Kristen Bell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kristen Bell
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Bell at Paris Fashion Week in 2019
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Kristen Anne Bell
July 18, 1980 |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
Kristen Anne Bell (born July 18, 1980) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and producer. She is famous for her roles in movies and television shows. Bell has been nominated for major awards like the Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2025, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Bell started her career in stage plays while studying at New York University. She first appeared on Broadway in the musical The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in 2001. She later acted in the action movie Spartan and the TV movie Gracie's Choice in 2004.
Her big break came when she played the main character in the TV series Veronica Mars (2004–2007). She returned to this role for a movie in 2014 and a new season in 2019. Bell is also known for voicing Princess Anna in the Disney movies Frozen and Frozen II. She also starred in the popular comedy series The Good Place (2016–2020).
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Early Life and Education
Kristen Anne Bell was born on July 18, 1980, in Huntington Woods, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Her mother, Lorelei, was a nurse, and her father, Tom, was a TV news director. Her parents divorced when she was a baby. She has two half-sisters and four step-siblings.
When she was four, Bell decided she liked her middle name, Anne, better than Kristen. She used the name Anne until high school. She attended Shrine Catholic High School, where she joined the drama and music clubs. She starred as Dorothy in her school's production of The Wizard of Oz.
After graduating, Bell moved to New York City. She studied musical theater at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She left college early to take a role in a Broadway musical.
Acting Career
First Roles
Bell's first role was in a local theater production of Raggedy Ann and Andy when she was young. Her mother got her an agent, and she appeared in local commercials. In 2001, she left college for her first Broadway role as Becky Thatcher in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
In 2002, she moved to Los Angeles to find more acting jobs. She appeared as a guest star on shows like The Shield and Everwood.
Breakthrough with Veronica Mars
In 2004, Bell got the main role in the TV series Veronica Mars. She played a teenage private detective. The show and her performance were highly praised by critics. This role made her famous and earned her a Saturn Award.
During this time, she also starred in the musical movie Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005) and the horror film Pulse (2006).
Success in Film and Television
After Veronica Mars ended in 2007, Bell joined the cast of the superhero show Heroes as Elle Bishop. She was also the narrator's voice in the popular teen drama Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012. She made a surprise in-person appearance in the final episode.
Bell's film career grew with the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall. She also starred in other comedies like Couples Retreat (2009) and When in Rome (2010). She lent her voice to video games, including the Assassin's Creed series.
Voicing a Disney Princess
In 2013, Bell's fame reached new heights when she voiced Princess Anna in the Disney animated movie Frozen. The movie was a huge success worldwide. She sang several songs for the film, including "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" and "For the First Time in Forever". She returned to voice Anna in the sequel, Frozen II, in 2019.
From 2012 to 2016, she starred in the comedy series House of Lies. In 2014, she and the original cast made a Veronica Mars movie, which was funded by fans through a Kickstarter campaign.
Starring in The Good Place
From 2016 to 2020, Bell starred as Eleanor Shellstrop in the NBC comedy series The Good Place. The show was about a woman who ends up in a heaven-like afterlife. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.
During this period, she also starred in the hit comedy movies Bad Moms (2016) and A Bad Moms Christmas (2017).
Recent Work
Bell continues to be very active in film and television. In 2020, she co-wrote a children's book called The World Needs More Purple People. She also voiced a character in the animated series Central Park.
In 2022, she starred in the Netflix miniseries The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window. In 2024, she starred in the comedy series Nobody Wants This, which earned her nominations for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe.
Personal Life
In late 2007, Bell began dating actor Dax Shepard. The couple got engaged in 2010. They decided to wait to get married until the state of California made same-sex marriage legal for everyone. They married on October 16, 2013. They have two daughters, born in 2013 and 2014.
Bell has been open about her experiences with anxiety and depression. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can help others feel less alone and encourage them to seek help.
She is an animal lover and became a vegetarian at age 11. She and her family later tried a vegan diet after watching the documentary Forks Over Knives.
Charity Work and Business
Bell is involved with many charities. She supports animal rescue organizations like the Helen Woodward Animal Center. She has also worked with Invisible Children, Inc., a group that helps people affected by war in Uganda.
In 2013, Bell co-founded a food company called This Bar Saves Lives. For every granola bar sold, the company donates life-saving food to a child in need. In 2019, she and her husband started Hello Bello, a company that sells affordable, plant-based baby care products.
Images for kids
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Bell at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival
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Bell with a dog at the 2012 Bonnaroo Music Festival
See also
In Spanish: Kristen Bell para niños
