Entertainment
Not Sure Who Krysten Ritter Is? Here Are 7 of Her Most Recognizable Roles
If Will Ferrell's astronaut workplace comedy didn't sound cool enough already, then hearing the news that Breaking Bad 's Krysten Ritter will star in Mission Control 's leading role just made the NBC pilot our new favorite show. On Thursday, it was announced that Ritter will play the lead in the 1960-set comedy, described as a “workplace ensemble in the tone of Anchorman that examines what happens when a strong woman butts heads with a macho astronaut in the race to land on the moon.” Ritter's character is the head engineer of the Apollo team at NASA's Mission Control center, a tough feminist who balks at the addition of a man (not yet cast) to her team.
With the acid-tongued Ritter in the lead, Mission Control is sure to be must-see TV next season, and it certainly doesn't hurt that Ferrell and his Anchorman partner Adam McKay are executive producers. Add in the fact that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia writer/executive producer David Hornsby is the showrunner, and Mission Control couldn't sound more promising if it tried.
If all goes well, the series should give Ritter a much-needed boost in visibility. Despite being a familiar face to fans of a few certain TV shows, she's not nearly as well-known as someone of her talents deserve. If you're one of those who "just know her from somewhere...", take a look back at her 7 most recognizable roles. Some years-old spoilers included.
'Veronica Mars'
For eight episodes in Veronica Mars’ season two, Ritter played Gia, the ditzy Neptune transfer student/stalking victim who forges a friendship with Veronica (Kristen Bell). Her arc on the show may have been short, but in June, Ritter announced that she’ll be reprising her role in the Veronica Mars movie, set for a March 14 release.
Image: The CW
'Gilmore Girls'
In the final season of Gilmore Girls, Ritter portrayed Lucy, a Yale acting major who befriends Rory (Alexis Bledel), despite having nothing in common except a tendency to talk really, really fast. The girls’ friendship is tested when it’s revealed that Rory and Lucy’s boyfriend secretly have a bit of a history, but by the end of the show, they’ve made up and moved on.
Image: The CW
'27 Dresses'
Although 27 Dresses is best known as being one of the few tolerable movies starring Katherine Heigl, it also memorably featured Ritter in a small role as a receptionist who hosts one of the many weddings Heigl’s Jane attends leading up to her own.
Image: 20th Century Fox
'Breaking Bad'
It’s the classic story: girl meets boy, girl and boy fall in love, girl dies choking on her own vomit after overdosing on heroin while boy sleeps peacefully nearby. Jane might’ve suffered a terrible fate on Breaking Bad, but the actor behind her, Ritter, only benefited from her time on the acclaimed series.
Image: AMC
'She's Out of My League'
Although the 2010 rom-com about an average guy (Jay Baruchel) who falls for a woman (Alice Eve), wait for it, out of his league, wasn’t much of a hit with critics, it was a surprise box office success, grossing nearly $50 million. Ritter co-starred as Patty, the wary best friend of Molly (Eve).
Image: Paramount
'Confessions of a Shopaholic'
There’s not much to like about this obnoxious 2009 “comedy,” but Ritter’s performance as Suze, the loyal, bride-to-be best friend of Rebecca (Isla Fisher) is a high point. It’s not quite clear why the strong-willed Suze stands Rebecca’s consistent flakiness, but with Ritter’s help, the character is one of the movie’s only ones to feel somewhat realistic.
Image: Walt Disney
'Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23'
It’s a shame that Don’t Trust the B was cancelled after just two short seasons, because while the ABC comedy was certainly flawed, it was also one of the funniest, quirkiest shows on TV. Starring Ritter as Chloe, the eponymous B, the series featured dry humor, great cameos (Dean Cain! Frankie Muniz!) and James Van Der Beek making fun of his Dawson’s Creek image. What’s not to like?
Image: ABC
