OnlyOnAOL: Kristen Bell reveals how her 'priorities have changed'
By: Donna Freydkin
Let's get one thing straight. Kristen Bell loves her two daughters, Lincoln and Delta. She's very happily married to actor Dax Shepard. And yet. And yet.
"Women are scared to say they're exhausted. They're afraid they'll be looked at as awful human beings. It's healthy to complain. The movie strives to create a safe place for moms to complain a little bit," says Bell.
The film in question is "Bad Moms," and Bell plays a stay-at-home parent of four who is slowly becoming untethered. She's bullied by her husband, and is desperate for female friends, finally bonding with two women (Mila Kunis and Kathryn Hahn) who are as frustrated as she.
"I know nothing of Kiki's situation firsthand. But I have felt overworked and underappreciated. I'm a full-time mom and a full-time actress. It's more the hopping back and forth where I can feel overworked and exhausted and struggling to find my optimism within that exhaustion," says Bell.
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She's currently shooting the NBC sitcom "The Good Place," created by Mike Schur and co-starring Ted Danson. It films minutes from her home, which makes working that much more palatable and manageable. Before she says yes to anything work-related, Bell takes every logistical element into consideration.
"My first question is, where does it shoot? I'll uproot my family for a short period of time. When I get off work, every decision is based on how it will affect my family. My priorities have changed. I'm not desperate for some Oscar-winning role as much as I want to live a good and fulfilling life with my family," she says.
When Kunis, a longtime friend of Bell's, texted her about "Bad Moms," Bell was intrigued. Actually, make that completely smitten.
"She was attached first. She said, 'Please read this. I need you to be a part of it.' She's the best. I adore her. She's one of the most honest, standup gals that I know," says Bell. "I wanted to play every single role. Kiki was definitely the most appropriate for me. There's a ton of variables when you consider what you're right for. I can appear mousy and in need of help very easily. I could accomplish this role the best."
She and Kiki share an optimism that remains unflagging, even when things get rough. And like Kiki, Bell is infatuated with her kids. "I didn't expect the little one to eat so much. She is a garbage disposal. It's surprising how different they are. I was positive my love wouldn't be the same and I truly discovered that my love multiplied," says Bell.
She and Shepard try their best to avoid spoiling their kids, or allowing them to grow up entitled. When Lincoln, for example, refuses to pick up her own toys, Bell tells her she's being lazy and laziness is not an attractive quality. And the girls are expected to do chores, and earn their own money for helping out.
"I like people who are hard workers. If you do a hike with us, it's a dollar. If you load the dishwasher, it's a dollar. We have them share a room. It's good for kids to learn how to share space," says Bell.
