If playing Veronica Mars for three years didn’t solidify her placement at the center of the geek universe, then this surely will: Kristen Bell will appear on NBC’s Heroes this fall for a multi-episode arc. ”Saying you’re a nerd is now the cool thing to do,” notes Bell, 27, who also plays a Star Wars fanatic in Fanboys (out January 2008) and headlines next summer’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall, from producer Judd Apatow. ”The fansites are obsessed with her…. It’s [her] very approachable charm,” explains Fanboys director Kyle Newman. Quips Marshall co-producer Rodney Rothman, ”I guess she’s cornered the market on losers. The girl’s got chops, man.” And she can also speak for herself. Without further ado…

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What’s life been like since Mars?
KRISTEN BELL: Right after Veronica Mars wrapped [in April], I left for Hawaii [to film Marshall]. I was on cloud nine, obviously, because I was getting to work with Judd Apatow’s group. I’d really wanted to be a part of that very small pool of lucky actors.