Charisma Carpenter

Charisma Carpenter: From Mars to Paradise Island?

With the long-awaited next new episode of UPN’s Veronica Mars now just a day away (airing Wednesday at 9 pm/ET), TVGuide.com grabbed a (figurative) hold of Charisma Carpenter, who this season has been appearing as Dick and Beaver’s head-turner of a stepmother, Kendall Casablancas. Here is what the Buffy/Angel alumna had to share about her present in Neptune, her possible future on Paradise Island and the thing she cannot believe she revealed to Playboy.

TVGuide.com: You next appear on Veronica Mars in "The Quick and the Wed," airing March 22. I hear that Kendall makes some sort of offer to Aaron Echolls?

Charisma Carpenter: Yes, I do have a nice offer for Aaron - a piece. [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: A what?

Carpenter: A piece.

TVGuide.com: Meaning a gun? Or of a—? Or of the action?

Carpenter: That’s the big question. Maybe a piece of the pie, maybe a piece of me....

TVGuide.com: On the topic of whether Duncan actually ever succumbed to Kendall’s charms, Mars creator Rob Thomas said here at TVGuide.com, "Duncan’s not built that way." Is that ego-deflating for you to hear or - and this is my theory - is Duncan simply built the wrong way?

Carpenter: The latter! [Laughs] I guess Kendall is just not very discerning about to whom she gives her body. But, given some new insights I’ve been given from Rob, apparently everything has a purpose and a meaning. My character’s IQ is about to jump up about 50 points, did he tell you that? Things are about to become very clear.

TVGuide.com: What, has Kendall been putting on some sort of act?

Carpenter: [Coyly] I guess.... Rob likened her to Annette Bening in The Grifters, which as you know is an amazing role. I was like, "Really? That’s goooood!" I just love those people [at Veronica Mars]. They’re awesome.

TVGuide.com: So you’re happy with your role? It’s different enough from Angel’s Cordelia? I know that has been an issue for you, always playing a bitch.

Carpenter: You know what? That used to be an issue, but to be honest, I’m not trying to play the heroine chick anymore. I grew out of that. Now it’s just about having fun.

TVGuide.com: After all, let’s be frank - God didn’t really design you to play the nice girl.

Carpenter: Not on television, anyway.

TVGuide.com: Has Kendall had her fun and is she now all done with Logan?

Carpenter: I don’t know.... She’s not very nice and Logan is the bad boy. Duncan was the sweet-as-pie boy.

TVGuide.com: Who would Charisma pick? What type do you gravitate toward?

Carpenter: [Sighs] Well, in high school it was the a—hole, and then as I got older I knew how to pick them better.

TVGuide.com: Your son, Donovan, is about to turn 3. What sort of "tricks" is he doing these days?

Carpenter: His tricks are "kicking the ball," "discovering insects" and talking about the "big giant monkey that’s upstairs, sleeping" - and being careful not to wake him up....

TVGuide.com: I assume the "monkey" is Dad?

Carpenter: [Chuckles] If I said yes, my husband would die because that would give the impression that he is hairy, and he can’t have that. [On a tangent] My husband has decided he wants to take up motocross, which is really pissing me off. I’m like, "What, are you going through a midlife crisis?!"

TVGuide.com: Better motocross than some chirpy 20-year-old.

Carpenter: What?! That didn’t even enter my mind.

TVGuide.com: I know. How could it possibly?

Carpenter: How could it?

TVGuide.com: Hey, are you going to star in Wonder Woman? [Buffy creator Joss Whedon is writing and will direct a big-screen take on the superheroine, to be produced by Joel Silver.] What a great fit that would be.

Carpenter: I know! From your lips to God’s ears... or Joss’... or Joel’s....

TVGuide.com: Speaking of Joss, you’re sort of known as the Buffy-verse alum who doesn’t charge for autographs at conventions....

Carpenter: I just think it’s wrong to charge - it feels sleazy and desperate. The only reason I would charge now is because there are [disadvantaged] kids who need assistance. I’m doing a convention [Wizard World Los Angeles] on March 18, and in this case I am charging, but everything is going to charity. So my fans will be helping out a very special kid, a 9-year-old quadriplegic who needs a specially equipped van. If I can exploit myself in a way that helps others, I’ll do that.

TVGuide.com: So to everyone reading this: Go to the convention, get an autograph from Charisma and help that kid get a van.

Carpenter: Yeah!

TVGuide.com: I missed your recent Lifetime movie, Flirting with Danger. What was that about?

Carpenter: [In little girl voice] I was naughty... again. I’m such a hussy! I guess Veronica Mars warmed me up to be naughty.

TVGuide.com: What about Voodoo Moon [a feature in which a psychic woman and her brother hunt down a demonic being]? Will we ever get to see that?

Carpenter: I wish I knew what was going on with that. Eric Mabius (The O.C.) plays my brother, and I really loved working on it. It was a fun thing to do and it should appeal to the people who watched Buffy and Angel. It’s got fighting and zombies....

TVGuide.com: What TV do you like?

Carpenter: I just started the Season 1 DVD for 24, because I have never seen any of it, and we just finished Season 1 of Lost. I tend not to watch shows while they’re airing. I’ll just wait for the DVD and watch 13 hours or so in one shot. That’s the best payoff - you can just go to the next episode without waiting a week. I love Nip/Tuck, and I’m a huge fan of The Sopranos....

TVGuide.com: Someone sneaked me the first four episodes of this season’s Sopranos. If you’re nice to me, I’ll share.

Carpenter: Are you in L.A.? No, you’re in New York. That’s not going to work. I would have come over! We could have hung out and shared popcorn.

TVGuide.com: Don’t tease an old man. What else do you have going on?

Carpenter: I have three more episodes of Veronica Mars to shoot and it’s pilot season, so I’m working my ass off to get a regular job. Hopefully by the end of the month I’ll find out if I have one or not. If not, I’ll have another baby or...

TVGuide.com: Another baby?

Carpenter: I’d like to eventually, but I want Wonder Woman right now. I’m not holding my breath but I’m crossing my fingers and toes and praying.

TVGuide.com: Well, I think that just about covers everything.

Carpenter: You think?

TVGuide.com: Well, save for a Q&A excerpt I stumbled across during research. You told Playboy that you once had sex at an Oscars party?

Carpenter: I said that?! Oh my god, I can’t believe I said that on a public level.

TVGuide.com: Does the outside prospect of doing "that" become a factor when choosing a dress for the Oscars?

Carpenter: That’s a very witty question, but the answer is no - you just make it work!