Kristen Bell Reflects on Success of Nobody Wants This and Why the Netflix Rom-Com Came at the ‘Right Time’ (Exclusive)

As Kristen Bell prepares to pull double duty as the host and a nominee at the 2025 SAG Awards on Feb. 23, the actress is looking back on why her Netflix rom-com Nobody Wants This came at “just the right time.”

Bell, 44, recently opened up to PEOPLE during an exclusive interview on Zoom about the success of Nobody Wants This, which earned her a nod for outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series and earned costar Adam Brody, 45, a nomination in the male actor category.

She says “it felt awesome” for people to embrace the series.

“I couldn’t anticipate the level of love that was shown from fans who watched the series once, twice, three times,” Bell says. “I knew that it was special, but there are a ton of special shows that never get watched.”

Bell then referenced the shows that kickstarted her and Brody’s careers.

“This hit a chord. Adam and I know that we have great chemistry on camera, so we were excited to deliver that nostalgia on camera, especially for people who watched Veronica Mars and The O.C. and have that be a fun element,” she explains. “And I think the reinvigoration of a very grounded yet modern rom-com, it was just the right time.”

“I’m so happy that people enjoyed it,” adds Bell, who will be returning as Joanne alongside Brody’s Noah for season 2. Brody’s real-life wife, Leighton Meester, will be joining the cast as Joanne’s “nemesis,” Abby.

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Bell jokingly admits she might need a “beta blocker” to take the pressure off of being nominated in addition to her SAG Awards hosting duties.

“I don’t think it’s healthy for my brain to care if I get a trophy,” she says. “But what’s sort of stunning and makes me take a step back is that there are so many women in that category that I find as my North Star and I love … so to be considered among them is incredibly flattering.”

Bell is up against Quinta Brunson from Abbott Elementary, Liza Colón-Zayas from The Bear, Ayo Edebiri from The Bear and Jean Smart from Hacks for outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series.

“It’s also truly my worst nightmare to have to make a funny and engaging and poignant speech in front of people off the cuff,” Bell says. “So I would really honestly not [want to] win because that’s too nerve-wracking. There’s not a beta-blocker that would fix that problem for me.”

The 31st annual SAG Awards stream live on Netflix on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.