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You might know who Kristen Bell is, but then again, you might not. Since the dawn of the new millenium, the star of upcoming movie Fanboys (August 2007) has slowly taken the world by storm. Tipping off her silver screen experience with a 2001 cameo in the cult classic Chris Rock project Pootie Tang, she scuttled along from project to project until finally taking a trip to the big dance with the subtle eccentric Vil Kilmer in 2004’s Spartan. But her biggest break came that same year when Kristen won over network executives and television audiences alike, debuting as the murder-mystery moonlighting teen Veronica Mars. And though the popular series is currently somehow in a state of life and limbo (a popular move for networks with beloved series, i.e. Arrested Development, Firefly, Family Guy), the same is certainly untrue for Ms. Bell. Whether you see her as a familiar face or as some newfound beauty,
 

So Kristen, I was reading a little about you online and I found out that you were voted “Best-Looking Girl” for your senior high school yearbook.
What?! Were you at that weird high school webpage? Where did you get that precious piece of information?

I’ll tell you where I found it, a little webpage that you might have heard of called Wikipedia. I’ll be damned if a million people don’t already know about it!
It’s true, but I didn’t know anyone knew about that. I was trying to keep it under wraps!

Seeing that your success has skyrocketed in recent years, do you think there are any bitter classmates who might think your success is based off of a lucky spot in the yearbook?
It’s sort of embarrassing. I think that there are so many better things I could have been voted, like funniest or shortest or something.

Or smartest perhaps?
Or smartest! That’s even better.

Hey, well at least you got the spot you did. Most people don’t even get a chance to be featured in such a clutch spot unless they have a buddy working on it.
Actually our yearbook was very fair and I think everyone did get one. There were lots a spots. We would only exclude one or two people a year.

I wonder what those two are up to now? Hopefully your name isn’t on anyone’s “hit list.”
Jeez, I hope not!
 

Do you think that because you came from a smaller spot on the map (Huntington Woods, Michigan) that you’re more appreciative of what you have?
Absolutely. You can call it humble beginnings or coming from a normal upbringing, but I very much appreciate that I was raised outside New York or Los Angeles, and had the chance to already figure out who I was. My parents gave me really good values and taught me to always be grateful for what I have and I think that makes me a much happier person now.

Touché. Most people would say you’re way ahead of the pack for a young actor.
I have been very, very lucky. I’ve seen a lot of situations where I was at the right place at the right time. But I believe that everything happens for a reason. I’m on this path and I’m not really sure why, but I’m going to enjoy the ride and do the best I can with it.
 

A lot of twenty-somethings have the future hit them at such a lightning fast pace that they don’t really see themselves grow from a 14-year-old kid into an adult in their mid-twenties. What version of yourself do you see when you look in the mirror?
First of all, I haven’t really grown since I was 14, so there’s that. Second of all, I try not to be affected by this business as much as I possibly can. Sometimes, it’s really hard, but think I’m the same person. I don’t look at myself differently, or at least that’s what I tell myself every morning. You end up doing magazine spreads and doing movies, but you have to know who you are at the end of the day. I love my work and I love my career, but I think I would still be this person if I were a teacher or a janitor or anything.

With so much of your life taken up by fame and its resulting responsibilities, how do you find time for your friends or family?
All those things are my first priorities. Work is a priority, but it’s not number one on my list. I think it depends on the day and I switch my priorities out. I mean I love spending time with my dog. My family is extremely supportive as are my friends. I’m an actress but I’m a human being first and I think that keeping that in the forefront of my mind helps. I also work with some nonprofit organizations which really grounds me and makes me feel like a better human being, to know that I’m using my voice for good and not just being some foolish, pretentious bimbo.
 

Is it possible for you to ever find time for yourself, just for the sake of a moment of peace?
I think so. My moments of peace come mainly when I’m working because that’s what I love to do. And if I’m not working, then I’ll be sitting at home reading a play or reading a book. I make time here and there. My life has been really busy in the past couple years, but I’m grateful for it because I don’t really like idle hands. I’m always on the run-- and I enjoy it.

But when she’s not on the run, what does Kristen do for fun? Is she an out-on-the-town type of lady?
I’m much more comfortable at my house dancing on a table than I would be out anywhere. I frequently open my door to as many people as I can and we just play games. There are a lot of running charade tournaments at my house, which may or may not involve alcohol.

Speaking of alcohol, because Veronica Mars is a show that lots of high school kids watch, does work discourage you from making a public spectacle of yourself?
Not at all! I’m certainly not encouraged to make a spectacle of myself, but that’s not how I roll anyways. I probably partied hard for two weeks in college, but then realized that I get such bad hangovers that I don’t really drink anyways, though I do like to dance. But I think that being part of Veronica Mars, it opened by eyes to the slight social responsibility you take on when you’re on a show that a lot of young people watch. I’m not saying that I can take personal responsibility for everyone, but do I try to act with class. I at least wear panties…most of the time anyways.
 

Have you ever had any doubts about yourself? Was there a time where you thought that Pootie Tang might end up as the height of your work?
Haha! First of all, Pootie Tang is, and always will be, the height of my work. Then again, I’ve also been a Jeopardy question twice at this point. As for doubts, I’m always striving for perfection. I don’t think I always get it, but I always try. There are times when I read a script and think that I completely forgot how to act. There’s a fair amount of uncertainty with everything, especially because I never know when I’m going to work again. And I think that every actor who gets released from a job has that I’m-never-going-to-work-again syndrome, no matter how famous or fabulous they are. A very established broadway actress once told me that “I have it every single job!” and I thought “She has it?! It’s not looking good for me!”

I suppose that’s the more humbling side of the work though.
And that’s what makes me grateful for every single job I get.

Even Pootie Tang?
Even Pootie Tang. Hey, it got me started!
 

What are you most proud of about yourself?
That I have kept my perspective. It’s very easy in this business to become myopic and focused on yourself. And like I said, I try to do good things with my time and give help to people and organizations. Celebrities are in a very interesting situation because they’re given a voice that people listen to, and I don’t take that for granted.

Is there anything you’re ashamed of?
It depends of the day. Sometimes, I’ll be looking at pictures of myself that people pull from the Internet and I just wonder, “What was I thinking?!” There’s nothing worse to me than vanity, stupid vanity things that I just giggle about where I’ve made mistakes.



You’re best known worldwide as Veronica Mars. Is it frustrating to hear rumors about the series being cancelled? Does it make you cherish the next few shows?
Absolutely. It’s over for us. We’re done shooting this year, so for now we’ll just keep our fingers crossed until May. It’s a lot like leaving high school or college. It’s a necessary step, the world progresses and you need to graduate, but at the same time, there are so many memories you made and you’ll miss the people so much. I personally hope it stays on air because realistically thinking about not coming back, I don’t even know how I would function. Veronica has been close to my heart for so long and it would be really sad to see her go.

Is there is a key characteristic that you would want to take from her, whether or not the show ends now or later?
Veronica has taught me to always fight for the underdog. I’m empathetic to a fault. I like things to be fair and I’m not exactly tight-lipped. I’m a little sassy and a little brassy, just like Veronica.

Are you looking forward to the future?
I’m excited and scared. If the show stays I will cherish every minute of it because I know it won't last forever. And if it doesn’t come back at all, it will be terrifying, but I'll jump in headfirst. There’s no other way to do it.