Kristen Bell News

Kristen Bell is an actress, but she's also a TV fan.

Therefore, she's aware of the criticism surrounding this chapter of Heroes. How does the portrayer of Elle feel about it?

Bell recently shared her thoughts in a new interview:

I think everybody deserves a get-out-of-jail-free card for last year, with the writers' strike and the nerves. No good comes out of concentrating on the bad. But I think people might be saying that because they haven't seen all of this season yet. This season is really good. It's comparable to season one—which, start to finish, I think is up there with Lost and 24 as one of the best first seasons I've ever seen.

That's what hooked me onto the show, which was why I wanted to be a part of it. Season one was just amazing. And season two may have had its bumps, but they're bringing it back now.

For awhile, it was unclear if Kristen Bell would even reprise her role as Elle Bishop on season three of Heroes.

Now, the actress has mde it clear that she'll return for the next chapter, replete with an impressive character makeover.

"I actually like where [the writers have] taken the whole storyline this year for everybody, including Elle," Bell told Sci-Fi Wire.

Because season two may seem like a lifetime ago to some readers, a brief refresher:

Elle is a mysterious young woman who possesses electrical powers. She's the daughter of Robert Bishop, the current head of the Company. Because she was left in seclusion for years, Elle is quite mentally unstable - but she may be on a path to enlightenment.

"They're showing more of her human side," Bell said. "She's this vaguely barbaric, unfeeling, antisocial adaptive killer who's coy. However, she's had some tough decisions to make [over the years, and the writers are] giving her more depth. There are flashback scenes showing that she's intricately woven into people's lives before you met her. She met a lot of [the characters] before she was introduced on the show."

Catch Elle - and the rest of the Heroes - when season three premieres... one week from today!

There's only one picture of Kristen Bell in the May issue of Vanity Fair. But it's a sexy one:

The actress has made it clear she wants to return for season three of Heroes. We sure hope she does.

You can't watch Milo Ventigmilia and Kristen Bell on Heroes tonight.

But you can take a look at two American Eagles Outfitters claymation videos featuring the actors.

The first one is a story narrated by - and starring - as he heads home for the Hholidays, but first has to endure a less than ideal plane ride; the second features Bell stealing Christmas gifts from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

Kristen Bell may have earned her geek credentials on Veronica Mars, but she's had little trouble transitioning to her role as electric-powered Elle on Heroes.

In fact, the actress picked up the award for "Hottest Newcomer" at Spike TV's 2007 Video Game Awards last week. She looks psyched to be so honored:

As Heroes gets ready to wrap up its initial chapter of its second season, Kristen Bell and Hayden Panettiere sat down with TV Guide to discuss tonight's big episode.

Here are excerpts of what these young actresses - and close friends - had to say...

TVGuide.com: This is the first time Claire and Elle are in a scene together � the meeting of the hot blonde babes!
Kristen Bell: Yes, it's the highly anticipated standoff millions are waiting to see! I dressed for the occasion.
Hayden Panettiere: And I � what else is new? � am in my cheerleading outfit. It really disappointed me because Kristen's in heels and a cool designer outfit. They dress you nice at the Company.
Bell: This is what I wear to the office to kill people. But I wish I was in the cheerleader outfit.
Panettiere: Would they notice if we swapped? It could be like Parent Trap! But Kristen's not too coordinated. She keeps zapping people and falling over.
Bell: That's because they've got me zapping people in high heels! I look like I'm in a comedy sketch!
Panettiere: Save it, honey. Last season, I had to do a dive out of a window and then do a tuck 'n' roll � all in 4-inch-heels, OK? It was easy.

TVGuide.com: Divas, please! You're both wonderful. Now, tell us about the scene.
Panettiere: Elle knows all about Claire, but Claire has no idea who Elle is. All she knows is that HRG is holding Elle hostage for a reason and that Elle is giving her an evil look � so I give her one right back. I'm looking her up and down like "Who are you, bitch?" And she's like, "You don't know me but I know you, bitch!"
Bell: The whole idea is that Elle and Claire are two sides of the same coin.
Panettiere: Yeah, HRG didn't turn Claire into the Company because he knew they'd experiment on her. He knew what they'd turn her into. But Elle's dad didn't protect her that way.
Bell: Bodies are not able to take that much electricity and pain, and so Elle's psychologically a little off her rocker.
Panettiere: We're like the yin�
Bell: � and the yang.
Panettiere: And now Elle is Claire gone bad.� We don't technically meet in this scene since we don't have lines. I do my nasty glare and, trust me, it didn't require much acting.
Bell: That's OK. There's a scene later where I get to zap the hell out of her with my lightning bolts.
Panettiere: [Rolling her eyes] Puh-leeze. She misses me and hits West [Nick D'Agosto].

TVGuide.com: Obviously, Miss Kristen Bell didn't read the script.
Sendhil Ramamurthy: [Strolling by and overhearing] She doesn't bother worrying about which of us she electrocutes. She doesn't care. That's the real Kristen Bell. Put that in your interview! [He laughs and wanders off]
Panettiere: Our characters are going to have a very interesting relationship. We relate to each other; we get each other.
Bell: Yeah, we're definitely connected. Our dynamic will change over the course of the next few episodes. Just wait. You'll find out that Elle holds the key to Claire's future. I have a past with Peter and a past with Claire's dad and a future with Claire.

TVGuide.com: Forget the future, let's discuss the past. You both knew each other as young actors in New York, right?
Panettiere: She used to change my diapers.
Bell: I did not change Hayden's diapers!
Panettiere: We met when I was 8.
Bell: And I was� [Hesitates]� well, I don't want to say how old I was. [Laughs] We were both with the same agency. Hayden doesn't remember this but I happened to be in the office the day she booked Remember the Titans and she came in with her mom to celebrate. I was there having a meeting and all the agents were saying, �We knew it, Hayden! We knew you'd get the movie!" She had these long beautiful blonde curls.
Panettiere: [Grimacing] I know, I know�. Don't rub it in.
Bell: She was adorable.

Continue Reading...

This is your chance to meet both Kristen Bell and Hayden Panettiere.

The Heroes stars will be appearing at the 2007 National Big Apple Comic Book, Art, Toy, and Sci-Fi Expo convention. These young actresses will be two of the countless celebrities greeting fans and taking pictures.

Pricing Info and Dates
Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door.
DATES: Friday – Sunday – November 16, 17, 18
Fri. 1pm-8pm, Sat. & Sun. 10am-7pm
PLACE: Penn Plaza Pavilion, 401 7th Ave. @ 33rd St.
(across from Madison Square Garden)
TICKETS: $20 per day @ door/$18 in advance/3 day pass - $40
INFORMATION: Advance tickets & information (201) 861-1414

As Greg Grunberg explained - and then showed us with a series of homemade videos - the Heroes cast goofs around a lot on set.

And it hasn't taken newcomer Kristen Bell very long to catch on to the good-natured vibe. In the following funny pictures, Bell takes a break from portraying the evil character of Elle and makes us laugh with her expressions:

Can't wait to watch Kristen Bell make her debut on Heroes this Monday?

We don't blame you.

Here's one of our favorite Heroes spoilers ever: a peak at the former Veronica Mars star on our favorite show.

Those that saw the commercial for next week's Heroes already know the great news: Kristen Bell premieres!

And she appears to be up to no good, interacting with Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) in Ireland in some diabolical way.

The former Veronica Mars star recently spoke to TV Guide about her character, Elle:

"She's a little messed up in the head, which makes her manipulative and out to get what she wants," Bell said.

This, Bell notes, is "really interesting... because [Heroes'] whole first season was about these fairly good-natured people trying to embrace these abilities and being very conflicted as to how they should be using them. Elle is not that way at all. She very much enjoys her power and the emotional power it gives her over other people."

Series creator Tim Kring adds: "Elle was raised within the Company, and this is in some ways a cautionary tale about what would happen to any of our characters had they lived with powers their whole life."

So, are there any characters at all Elle can relate to? Well...

"There's a very interesting dynamic between her and Claire, in terms of what is and what is not. There's a deeper relationship there than people are expecting."

Gosh, is it Monday yet? We can't wait to watch as this develops.