Alyson Hannigan

SLAYING ’EM Feb 6 2004

BUFFY STAR ALYSON HANNIGAN PUTS VAMPIRES BEHIND HER TO APPEAR ON THE WEST END STAGE.

By ANNA DAY

It wasn’t the best way to find you were out of a job. Sitting at home, Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Alyson Hannigan read in a magazine the announcement by her co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar that the series was at an end. The nature of the announcement, it is fair to say, left her a little bit miffed.

But while Gellar has not found stellar success away from the vampire hunting schoolgirl, Hannigan is having the last laugh. She has starred in the enormously successful American Pie comedy series and now she is following in the footsteps of Madonna, Glenn Close and Nicole Kidman by treading the boards of London’s West End.

After her long stint as lesbian witch Willow in Buffy, she feels the need to prove she can really act and she is appearing in a stage version of the hit movie When Harry Met Sally. Alyson takes the Meg Ryan role with Luke Perry of Beverly Hills 90210 fame playing her other half.

Were you sad to see the end of Buffy?

It was bittersweet. It came at a fantastic time in my life because I was getting married to my fiancé Alexis Denisof and American Wedding was coming out. Then that was the close of that series. So it was a perfect time in my life to move on to new things. It felt very right. But I do miss the crew, the cast and seeing everyone every day. Now I have the time and energy to do other things.

Is it right that you were miffed when you heard about the end of Buffy by reading about it in a magazine interview with Sarah Michelle Gellar?

We all figured it was the last series but there was still a small chance that if Sarah signed on to do another year we could still carry on. But then she did this article and announced that she wasn’t coming back and that’s how we all found out.

It must be quite a departure doing theatre after Buffy?

Exactly. Buffy was exciting but I love doing comedy. The American Pie series was fun and I have a pilot for a new comedy coming up with NBC in America. So when they said, “Do you want to do When Harry Met Sally in London?” it was “Where do I sign up?”

Have you done much theatre before?

I’ve never done any before. I haven’t been on stage since pre-school so I am terrified about it. I will probably have a meltdown beforehand, throw up backstage and then go on with lots of mints. I have to admit I have been getting more and more nervous, but yesterday I decided that I am sick of being nervous. It’s time to stop.

And what about the famous Meg Ryan orgasm scene?

I am nervous about the orgasm because it’s not everyday you do that in front of 800 people. I did far worse in American Pie, but that wasn’t live.

Do you like working in London?

It’s wild. I loved the blizzard we had last week. I had a blast in it. I am a Californian girl so it came as a bit of a shock. I have never experienced anything like that - it was awesome. We were in rehearsal but the place where we are working has these huge windows and we got to watch it.

During our tea-break Luke went out and made me a snowball which was very sweet. He didn’t throw it at me though, he just handed it to me. But then he went outside and threw it at a bus. I told him not to do it but he said, “Hey I’ll go and nail a bus”. Sadly we had to go back to work and didn’t get to play out in it.

Your husband Alexis has close connections with this country doesn’t he?

Yes. He’s American but he lived all his life in London before moving back to the States a couple of years ago. He’s not over here at the moment, sadly, as he’s working on the TV show Angel. But he will be coming over soon.

Alexis played Wesley Wyndam-Pryce in Buffy. Was it love at first sight for you when he walked onto the set?

Well, we became friends very quickly and spent a lot of time hanging out together. Then we became flirtatious friends and the rest is history.

Has he shown you around London?

I love the place and we come across here quite regularly. It’s really nice to see the city with people who have lived here instead of just doing the usual touristy things. I actually feel like I’m a part of it.

 American Wedding is out now to buy on video and DVD. When Harry Met Sally opens at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London SW1 on Tuesday. Tickets £12 to £40. Tel: 0870 901 3356.