Buffy The Vampire Slayer

AE: What has been your favorite role to date, and why?

AB: It’s a toss-up between Ella from the movie King of the Hill or Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They both have a soft spot in my heart. They are similarly sweet and shy on the outside, but super strong on the inside.

AE: In retrospect about your role on Buffy: Would you change anything in the way it was written and how?

AB: I wouldn’t change a hair on Tara’s head, even the bad stuff, because it made her who she was.

AE: What was the casting process like for you as you proceeded through auditions for Buffy?

AB: I just went in and auditioned for Joss and Marti [Noxon]. I had no idea what the hell I was getting myself into. Little did I know that within a few months my whole life would be turned upside down, and I’d be making out with hot chicks on TV!

AE: On Buffy, the characters of Willow and Tara opened the door to lesbian visibility on TV. Did you have any reservations or fears in accepting the role of one of the most memorable and important lesbian characters in the history of television?

AB: No reservations or fears. I thought it was mucho cool, and I was lucky to have Alyson [Hannigan] as my partner in crime.

AE: Lots of folks seemed to feel that Tara was one of the few characters to demonstrate an appropriate image of "real women." What do you think about this, and how has weight and body image played an issue in your career?

AB: I work in an industry where what you weigh is more important than whether you completed high school or not. I am what I am. I’ve got boobs, and I’m proud of them. I can’t imagine living my life in such a way that I couldn’t eat french fries or peanut butter and chocolate ice cream.

I think the best thing we can do for ourselves is to eat locally grown organic produce — I’m a big fan of farmer’s markets — and try not to overindulge in anything. By the way, everyone should read Barbara Kingsolver’s book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. That book talks about a lot of things involving food that I personally agree with.

AE: Did you talk to Joss about whether it was necessary to kill [Tara]? There have been rumors that Joss wanted you back for a few guest appearances during Season 7, but you decided not to return to the show. If the rumors are true, why did you chose not to return?

AB: The timing just didn’t work out. I was getting ready to go to London to direct the animated version of The Ghosts of Albion, so it just wasn’t to be. I know that Joss did not intend to offend anyone with Tara’s death. He was truly furthering a story line and didn’t realize what an impact Tara’s death would have. You’re talking about the guy who created Tara and Willow’s relationship in homage to his lesbian friends’ relationship. He is 100 percent behind the LGBT community. I know this for a fact.

AE: How did you feel about Kennedy pushing up on your character’s woman only a couple months after she died? How rude is that?

AB: Yeah, that bitch! Just kidding. I love Iyari [Limon, who played Kennedy], and I told her upfront how everyone hated Tara at first for usurping Oz. I told her to hang on, enjoy the ride, and people would grow to love her the way they loved Tara and Oz.

AE: In light of the recent "Buffy Is My Life" essay contest, I wonder how did working on Buffy affect your life?

AB: I started when I was 22 and I spent a good chunk of my 20s immersed in Sunnydale. How that can’t affect someone, I don’t know. I definitely wouldn’t be able to do a lot of the things I’ve done without Buffy. And I met some very special people on the set that are still integral to my life today.

It’s funny because I saw Joss recently, and while we were standing there looking at pictures of his adorable kids, I realized that this was the guy who had changed — for good or bad — my life forever. It was a kinda crazy realization, that one person can have so much influence on another.

AE: What are your thoughts on the "Once More With Feeling" sing-alongs?

AB: I think they’re awesome! I hope there is a lot of "in drag Tara" going on out there!

AE: Have you read any of the latest Season 8 Buffy comics?

AB: I know that poor Warren is skinless and loving it!

AE: Do you know if Tara’s going to appear in the Season 8 Buffy comic?

AB: I don’t have a clue. I don’t get the secret info comic book updates. They know I’m a terrible gossip!

AE: Do you keep in touch with any of your co-stars, especially from such big-name projects as Buffy or Taboo?

AB: I see Michelle [Trachtenberg, who played Dawn] occasionally, the trio [Adam Busch, Danny Strong and Tom Lenk] and Juliet Landau [who played Drusilla], who’s awesome.