'Burlesque' Star Kristen Bell: Cher Made Me Feel So Special

Kristen Bell fans will get to see a different side of the actress in her new film, Burlesque. Bell plays Nikki, the loose-cannon lead dancer and main attraction at the club who spirals out of control when Christina Aguilera's character suddenly gets the spotlight.

The 30-year-old actress told Parade.com that she was starstruck when it came to co-star Cher.

Working with Cher.
"She was everything I wanted her to be and more. She really was. You never know what to expect when there is someone so otherworldly in the same room as you. You treat her differently no matter how much you try not to because she's so iconic. But she's also so grounded and so surprisingly honest and sarcastic and funny. It made me feel so special that I was getting to know the human being behind this gigantic icon."

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She's also a fan of co-star Christina Aguilera.
"I can't compare to Christina. I don't' know that I'd want to do what Christina does because I don't think I have that in me. Christina is an artist and she doesn't need a play or a musical or a script. She makes her own art and that is a really special talent."

Channeling her musical roots in Burlesque.
"It's definitely a different side of me. But I started out doing musicals and I went to school for music, so I'm very comfortable with it. There's a lot more dancing than I'm used to, so I hope it will be well accepted. I definitely play the bad girl in this movie, which was actually really fun."

See exclusive photos of Kristen Bell

Donning a dark wig for the role.
"I'm a big fan of the transformation. I see my own face plenty throughout the year. I'm tired of sort of looking the way that I look all the time, so to put on a wig or a crazy amount of makeup was really invigorating."

Is there a future in the music industry for Kristen?
"I don't necessarily know that I have the desire to come up with an album. That's not really my style. I like working with characters. I just like characters that also happen to sing! Would I go back to doing a musical? Absolutely, if the right one were to come along. I would love to get back up on stage."

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Learning to embrace her own sensuality in the film.
"I came to an acceptance with the sensuality in this film. There's no nudity in it, but it's definitely embracing female sensuality and the comedy and insecurity and passion that goes along with it. I always felt as though being too sexual meant that you were demeaning yourself and I learned quite the opposite lesson on this movie. I was working with so many confident women that were not at all exploiting themselves. They were loving what they were doing, they were in shape, they were trained dancers, and this was their craft. It can be very intimidating when you're in the thick of it and watching real burlesque. It's one of the most empowering things I've ever done."