Charisma Carpenter

Charisma Carpenter just wants to have fun in a mean-spirited role

WHEN IT’S TIME to kick a television series up a notch, smart producers know what to do: Add bitch, stir well.

As for who is best for the job, that depends. Those requiring a well-seasoned snake get Heather Locklear on the line. Anyone looking for a princess hiding a knife behind her back, however, can’t do better than Charisma Carpenter. The fan favorite returns to television this fall on UPN’s "Veronica Mars" (premiering 9 p.m. Sept. 28 on KSTW/11) playing vampy trophy wife Kendall Casablancas, Neptune’s latest manifestation of pure evil.

To meet her, you wouldn’t think she’d be up to the task — bringing us to well-known fact No. 2: Like most actresses skilled in bitchery, Carpenter is, in fact, 100 percent sweetheart. Happily married and loving life with her toddler, Donovan, "that keeps me grounded," she said in a recent interview in Los Angeles. "It’s really hard to have a tough day when you have a 2-year-old running around."

Enough with nice, back to nasty. On "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," Carpenter was Cordelia Chase. Seven years with Cordy ended when producers wrote her out of "Angel" in the fourth season, incurring the wrath of longtime viewers. Fortunately she stayed busy. Carpenter appeared on "Miss Match" as the shallow Serena Lockner, then turned up on The WB’s "Charmed" as the testy demon seer Kira.

In comparison, Kendall is grounded in reality. That didn’t prevent her from popping up at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego, though. We’ll let Carpenter tell you what happened.

P-I: You have a story to tell about Comic-Con. Someone asked you about "Veronica Mars," and I heard your answer received thunderous applause. What did you say?

Carpenter: The question was, "What do you play on ’Veronica Mars’ "? And I said, "A bitch." And everybody was like, eek! And then I said, "... In a bikini." And then they went crazy. I think that people are excited to see me reprise that role, because it’s campy and fun. You can’t take your eyes off her. You can’t stand her, but you can’t stop watching.

People keep connecting you with the "Buffy" legacy. You’ve clearly moved on, but Cordelia Chase is still informing the roles you’ve been getting. Do you mind that at all?

No. You know why? When I was younger I did. When I was first starting out, and I was less established, I was really concerned about being typecast. And now, I just think, let’s have fun. Let’s just have fun and get paid too, you know? I think that if the character’s well-written, that’s the thing that I’m concerned with. I don’t mind playing the same character, but if it’s not well done, then I’m not interested. I’ve been fortunate to work with some really great writers like Joss (Whedon), and David Greenwalt, Tim Minear, Marti Noxon, David Fury and now ("Veronica Mars" executive producer) Rob Thomas.

Is it true that you’re trying to make the transition from hourlong dramas to sitcoms?

Yes. I had developed a sitcom with UPN, but it wasn’t picked up. I want a half hour, but we’ll see how it goes. I had seven years of one-hour shows, with late-night shoots, lots of action, you know, and special effects. It’s a very time-consuming process that’s hard on the body, and it’s very difficult to be present for family when you’re working like that. I put my dues in, and I want a half hour, so that’s where I’m heading.

So, what are the differences between Cordelia and Kendall Casablancas?

Kendall is a little bit older, she’s 28. She’s honed her skills a lot more, so she’s way more manipulative and hip to how it all works, how to get what you want when you want it. Cordelia was good, but it was on a high-school level. As Cordelia changed and evolved, she started to mellow out.

She gained insight.

Right, and there was more humanity to her and she became more fleshed out, three-dimensional and complicated. That’s key for any character to be redeemed, if you’re going to keep them around. But Kendall could totally take her. This fall I’m really looking forward to just causing trouble and having some fun and being mean!