by Judd Apatow, was releas ...
'' (2008)
* ''
Fanboys'' (2009)
* ''
Couples Retreat'' (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
''Veronica Mars'' is an American teen noir mystery drama television series created by screenwriter Rob Thomas. The series is set in the fictional town of Neptune, California, and stars Kristen Bell as the eponymous character. The series prem ...
'' (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 B ...
'' (2017)
* ''
Ralph Breaks the Internet'' (2018)
* ''
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
''Teen Titans Go! To the Movies'' is a 2018 American animated superhero comedy film based on the television series ''Teen Titans Go!'', which is based on the DC Comics superhero team of the same name. This film is directed by Peter Rida Mi ...
'' (2018)
* ''
Frozen II
''Frozen 2'' (stylized as ''Frozen II'') is a 2019 American computer-animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The 58th animated film produced by the stud ...
'' (2019)
* ''
Queenpins'' (2021)
* ''
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'' (2022)
* ''
The People We Hate at the Wedding'' (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