Alyson Hannigan

Television shows such as `` `Alias’ and `Buffy’ are fantastic to be able to show the strength of a woman,’’ says Bell. ``But how many of us really are going to be a CIA agent? And how many of us really are going to fight vampires?’’

Or work in a private detective agency?

``Look, the reality of the show outweighs the entertainment value’’ of the mysteries that form the spine of each episode, Bell says. ``This is a very, very realistic depiction of what it’s like to be a loner. Veronica’s strength as a female is what affects people the most.’’

When she makes public appearances, the actress adds, ``I’ve had girls and guys alike come up to me and say, `I started watching your show, and the way that Veronica handles things has given me the strength to come out of my shell’ or `out of my depression.’ ’’

Before ``Veronica Mars’’ sounds too depressing, it should be noted that Rob Thomas and his writers handle the potentially grim storylines with deft humor and some of the sharpest dialogue since ``Buffy.’’

(In tonight’s very good episode, for example, Veronica goes to a 1980s-themed school dance where romance is in the air — for everyone except her. ``J. Geils was right: Love stinks,’’ she says in one of the voice-over monologues that dot the series. ``You can dress it up with sequins and shoulder pads, but you’re still going to end up at the spring dance, dressed in uncomfortable underwear.’’)

For now, Bell is busy doing her sell job on ``Veronica Mars.’’ But she’s got two movies coming out later this year: Showtime’s film version of the musical ``Reefer Madness’’ and ``Fifty Pills,’’ an independent film she made during a break from the TV series. And she’s looking forward to the time when she won’t be mistaken for a teenager.

``I like playing teenagers,’’ Bell says with a laugh. ``But it’ll be nice when I can start playing girls in their 20s — without their parents around.’’

`Veronica Mars’