Julie Benz

Okay, we get it, you miss your weekly fix of watching Buffy and Angel. DOLLY had a quick chat with Julie Benz, who was lucky enough to play the vampire Darla on both shows. If you want to meet Julie yourself, she’ll be appearing at Slayercon, the Buffy and Angel convention being held on July 2 and 3 in Adelaide. For more info and details on how to buy tix, check out www.scoobygangpromotions.com.

How did you get the role of Darla?

I originally auditioned for the role of Buffy, like hundreds of girls in LA. Obviously, I wasn’t right for the part, but there was something about me that Joss [the creator of the show] liked and so he asked if I would be interested in playing "vampire girl". I said, "Yes!" and the rest is history.

Were you hesitant about playing a vampire in what might have seemed at first to be a cheesy TV show? I didn’t think it was cheesy at all. To be honest, I loved the script when I read it. Actually, it’s the only time I’ve ever read a script and thought it would be a big hit and it turned out that way! And it was the first time I got to play "bad".

Did it feel weird to dress up in the costume with full make-up and pretend to be a vampire at first?

Throughout the years, there would be moments where David [Boreanaz, Angel] and I would be dressed up in all our vampire attire and look at each other and start laughing and shaking our heads in amazement that this is what we got paid to do - it’s a lot like playing make believe as a child!

When did you realise exactly how much of a success it was?

When Sarah [Michelle Gellar] started appearing on the covers of every magazine.

Did you have people recognise you in the streets?

When I first appeared on Buffy, not so much - not until they heard my voice. But since Darla’s rebirth on Angel, yes, I get recognised a lot.

Did you like playing Darla?

I loved playing Darla. Not only was she an amazing character but I got paid to work on a daily basis with amazing people like Joss, David Greenwalt, Tim Minear and David Boreanaz.

Was there anything in the character that you related to?

Her pain of loving someone so completely and not having that love reciprocated. I think everyone can relate to that.

Fave Darla moment?

That’s like asking a woman to pick her favorite kind of chocolate! In season two, the episode called Dear Boy, where Darla takes out the crucifix and burns it into Angel’s chest and says, "God doesn’t want you, but I still do". It reveals so much about Darla’s love for Angel - that need to possess him. She’s like the jilted ex-wife that can’t move on.

Which show was more fun to work on - Buffy or Angel?

For me, the experience of working on Angel was more fun only because we got to delve into Darla’s story. Buffy was fun too, but it was the first time I had ever worked with prosthetic make-up and I was really uncomfortable - especially with the contact lenses. At one point, the eye doctor had to come to set because my eye had swelled up and it wouldn’t open!

Funniest cast member?

Andy Hallet [Lorne on Angel]. You never know what’s gonna come out of his mouth!

Most serious cast member?

Juliet Landau [Drusilla] - she’s so brilliant and has an elegance about her. !

Biggest practical joker?

David - not that he plays practical jokes, but he’s always getting himself into trouble on set, like breaking props. And once he starts getting the giggles, there is no hope for the rest of us.

Freakiest fan moment?

Someone tried to take a picture of me in a public restroom. There’s a time and place [for taking photos] and that is definitely not the time or the place!

What’s up next for you?

A small but lovely role in HBO’s Lackawanna Blues and a new movie for Sony called The Velvet Side of Hell. Also, a sci-fi channel original movie called Locust.

For more celeb goss and interviews, check out the entertainment section in this month’s DOLLY magazine.