Kristen Bell has a rather unusual definition of flirting, and it involves her husband Dax Shepard complimenting other women right in front of her.

For some couples, that might be an invitation to an uncomfortable conversation on the drive home. For Bell, it's apparently one of the things she finds most attractive about her husband.

During the October 26 episode of Armchair Expert, the actress joined her Nobody Wants This co-stars Adam Brody, Justine Lupe and Timothy Simons for a conversation that eventually turned to Shepard's habit of complimenting strangers.

Bell explained that when the couple goes out to dinner, Shepard sometimes praises a waiter or waitress for their appearance, whether it's their eyes, eyelashes or another feature that catches his attention.

While podcast co-host Monica Padman suggested he might actually be flirting with the person receiving the compliment, Bell had a completely different interpretation.

"That's flirting with me because he just made someone else feel good," she explained.

Her reasoning is simple: Shepard is unlikely to see that stranger again, and the compliment isn't necessarily an attempt to pursue anyone. Instead, Bell finds it attractive that her husband takes the time to make another person feel appreciated.

Kristen Bell Has Actually Been Saying This for Months

Although the October podcast conversation has attracted fresh attention, Bell's explanation of her husband's behaviour isn't a new revelation.

On April 21, 2026, during an appearance on Adam Grant's ReThinking podcast, the actress described almost exactly the same scenario.

Speaking about the importance of kindness and giving compliments, Bell explained that Shepard frequently praises strangers, including restaurant employees, when he notices something he likes about their appearance.

She described this habit as one of his most endearing qualities and connected it directly to the way he flirts with her.

The earlier interview provides an important distinction. Bell wasn't discussing the subject as a provocative relationship rule. She was making a broader argument that people should be more generous about expressing positive thoughts rather than keeping them to themselves.

In that context, Shepard's behaviour was an example of the everyday kindness she admires, rather than an invitation for him to pursue other women.

Where Bell Draws the Line Between Kindness and Flirting

The October conversation offered another revealing detail about how the couple understands these interactions.

While discussing a storyline involving an inappropriate compliment in Nobody Wants This, Shepard acknowledged that certain remarks could cross a line. Bell, however, maintained that his own compliments had never struck her as inappropriate.

She also recalled Shepard complimenting a friend's eyebrows, explaining that she appreciated his willingness to say something positive that other people might have noticed but never expressed.

That distinction helps explain why Bell interprets the same behaviour differently from someone who might see it as disrespectful.

Her attraction isn't necessarily to the fact that Shepard is complimenting another woman. It's to the generosity she believes motivates the compliment.

Of course, whether someone else would feel comfortable with their partner making similar remarks is another question entirely. Bell is describing what works in her own marriage, not presenting a universal guide to romantic behaviour.

After 13 years of marriage, Bell and Shepard clearly have their own understanding of what constitutes flirting. And in their relationship, apparently, noticing a stranger's excellent eyebrows can count as a romantic gesture.