Julie Benz

You know her as the evil vamp Darla from seven seasons on Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, plus flicks like Jawbreaker and Satan’s School for Girls. Now, Julie Benz is switching gears to play the domestic abuse victim/girlfriend of a serial killer on Showtime’s new series Dexter. Get the Scoop on her latest bloody adventure.

US: What is your new TV show Dexter about?

Julie: Dexter is a guy who’s a forensic blood spatter specialist for the Miami Police Department, but he’s also a serial killer. And he has a code of ethics where he only kills other serial killers. I play Rita, his girlfriend. I don’t know any of this is going on. I think he’s just the perfect gentleman and the ideal boyfriend.

US: How is it working with your co-star Michael C. Hall?

Julie: I was a huge fan of “Six Feet Under.” I mean, my cell phone ring was the theme song. I still pinch myself that I have the opportunity to work with him on a daily basis. He’s my partner in crime on the show.

US: Even though they’re a couple, your character Rita and Dexter don’t have sex. Why?

Julie: Rita is a victim of domestic violence. Prior to dating Dexter, she was in ten year relationship with her very abusive, crack addict ex-husband, and they have two small children from that marriage. He also infected her with some sort of pelvic disease, and because of everything that’s happened to her, she’s sort of gun shy about going there with anybody.

US: Is it safe to say you made out more with David Boreanaz on Angel than you get to with Michael C. Hall?

Julie: Yes!

US: You played Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin off Angel. Do you miss that?

Julie: I loved playing Darla. She was an amazing character that spawned 400 years. She was a very strong, female character. I miss the family that was created. I miss the other actors, and the crew.

US: Who do you keep in touch with from those casts?

Julie: I just saw Charisma Carpenter recently. We keep in touch. And my husband just worked on the TV show Bones with David Boreanaz. So that’s kind of fun.

US: How is being on Showtime different from the WB?

Julie: On Showtime, it’s real and gritty. There are no false eyelashes around! It’s about real life people. I’m there with no make up on, and my hair is not blow-dried. I look like a struggling single mother of two. You don’t have to always be pretty on cable television. You can be grittier and darker.

US: Your first movie role was a horror film, then you played a vampire, and now you’re the girlfriend of a serial killer. Are you attracted to the “dark side”?

Julie: I think the dark side is attracted to me! When I was cast as Darla, Joss Whedon really liked the idea of somebody who looked like me and sounded like me to be this evil, vicious vampire from hell.

US: How often do you dress up as vampire for Halloween?

Julie: Never! I’ve done enough of that. The make up and the contact lenses are tough. The fangs are the easy part. But I broke all my fangs. I grind my teeth, so I split them in half.