She starred in the lead role of Eleanor Shellstrop on the critically acclaimed NBC comedy series The Good Place, receiving a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role. Bell also starred as Jeannie van der Hooven, the female lead on the Showtime comedy series House of Lies. She voiced the titular narrator in the teen drama series Gossip Girl, reprising the role in the 2021 sequel.
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.īell starred as Elle Bishop in the superhero drama series Heroes from 2007 to 2008. She reprised the eponymous role in the 2014 film and the 2019 revival. 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 later appeared in the action thriller film Spartan (2004) and received praise for her performance in the television drama film Gracie's Choice (2004). 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. Kristen Anne Bell (born July 18, 1980) is an American actress and singer.