FACING hundreds of obsessive sci-fi fans doesn’t sound like our idea of fun.

But Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Emma Caulfield is thrilled about appearing at next month’s buffydownunder.com fan convention in Melbourne because it brings her back to the country she hopes to make her home. Caulfield lived in Melbourne for six weeks while filming horror flick Darkness Falls two years ago, but has visited Australia several times and hopes one day to set up house in Sydney.

The stunning actor is quitting her role as demon Anya in the hit show, but knows she won’t leave behind her legion of dedicated fans.

"They’re pretty fanatical," she said. "It never ceases to amaze me how much they know about me - I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that."

Appearing at fan conventions is "part of the job", she says.

"The show’s very popular, and I love Australia, so it’s relatively painless to come down and say hello."

The day before speaking to The Eye was Caulfield’s last on the Buffy set.

"It was bittersweet. It was like graduation day - so many people to say goodbye to," she said.

"I’ve just adored playing Anya. It’s been a blast."

But she won’t give Buffy fans any hint of how Anya exits the show. "I can’t - but it’s a great send-off."

As well as her Buffy commitments, Caulfield will also plug Darkness Falls (also known as Don’t Peek) while in Australia.

The film, scheduled for a December release, features Aussie actors Emily Browning (Ned Kelly) and Kestie Morassi (Dirty Deeds).

"It’s an old-fashioned scary movie, no gore. It’s a very stylised thrill ride," Caulfield said.

She lived at the swank Hotel Como for the entire shoot.

"Sunday was my only day off and half of that was spent sleeping in and walking around South Yarra. That was my life for a while," she said.

Caulfield is coy about her next movie, a "satirical docu-drama comedy" from the makers of Grosse Point Blank and High Fidelity.

"I can’t really talk about it, but it will get people talking. It’s very, very funny," she said.

A California native, Caulfield studied drama before her big break playing Jason Priestly’s journalist girlfriend on Beverly Hills 90210.

She remembers her year-long stint on the show fondly, despite clashing with co-star Tiffani-Amber Thiessen.

"I wouldn’t say I didn’t get along with her so much as she just didn’t like me," she says. "I don’t know why. But you can imagine working with someone for a year who didn’t like you.

"I worked mostly with Jason and we became very close. And Tori (Spelling) was lovely, I just adore her."

The buffydownunder.com convention is at the Victorian Arts Centre on May 3 and 4.