Kristen Bell talks fears and fantasies
October 16th 2009 00:11
With beauty, brains and talent, it would be easy for us to hate Kristen Bell... problem is, she's also a total sweetheart! The star of 2009's Couples Retreat and the animated buddy of 80s favourite Astro Boy sat down with Parade magazine and spoke of her insecurities about staying employed, the beauty of Bora Bora and getting into fistfights with Meg Ryan. These are the highlights, but you can read the whole thing here.
On becoming animated.
"I think like any other girl who grew up in the 80s and early 90s: I always dreamed about being a Disney princess. That was my fantasy. I really liked The Little Mermaid. I also really liked Aladdin. I think that, for my generation, the kids that are my age now, we memorized all those songs. In my off hours I still do them in the shower. So it was really fun to be a part of an animated story which is based on a hugely popular Japanese TV series."
Her connection with some characters... and her disconnection with others.
"I can relate to her [Cora from Astro Boy] a lot. She's kind of tough and sassy and opinionated, but she has a very soft interior. I didn't feel the same way about Cynthia in Couples Retreat, who's a real type-A. Although it's funny because the more often I get asked about her, the more I realize there's a tiny Cynthia that lives inside of me who's very specific about packing or about cooking. Sometimes I think, 'Oh, is she really in there?' But, the truth is, I don't know how super-organized people do it. I constantly feel like my world is about to crumble. I feel like I'm holding it together with string."
On the Photoshopped island paradise that is Bora Bora.
"It was the biggest perk to film Couples Retreat in Bora Bora. I grew up in Detroit. I honestly could not find Bora Bora on a map before we went. I've never dreamed that I would be able to see a place like this. Getting off the boat, the beauty was almost paralyzing, it's incomparable to anything I've ever seen. The water is bright blue, yet also crystal clear 50 feet down. I didn't know places like that actually existed. I thought they were only billboards by the airport that someone had Photoshopped on their computer."
On punching Meg Ryan.
"I got to get in a fistfight with Meg [Ryan] in Serious Moonlight. And she was so game. I was just like, "Oh, my gosh. I am having a fistfight with Meg Ryan right now. I'm just on cloud nine.' She projects an iconic level of cuteness that I don't even think will ever be matched."
On her fears about staying employed.
"After every job, I have 'I'm never going to work again' syndrome. It's just a fact of loving what you're doing and always wanting more. The one thing I learned from my father is how to be extremely proactive. So when a series gets canceled or a movie wraps, I get on the phone. I'm not an idiot. I've got a mortgage to pay. It's just a matter of making smart decisions, as an actress and a businesswoman. There are a thousand girls out there that have great acting chops and are pretty and personable and I could easily fall out of the loop. Someone else could take my place. I want to ride this wave while I have it."
Kristen Bell: 'I constantly feel like my world is about to crumble.'
On becoming animated.
"I think like any other girl who grew up in the 80s and early 90s: I always dreamed about being a Disney princess. That was my fantasy. I really liked The Little Mermaid. I also really liked Aladdin. I think that, for my generation, the kids that are my age now, we memorized all those songs. In my off hours I still do them in the shower. So it was really fun to be a part of an animated story which is based on a hugely popular Japanese TV series."
Her connection with some characters... and her disconnection with others.
"I can relate to her [Cora from Astro Boy] a lot. She's kind of tough and sassy and opinionated, but she has a very soft interior. I didn't feel the same way about Cynthia in Couples Retreat, who's a real type-A. Although it's funny because the more often I get asked about her, the more I realize there's a tiny Cynthia that lives inside of me who's very specific about packing or about cooking. Sometimes I think, 'Oh, is she really in there?' But, the truth is, I don't know how super-organized people do it. I constantly feel like my world is about to crumble. I feel like I'm holding it together with string."
Kristen gets upstaged by a cartoon
On the Photoshopped island paradise that is Bora Bora.
"It was the biggest perk to film Couples Retreat in Bora Bora. I grew up in Detroit. I honestly could not find Bora Bora on a map before we went. I've never dreamed that I would be able to see a place like this. Getting off the boat, the beauty was almost paralyzing, it's incomparable to anything I've ever seen. The water is bright blue, yet also crystal clear 50 feet down. I didn't know places like that actually existed. I thought they were only billboards by the airport that someone had Photoshopped on their computer."
On punching Meg Ryan.
"I got to get in a fistfight with Meg [Ryan] in Serious Moonlight. And she was so game. I was just like, "Oh, my gosh. I am having a fistfight with Meg Ryan right now. I'm just on cloud nine.' She projects an iconic level of cuteness that I don't even think will ever be matched."
Yep, she can do sexy too.
On her fears about staying employed.
"After every job, I have 'I'm never going to work again' syndrome. It's just a fact of loving what you're doing and always wanting more. The one thing I learned from my father is how to be extremely proactive. So when a series gets canceled or a movie wraps, I get on the phone. I'm not an idiot. I've got a mortgage to pay. It's just a matter of making smart decisions, as an actress and a businesswoman. There are a thousand girls out there that have great acting chops and are pretty and personable and I could easily fall out of the loop. Someone else could take my place. I want to ride this wave while I have it."
| 48 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
