Do you remember your first
association with Universal?
KRISTEN BELL: Uhh, well, the first time I worked for Universal
was when I shot FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL which was, you know,
an amazing opportunity for me. Umm, and I feel like I had never
had that kind of opportunity before and so, it was a lovely
experience. And umm, you know, just being on that lot, it’s,
it’s, the air is rife with creativity. I always do have trouble
conceptualizing where they actually keep all the film.
I feel like the whole place is like, there’s an under vault with
just like tons and tons and tons of film reels.
Do you have any memories that you’d like to share from your
experience on FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL?
KRISTEN BELL: Uhh, I mean, it was, it was so long ago. Umm …
Let’s move on since I don’t have too much time. Was there a
movie in Universal’s library that resonated with you, touched
you as a kid, etc.?
KRISTEN BELL: Oh, yeah. Well I was, I mean, I’m a huge fan of
THE BREAKFAST CLUB. I think you can never more accurately
identify the five different types of teenagers there are. Umm,
and I also really loved PARENTHOOD. I think that, you know, in
wishing Universal a 100th birthday, you’re actually wishing
hundreds of thousands of people their birthday because often
times actors get the credit for the movie because they’re the
face but there’s so many people behind the scenes, literally a
hundred-thousand, that make it work and make this sort of
organism function. So, I feel like it’s wishing all of them to
have a happy birthday.
What makes PARENTHOOD special for you?
KRISTEN BELL: Oh. Because I have a really large family with a
lot of personalities and a lot of strong will, umm, and just the
accurate portrayal of the ups and downs and the hatred and the
loathing yet still the love at the end of the day and the comedy
that can come out of all that, I think was so brilliant in that
movie.
SIXTEEN CANDLES? You like SIXTEEN CANDLES?
KRISTEN BELL: Love SIXTEEN CANDLES. Of course.
What did you connect with in that movie?
KRISTEN BELL: Well, I mean, SIXTEEN CANDLES, it’s just, you
know, everyone’s been a teenager and it is such a frustrating
time. And it’s so rife with umm, emotion and you’re just trying
to keep it together. Yet at the same time, you’re absolutely
over it. And I think that’s what I loved about that movie in her
performance, it specifically.
E.T.?
KRISTEN BELL: One of the greatest movies ever made. I mean,
yeah.
Tell me why you think that is.
KRISTEN BELL: Umm, I mean, I don’t, I was very young when it was
made, of course. But I don’t know that I’ve seen or that there
wuh, let me try that again. I was very young when it was made
but I don’t know that before there, there was as umm, emotional
connection between a sort of monster type character and a group
of kids. And I think that’s sort of umm, that connection is what
fueled a ton of other movies where people connect with something
that’s not the norm or something that’s ostracized or on the
outskirts. The idea that umm, the monster doesn’t have to
threaten normalcy, it can actually umm, have a loving
relationship alongside it.
Can you reflect on your relationship with the studio?
KRISTEN BELL: I mean, I’m grateful that the studio exists. It’s
given me a lot of opportunities, it’s sent me to a lot of crazy
locations: to Hawaii, to Bora Bora, now to Alaska. Umm, so I
kind of feel in a way that they are, you know, more like my
travel agent. Umm, but I’m just, I’m very grateful to be working
for a company that I love and respect so much.
Will you wish Universal a happy 100th?
KRISTEN BELL: Oh, sure. Umm, to everyone who has ever had a hand
in any Universal picture, Happy Birthday.
Thank you.
