Kristen Bell’s Biggest Fear About Hosting the 2025 SAG Awards Is That She’ll Win One

After a triumphant turn by Nikki Glaser as Golden Globes host and a Trevor Noah–fronted Grammy Awards that raised $7 million for Los Angeles fire relief, it may actually be cool to host awards shows again.

For Kristen Bell, who will host the 2025 SAG Awards, airing on Netflix on Sunday, February 23, it always has been. “I don’t look at it as thankless,” she says. “I like hosting. I like bringing people together. I like making goofy jokes and making people laugh…. Being in a room full of my peers—there’s something very exciting about it. Plus, there’s a safety net because, as cutthroat as Hollywood can be, the SAG Awards have the best vibe because everyone’s excited to see each other, and they’re rooting for each other no matter who wins. So it was an easy yes.”

hit Netflix comedy series Nobody Wants This. However, she’s much more focused on the awards hopes of her favorite film of the year. “I mean, I can’t really think of any project other than Wicked, and I haven’t been able to think of any project other than Wicked for months,” says Bell. “But that’s just because I’m a musical theater kid and such a fangirl.” She’ll have many chances to see her top movie win. With five nods from the actors guild, Wicked leads the 2025 SAG Award nominations, having earned recognition for best ensemble as well as for individual stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey.

Bell is also keeping her eye on the year’s best TV—even titles that will only be eligible next year. “I don’t know if you’re watching Severance right now, but holy smokes,” she says. “No shade to the movies—movies have always been great—but I am kind of thrilled that people are recognizing the art form that is television.”

Ahead, Bell tells Vanity Fair why it was important that the SAG Awards go on after the devastating Los Angeles fires and shares her hopes for deploying Nobody Wants This leading man Adam Brody during the show.

Vanity Fair: Was there anything you learned from hosting the SAG Awards in 2018 that informed how you’ve approached the second time?

Kristen Bell: My style of comedy, if I were to explain it, is more goofy and self-deprecating. I don’t roast people. I’m not here to attack, and that’s generally a safe place to operate from. I just want it to be happy and fun, and I feel like we tried to do that the first time around, and it was successful enough that they invited me back. I’m not a stand-up comedian because I’m not a good enough writer. This is as close as I’ll ever get, and it feels very fun to me.

The big question this year is, how do you handle what’s going on in Los Angeles while having a night of celebration for film and TV? Initially, I thought it was so superfluous to have an award show when LA was literally on fire, but then as I thought deeper about it, I reminded myself these award shows are a primary force driving the economy here in Los Angeles. They employ hundreds, if not thousands, of workers who need to work—drivers, caterers, hair-and-makeup people, tech, musicians. It’s not just the actors. It takes hundreds and hundreds of people to put these shows on. It’s how Los Angeles thrives, and I think we have a responsibility to show up for people’s jobs in Los Angeles, and that’s why we’re going to do it.

I know the writers for the show are Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola and Louis Virtel, but are there others you’ve huddled with for input?

I have found that when you are very good friends with a writer that you think is talented, they can write for your voice so much better. My husband, [Dax Shepard], has written, in the projects I’ve done with him, some of the best stuff I feel I’ve ever done. And for the SAG Awards, I wanted Monica Padman, who is my best friend and cohosts my husband’s podcast, [Armchair Expert], with him, to consult on it. She is incredibly talented, and so there is very little turmoil, because she knows me so well. I hesitate to say this, but it’s kind of easy.

Nikki Glaser was a big hit hosting the Globes. Have you two ever had the chance to connect, or have you received hosting advice from anyone else?

I haven’t talked to Nikki. I’m very good friends with Jimmy Kimmel and his wife, Molly McNearney, and she’s his head writer [on Jimmy Kimmel Live!], so I do sometimes run things by them. But again, I would say that—as you know, even as an interviewer—you have to be engaging, you have to keep the conversation going, you kind of have to keep a smile on your face, your energy up. But as far as the script, I think it’s so unique to the person. Some of the jokes Nikki did that were great—I don’t know if I could ever pull off. I have a much softer style of comedy. Thankfully, some people enjoy that for a night, and I’m happy to do it.

You’re someone who has attended their fair share of awards shows. Is there something a host should avoid in an effort not to alienate anyone in the audience? Or even something you know you really like as an awards show guest?

Oh, wow. That’s a great question. The one thing that I would change from when I did it the first time is I was a little afraid to make eye contact with people in the audience because it felt very daunting. I was like, There’s so many people out here that I’m a fan of. And I felt like I was at Comic-Con in Hall H—but all of the shows that I liked were watching me. So I think I’ll try to make more of a personal connection this year, but I think just having an upbeat attitude—and also not everybody’s going to like every joke or every bit you do, and if they don’t, and it doesn’t get a laugh, just move on. It wasn’t for them. Just keep it moving.

You’re not only hosting, but are nominated for Nobody Wants This. Are you more nervous to host the show or for your category?

Well, my game plan is to take a beta-blocker for the whole night, and that’s going to help a lot. I haven’t really thought about the fact that I’m nominated, because I’m focused on the fact that I’m hosting. I also don’t think I’ll win, which is also fine, because it’s kind of my biggest fear to have to make an off-the-cuff, really charming, poignant speech in front of all of my peers and nail it. It’s like asking an actor to do it in one take and make it up on the spot. So I haven’t really thought much about that. I’m just going to focus on the hosting and maybe hope I don’t win.

Your Nobody Wants This costar Adam Brody is also nominated. Can you tease any bits between the two of you during the show?

I’ll say I’ve considered throwing him in here and there…I’ll say that. Although Adam is very picky. I was shocked he agreed to do Nobody Wants This, and I must have called him every day for a month about it, so we’ll see if he says yes to anything.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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