Kristen Bell was open about the messy parts of lifedepression, addiction, parentingway before it was cool.
Chrisean Rose
ASHLEY C. FORD: What was your reaction when REAL SIMPLE said you were a game changer?
Do you ever doubt yourself?
Chrisean Rose
KB:Its only recently that I realized I might be qualified for any of this!
I often feel underqualified, whether for an acting scene or a parenting moment.
And he goes, All you gotta do is get the project to the finish line.
Clockwise from top left: Bell on Veronica Mars; Bell’s children’s book; Bell as Anna in Disney’s Frozen (with reindeer pal Sven); Bell with her The Good Place castmates (from left to right) Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto, D’Arcy Carden, William Jackson Harper and Ted Danson.Getty Images (2), Disney, Courtesy
When I think about it like that, I realize I might actually be good at it.
ACF: Youre pretty honest about your feelings, which isnt always valued in a leader.
Do you think it makes good business?
KB:I dont have an MBA.
When Im working on projects and people are talking about ROI and endcaps, I feel out to sea.
Ive worked with people who are amazing in front of a computer but not as good with people.
Chrisean Rose
But theres a place for thatfor those of us who value the people over the process.
KB:I love asking questions.
Theres the worry about looking foolish, but Id disagree with that fear.
Chrisean Rose
I think you seem smarter when you ask questions, because your goal is to get the information.
ACF: Who is a game changer in your life?
We disagree about 99 percent of the things on earth, which is just fun and interesting.
I could break your arm.
ACF: Kristen Bell, arent you five-foot-two?
KB:Jujitsu is all about leverageits about using connection and distance.
Dax Shepard and Bell at the 2021 opening of Hello Bello’s manufacturing center in Waco, Texas.RICK KERN/Getty Images
And doing it with my daughter brought us closer together.
ACF: I love this.
She stopped a fight on the yard at her school!
Chrisean Rose
Its kind of phenomenal.
Whats a skill or behavior that you think is underrated?
ACF: Talk to me about that.
KB:Its the most attractive characteristic on the planet.
I believe that vulnerability only begets vulnerability.
We have so many issues as humans.
Each and every one of us is so hard to get along with.
You are more successful in every aspect of your life.
ACF: What are you teaching your kids?
I really respect when someone does something wrong or hurtful and they apologize.
Im like, Yeah, right on.
ACF: How have you learned to look in the mirror and like who you see?
KB:By dropping the pretense of being perfect.
When I met my husband, hed just recently started to be in recovery.
If he found a pill, hed be gone for three days.
Hed miss Christmas and do lots of things that are inarguably bad things.
I was a goody-goody with a temper.
He was vulnerable and communicative.
That scrambled my brain, because I was like, Im the one who does things right, OK?
And he was like, But you dont, because youre scared to say what you really feel.
It was hard for me to say when something scared me.
RICK KERN/Getty Images
ACF: Sounds like you began to see yourself in a cool new way.
KB:I had been taught to stay inside the lines.
I just need to be better than the person I was yesterday.
ACF: Sorry for the hard left turn here, but I want to ask about Hello Bello.
How did that come to be?
One of our missions is accessibility.
Were also trying to convey that parenting is hard.
So I wanted to let things be weird.
Lets put the word poop on the diaper box because thats what its used for.
ACF: Your superpower is that you make reality seem doable.
KB:That is the hugest compliment you could possibly give me, so thank you.
I think defusing some of the fear surrounding the hard things is maybe what Im here to do.
ACF: Well then, youre lined up with your purpose for sure.
When and where can we find the next thing from Kristen Bell?
Im developing a couple of projects right now that I really love.
Its all spaghetti on the wall.
Who knows whatll stick?
But Im not sure whats next!
And Im absolutely fine saying so.
