Kristen Bell was born 18th July 1980, Bell was raised in a suburb of Detroit, MI. She fell in love with performing at a very early age, and landed onstage in a local production at age 11. By age 13, she had secured an agent and was appearing in print advertising for local retailers; eventually working her way up to local television commercials.

With her sights firmly set on an acting career, Bell went on to study musical theater at New York University's Tisch School for the Arts. In 2001, while still a student, she made her Broadway debut playing Becky Thatcher in a musical version of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." She also appeared off-Broadway in an adaptation of the legendary 1930s public service announcement film, "Reefer Madness: The Musical," in the lead role of Mary Lane.

Clever writing and direction and a terrific cast helped earn "Veronica Mars" popularity among critics and a substantial cult following, though not quite enough to make the show a breakout hit. For her part, Bell won numerous award nominations, including from the Teen Choice Awards and TV Critics Association.

Reprising her flair for romantic comedy, Bell took a starring role as a tourist whose offhanded visit to a famed fountain of love in Rome leads to her unexplained pursuit by half a dozen men when she returns to New York in "When in Rome" (2010).