Kristen Anne Bell was born on July 18, 1980, in Huntington Woods, Michigan. She is the daughter of Lorelei (née Frygier), a registered nurse, and Tom Bell, a television news director. Bell’s parents divorced when she was two years old. She attended Burton Elementary School and Shrine Catholic High School, where she participated in drama and music productions. After high school, she attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, majoring in musical theater. She left NYU shortly before graduating to pursue acting opportunities.
Bell began her professional acting career with stage appearances, including a role in the Broadway musical “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” in 2001. She also appeared in a Broadway revival of “The Crucible” that same year. Her early television work included guest appearances on series such as “The Shield” and “Everwood.” Her breakthrough role came in 2004 with the title character in the television series “Veronica Mars,” created by Rob Thomas. The show ran for three seasons and garnered critical acclaim for Bell’s performance.
Following “Veronica Mars,” Bell starred in various television series, including “Heroes” (2007-2008) and “House of Lies” (2012-2016), where she received a Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. She also provided the voice for the narrator in the teen drama series “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012). In 2016, she starred in the NBC comedy series “The Good Place,” created by Michael Schur, which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy. She also reprised her role as Veronica Mars in a revival series in 2019 on Hulu.
Bell’s film career includes roles in a variety of genres. She had a prominent role in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008). She also appeared in films such as “Couples Retreat” (2009), “When in Rome” (2010), and “Burlesque” (2010). She gained significant recognition for voicing Princess