How Kristen Bell Won 'Veronica Mars' Role

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After three seasons and a fan-funded theatrical movie, fans of 'Veronica Mars' might have a hard time picturing the title character played by anyone other than Kristen Bell, 33.

Luckily, Rob Thomas, the show's creator, felt the same way about Bell when she first auditioned. As in, she was the first actress to even audition for the role.

"I saw 100 actresses for the role of Veronica," said Thomas at the March 13 'Veronica Mars' panel at PaleyFest 2014. "Kristen was the very first actress I saw and my mind was blown."

The 'Frozen' star's audition was stuck in Thomas's head, and even after watching 99 more actresses tried out for the role, he still kept thinking about Bell.

"I kept thinking, 'Was that first girl as brilliant as I thought she was?'" said Thomas. To which he and the rest of his casting team ended up deciding that yes, yes she was.

READ: 'Veronica Mars': Where Are They Now

After being cast as the show's lead, Bell had to continue impressing the showrunners to prove that she was the right choice for the part.

Apparently, it didn't take her long for her to do just that. Thomas said she was "unbelievable" during the taping of the first episode. The 'House of Lies' star had to shoot an emotional scene in which Veronica Mars comes to the painful conclusion that she's been raped, but she was able to carry it out well and with the full force of real tears for the scene.

"I'm watching her from the monitor, and tears start streaming down her face, and I'm just like, 'Holy sh-! We have a star! She is so unbelievable!'" said Thomas. "There's this joke of really top-notch actors, like, 'How many tears do you want and out of which eye?' Kristen can deliver that."