Kristen Bell is Fabulous as Elle on Heroes

This year on Heroes, we’ve been treated to the delight that is Kristen Bell, as Elle. While also lending her voice for voice overs on the new CW show, Gossip Girl, Kristen has been playing Elle - the deliciously deviant girl who loves her powers.

Elle is simply fabulous. She’s saucy, sassy and has an unapologetic take on even the worst things she does. I shouldn’t like her - I’m not someone who generally favors a villain. But Kristen plays Elle in a way that you know there’s more to the character than just being evil. It all has to do with the way she was raised.

I have a great respect for actor and actresses who are smart enough to take on an ‘evil’ role, and realize that their character doesn’t necessarily think that they’re evil. Their mindset is just different. If you play a character in a one-dimensional way, it will show on the screen. I am reminded of both Eliza Dushku as Faith, and Clare Kramer as Glory, both on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Both of these actresses approached their characters as flawed - not just evil. In this same way, Kristen plays Elle in a way that, at times, you can be sympathetic to her and understand why she is the way she is. There are chinks in her armor, and the more we see of her - the more we see them.

Although Elle has not had much contact with Claire Bennet (the sweetheart of the show, played by Hayden Panettiere) they are already entangled within a bitter rivalry. And it is really, really superbly fun to watch. I think that whatever the outcome, anything done that pairs these two characters up is going to come out as entertaining.

Of course, if it comes down to a showdown (and it probably will) I’m rooting for Elle.

On the screen, these two characters hate each other - complete with venom in their eyes. But off the screen, this pair of actresses seem to be very friendly.

Below is a clip from an interview they did together, and you are able to see some of their interaction before they know they’re being filmed. It would be easy for Panettiere to dislike a newcomer to her already-established show, especially someone who is also blonde, petite and cute in direct competition to her. But she doesn’t seem to dislike Bell. The pair joke around easily.

Hayden has always seemed like a mini-Kate Hudson to me, which was only amplified by the time she played Kate’s younger cousin in the fun, girly movie, Raising Helen. Ms. Hudson was said to have been seen intimately around Dax Shepard (Without a Paddle, Employee of the Month), but their relationship is no more. According to OK! Magazine (among various other sources), Dax has a new girl in his life, and that girl is Kristen Bell.

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Heroes - Season One

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