With a new dark-side TV persona and a movie to match, Kristen Bell is finally growing up. It's about time, we say.

By Tim Leong; Photographs by Matt Doyle; Styling by Jewels

You didn’t think people were thinking of you in that way before?

Kristen Bell: Hell, no! My character on Heroes is very Lolita-ish in a much more adult way…wait, that didn’t make any sense. She’s very flirtatious. Sometimes I laugh when I’m trying to deliver a line, because I’m trying to be sexy and I’ll catch myself in the mirror and I’m just like, What are you doing? Because that’s not how I view myself.

I think legions of viewers would disagree.

Kristen Bell: Well, fair enough. I guess because I always played tomboys. Fanboys, I am a tomboy; Veronica Mars is kind of a tomboy. I’ve never played the pretty girl. One thing I had to fight in my career is hearing that I’m not homely enough to play the nerdy girl and not nearly pretty enough to play the pretty girl.

I love that feedback.

Kristen Bell: Right. “You’re just some mish-mash in between, but good job! It’s mainly just your face that’s standing in the way!” [Laughs.]

So how does it feel doing shoots like this, then? Is this awkward?

Kristen Bell: A little bit. It’s fun. ’Cause obviously I’m a 27-year-old woman and it’s great to feel sexy, but it’s funny to have womanly assets that I’m still tapping into. That I certainly hope I will never abuse.

OK, let’s jump into Fanboys. What was that set like, with all those guys around?

Kristen Bell: How dirty is this magazine?

It’s pretty dirty. Hit me.

Kristen Bell: I was the only girl on the set, which was fine, but it got really raunchy. We would, um…do you know how to play “Two in the pink, one in the stink”? [She demonstrates “The Shocker.”]

[Laughs.] Yeah.

Kristen Bell: There was a lot of improv in the movie, so everybody had fun with it. We would come up with completely new [versions of] it, and I have what I can only assume is a God-given gift for it.

Such as?

Kristen Bell: I don’t even know if I can even give those to you.

C’mon, give it a shot.

Kristen Bell: Two in the whale eye, one in the mud pie.

[Laughs.]

Kristen Bell: Don’t ever try it. Paul Rudd’s unbelievable at it, and Jason Segel came up with “two in estrogen’s womb, one in digestion’s tomb.”

[Laughs.] Speaking of shockers, you recently got out of a five-year relationship. [Ed. note—in the journalism biz, that’s what we call a “smooth transition.”] Are you seeing someone now?

Kristen Bell: I am not.

I would imagine our readers would like to know what you’re looking for in a guy.

Kristen Bell: Line ’em up! The idea of dating makes me want to vomit. And not out of grossness—OK, a little bit out of grossness, but just nerves. I’ve always Been a serial monogamist. If someone can make me laugh, you’re in like Flynn. I like to laugh; that’s the number-one for me. Also, the old rule of thumb: If you’re not nice to the waiter, you’re out. And you’re not just out—I might kick your ass.

Is celebrity dating weird?

Kristen Bell: Totally weird.

Because you’re at a much different level than you were five years ago.

Kristen Bell: I’m probably never going to date again. I don’t want anyone to talk about it because I’m way too nervous, and it’s weird to know other people watch you do it. I might never leave the house again, I’m not going to lie. Thank God I have those walkie-talkie watches. Home // GIRLS // COVER GIRLS // KRISTEN BELL