Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Not so Bland Camp

Running down London’s Holloway Road with the largest cold sore glowing proud and tall below my lips, I managed to spill supremely sticky Lilt down my jumper. Fifteen minutes late, sweat pouring down my face ruining my carefully prepared hair, conscious of a dubious stain on my nicest jeans, it dawned on me: I was stuck in my very own teen movie: the likeable but ever so slightly geeky bumbler on his way to that long-awaited first date with the prettiest girl in class.

However, on a humid and stuffy afternoon, Alyson Hannigan was anything but a perspiration catalyst: she was that yearned-for, refreshing summer’s breeze. Insecurities such as my own create the farcical humour of the American Pie series, and Hannigan recognises this entirely: "It was one of those films that just struck a chord at the right time. Every generation has one. Teenagers were wrapped up in the idea of sex, and so were really conscious about their image."

It is immediately obvious on meeting her why Hannigan won the role of Michelle Flaherty and the affection of lustful minors everywhere. Her pale apple green top accentuates her notorious fiery hair, forcing her straight into your attention, yet her face has an endearing slightness, which conjures both innocence and friendliness. Her speech is littered with youthful Americanisms: "like", "whatevers" and "super-judgementals".

At thirty, though, she knows the business and has fallen in love with it. On describing herself, modestly and unjustly, as "so not articulate" one cannot but realise that she, like, so fits the job description.

Hannigan began acting at the tender age of four, starring in national commercials for McDonalds and Oreo cookies. "It was just a hobby, but I came out knowing I wanted to be an actress. It’s just my passion." Born in Washington DC to two photographers, she moved to Los Angeles at eleven with a view to forging a career in front of the camera. Sure enough, by thirteen she landed her first major role, in the Dan Aykroyd film, My Stepmother is an Alien, playing the love interest of Seth Green for the first time. Despite this early success she admits that life "wasn’t great until Buffy", a career venture that surprisingly only began in 1997.

"I felt like I was cheating by going straight to the top. I was like: " ’I haven’t struggled. I haven’t gone to stage school,’ but then I’m like ’Fuck it!’"

She clearly still respects those in the profession that have strived through hardship, talking of her husband (Buffy co-star, Alexis Denisof), who attended LAMDA, with a deep and total admiration. "Buffy was my college of learning. I can’t even imagine trying to learn without that process."

Her character, teenage witch Willow Rosenberg, possesses a light-hearted eccentricity and naivety, and, as such, is another role to which Hannigan is entirely suited. "The characters were set, but the writers would put a lot of our personalities into them." She answers the typical ’who-would-win-in-a-fight-between’ question with instantaneous certainty: "Willow. Sabrina wouldn’t stand a chance!"

With celebrity, especially one involved in such a ’cult hit’ as Buffy, comes a distinctive and committed fanbase. Hannigan seems aware and undaunted by this. "Buffy fans are great, but there are a handful of weirdos who give the rest a bad name. One girl, who was really sweet, showed up at my house with her horse, and wanted to give it to me. It took forty-five minutes to decline the offer."

The first American Pie film was, of course, an unexpected blockbuster. Hannigan notes that the film was initially due for a February release, "which basically means that it’s crap", but became a summer hit after hugely successful trial screenings. "I thought it was hilarious. Very suited to my humour. Right up my alley."

At which point, the question of the band camp ’flute and chute’ incident naturally pops into conversation. "People always come up to me about that. I’ll get it for the rest of my life." It isn’t all bad though, with "three films that grossed over 100 million dollars each, people really sit up and take notice. I’ve had a lot of scripts that are the exact same character as Michelle and they just go straight in the recycling bin."

With Michelle finally walking down the aisle and room for single shenanigans minimised, Alyson seems to be taking her career in other interesting directions. "The more you achieve the higher your goals become." She is currently starring as Sally opposite Luke Perry (Fifth Element, the film version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) in the West End production of When Harry Met Sally.

Playing such an iconic figure must be something of a challenge, especially as Meg Ryan "made such amazing choices". "It’s one of those parts you just envy. I watched the movie so many times growing up, so it was a little daunting."

It must be even harder then to pull off the ultra-famous and oft-parodied fake orgasm scene. "At first I was like, ’I’m never going to get past going bright red, and my ears getting hot.’ I watched the scene in rehearsals and that screwed me up for days; it really messed with my head."

Amazingly this is her first stage performance. "Television and theatre are completely different. I have the worst television habits on stage. There’s a bond you get when you do theatre with people. It’s like a little family. You really hang out together, which you can’t do with the long days in television."

This bond becomes evident as she talks about her co-star’s occasional unprompted interaction with the audience in a starkly jovial manner. "Luke can be a very naughty actor, a complete ham. He’s a lovely guy, but when he’s such a ham, I just want to slap him."

Despite admitting to feeling "very homesick", Hannigan says she has "definitely enjoyed the experience", especially the London lifestyle. "L.A. doesn’t really have a theatre scene, if you want to do theatre you go to New York. But London’s amazing. L.A. is a driving city, but in London you can walk it, cab it, tube it, whatever."

So what does the future hold for Alyson Hannigan? "I wanted to do a sitcom because I enjoy the immediacy of being in front of audience. With a film it’s like, ’I hope that was funny. Tell you in eight months!’ I also really want to work with people that inspire me right now." Her enthusiasm, professionalism and drive, which are visibly apparent, should take her far and, surely, her looks cannot be a hindrance.

Leaving Hannigan to head back to the theatre, any previous anxiety on my part had disappeared. The prettiest girl in class, was, as usual, just as down to earth and fun as any ordinary person: her sought-after status unapparent throughout.

Well, if the bumbling idiot persona can work for Jim, I’m sure mine can accomplish just as much. Now, where’s that apple pie?