Kristen Bell News (Page 2)

During an interview on Friday with Ellen DeGeneres, the talk show host jokingly (we assume) grilled Heroes star Masi Oka about his Emmy date – and new costar – Kristen Bell.

"Is there a little something going on?" Ellen asked about their relationship, as reported by People magazine.

A shy Oka responded: "Kristin is an absolutely amazing individual both on and off screen. We're great friends. Everyone has a crush on her."

Oh, really, Masi? No wonder DeGeneres pressed on, ribbing the actor and inquiring: "So you do have a crush on her?"

"Everyone does," Oka replied, laughing when DeGeneres would not drop it. "Is she a good kisser or not?" she asked.

As audience members cracked up, Oka simply said: "I'm sure she is."

Hmmm... maybe we should add these two to the Heroes gossip mill, along with Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia.

Heroes co-stars, and good friends, Kristen Bell and Greg Grunberg made an appearance this past Saturday at the 2007 Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.

Looks like they enjoyed themselves there, as well.

We're inching closer and closer to season two of Heroes.

As fans count down the days, and read up on Heroes spoilers and alerts, NBC has released a few promotional photos of new and old stars.

Kristen Bell, formerly of Veronica Mars, will come aboard as Elle.

Dania Ramirez will portray Maya, another new character on the show.

And the rest: Hayden Panettiere, Masi Oka, Adrian Pasdar and the Heroes cast prepares for season two.

No Heroes spoilers or Heroes news is as exciting to fans as the fact that Kristen Bell will be joining our favorite show for at least 13 episodes.

Entertainment Weekly recently spoke with the actress about the new gig, among other things...

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What's life been like since Mars?
KRISTEN BELL: Right after Veronica Mars wrapped [in April], I left for Hawaii [to film Forgetting Sarah Marshall]. I was on cloud nine, obviously, because I was getting to work with Judd Apatow's group. I'd really wanted to be a part of that very small pool of lucky actors.

EW: What's the film about?
KB: It is about a guy whose girlfriend breaks up with him, and they'd [had] this trip planned for Hawaii and neither of them thinks the other is going to take advantage of it. So they [end] up in Hawaii; she's with her new boyfriend, and chaos ensues.

EW: Sounds like it was a change from The CW.
KB: I was knee-deep in improv. Being able to come up with my own stuff and [being asked], ''What would you like your character to do here?'' It was a lovely experience.

EW: So tell us about Fanboys.
KB: These Star Wars nerds drive cross-country to break into George Lucas' ranch and steal a print of [The Phantom Menace] so that their friend with a terminal illness can see it before it comes out.

EW: You sort of have fanboys of your own. Are you happy about that?
KB: I'm really flattered. I love nerds. Comic-Con junkies are the tastemakers of tomorrow. Isn't that funny? The tables have turned. They're a fiercely intelligent audience, which makes filmmakers want to please them. But I'm looking for the fangirl to come out of her shell a little, to be more accepted.

EW: All right, you've held out long enough: What's up with Heroes?
KB: I'm on a sugar high, to be totally honest. For me, starting a new project is kind of like switching high schools — that feeling of excitement and nerves. And because everyone is so nice and I know so many people involved, I feel like I'm switching high schools — but one that a lot of my friends have already transferred to.

EW: You're kind of the go-to girl these days. You're also narrating The CW's fall drama Gossip Girl. And we hear that Lost was trying to scoop you up?
KB: I'm flattered that I would even be considered for the other roles. [But] I was really excited when there was the prospect of working in town and on one of the best shows on television. There comes a point where I'd like to fall asleep in my own bed.

EW: What can you tell us about your role?
KB: [Elle] comes in with a bang. She's a bit of a criminal in the beginning. I'm not even sure if they know whether she's going to be bad or good. She has a link to H.R.G. (Jack Coleman) and Peter (Milo Ventimiglia). She becomes integral to the mystery on the show.

EW:Did you have to do a table read or go out and audition for the producers?
KB: No, I didn't. Doesn't that feel like I'm on another planet? It's flattering. Everyone has the right to see actors audition [so] they get what's right for their projects. But when you have someone coming to you saying, ''I know you're right,'' it just makes you blush. I'm over the moon.

Heroes fans are still expressing shocked glee over the fact that Kristin Bell is coming to the show.

It's true, though. And Michael Ausiello of TV Guide just sat down with the former Veronica Mars actress to discuss how it all came about it...

TV Guide: Congrats on the Heroes gig! Is this some kind of evil plot of yours to send fanboys over the edge?
Kristen Bell: Absolutely. It is all part of my plan for world domination – and by world, I mean Fanboy World.

TV Guide: How did the gig come about? It's no secret that you've been fielding many offers, including from Lost.
Bell: Obviously, I was in an extremely lucky position. I've kind of felt like I've been on a sugar high the last couple of weeks. Having any of those options… it still feels surreal. How do you make the decision between [Lost and Heroes]? Basically, being able to stay in [Los Angeles] was a little bit of a factor for me [in terms of turning down Lost]. But I was honored to even be considered by Lost. I really, really was, because I love that show. But I have social relationships with a lot of the people that work on Heroes, through so many random connections.

So it was sort of funny that so many of my friends had been working on this show. I spent a lot of time with a few of them at Comic-Con. I was actually sitting on the train [back from San Diego] with Zachary Quinto and Masi Oka and some of the writers were on the train and they were like, "Hey, if you ever want to come on Heroes, give us a call!" And I sort of joked back, "I'd love that!" Later on I said to Zach, "Hey, if they were serious, I would love to work with you guys." And somehow, somebody made it happen.

TV Guide: Wait a second – you ride the train?!
Bell: (Laughs) Yeah, coming back from Comic-Con; none of us drove because the traffic was so bad. So we just took the three-hour train ride back.

TV Guide: Weren't you mobbed by fans?
Bell: No way! Are you kidding me? No one recognizes me.

TV Guide: Was part of the appeal of doing Heroes the fact that it's a limited gig, thus allowing you to keep your career options open?
Bell: That's certainly not a bad point. I am kind of in the luckiest position possible, because they're allowing me to leave it open-ended. So, yeah, that was extremely appealing. Also, everyone I know that is involved in Heroes has had nothing but excellent things to say about what it's like to work there or for Tim Kring and Co. I received a phone call before I even knew that the deal was done from Tim and a few of his partners in crime and, I should probably keep this confidential, but it might've been the nicest phone call I've ever gotten. I think there was almost a point where I fell out of my chair.

TV Guide: How many episodes are you committed for?
Bell: I think I'm doing 13 as of now.

TV Guide: Would you be open to sticking around longer?
Bell: I think I might be. I'm kind of excited to go into this family, because doing a new show always feels a little like switching schools; it's exciting but it's also really nerve-wracking. But this feels like I'm transferring to a school that all of my friends already go to.

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Of all the guest stars or new regulars added to the Heroes season two cast - from Dianna Agron to David Anders - it's hard to imagine any garnering more excitement than this one:

Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell is coming aboard.

NBC has snagged Bell for a key multiepisode arc of Heroes. This is a major casting coup for the show, as the actress was being sought after by multiple other programs, including ABC's Lost.

Bell is likely to become even more well-known and popular, too, as her next gig is playing the lead role in Judd Apatow's upcoming Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

The actress will make her first Heroes appearance in October. She'll play Elle, a character described as a sexy, mysterious young lady who has ties to the supposed death of Peter, Mr. Bennet's past and the future of Claire. Those are a lot of connections for one character to possess.

Variety reports that Elle will kick off her arc by committing a serious crime, though it's unclear whether she's good or bad.

"This was not easy to pull off," said Heroes creator-exec producer Tim Kring. "But since we're an ensemble show, with many arcs playing out through the year, we found a way to jump into a small window in (Bell's) schedule."

Universal Media Studios prexy Katherine Pope also hinted that landing Bell wasn't easy, noting that "many studios (were) chasing her in both film and TV" and that she was happy that Bell "chose to star in our show."

Perhaps we should add Bell to our latest Heroes poll, huh? She'd win in a landslide.