Around 2002, Kristen Bell was just beginning to transition from stage to screen. After studying musical theater at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she appeared in several Broadway and off-Broadway productions. Her early screen work included small roles in television and film, such as a part in the movie Pootie Tang (2001) and guest appearances on TV shows.

Although she had not yet landed her breakout role, this period laid the groundwork for her rise to fame. Just a few years later, in 2004, she would gain widespread recognition as the lead in the critically acclaimed series Veronica Mars.