Kristen Bell refused to act in Veronica Mars in 2004.
Kristen Bell . Bell gained critical acclaim for her first major role as the title character in the teen noir drama television series Veronica Mars ( 2004 -- 07 ) . During her time on Veronica Mars , Bell appeared as Mary Lane in the film Reefer Madness : The Movie Musical ( 2005 ) , a reprise of the role she had played in the New York musical upon which the film was based . Veronica Mars . The series is set in the fictional town of Neptune , California , and stars Kristen Bell as the eponymous character . The series premiered on September 22 , 2004 , during television network UPN 's final two years , and ended on May 22 , 2007 , after a season on UPN 's successor , The CW , airing for three seasons total .