Angel

Julie Benz completed her Q&A panel mere moments ago. Here’s a run down of some of the best Q’s to be fired her way.

What does Darla mean to you and how do you prepare to play her?

Darla was like a gift given to me by Joss Whedon, that’s how i think of her. It was an amazing challenge. I feel like Darla posseses me. It’s not until the camera rolls that the voice drops and the magic happens. I can’t even explain it.

Do you rely on the director more or something inside to play Darla with a soul versus Darla without a soul?

I just tried to imagine what this woman who never experienced pure love before would do if she experienced it and it rocked her world. [As for the directors and writers] they write this up as they go along. We didn’t know until episode 5 [of season 2 of Angel] that Darla was human. Joss just came to me on the set one day and was like, "You’re human!" And I was thanks for telling me (laughs). I was playing her like a vampire the whole time!

Do you have a process of dealing with the different periods?

As far as flashbacks go, there’s two periods: before Angel has a soul and after. The big shift happenned after he got his soul. Everything before is fun and evil, everything after was the hurt and the pain.

Do you take the character with you home?

Well, it’s more of an energy you take with you. Like when i was in the movie ’Jawbreaker’ I was playing a teenager and i was talking like, ’Oh my God! Like totally’ And when i went home I would talk like that (laughs). Then in Angel Season 2 during the episode ’The Trial’ [because of] the enviornment, I was exhausted and sick and depressed....there are certain times, certain characters you take that energy with you.

Which do you prefer, doing dramas or comedies?

When I’m doing drama it’s like, ’God! I just want to be doing a comedy!" And vice versa. The grass is always greener kind of thing. My natural talents live in comedy though. Drama is tougher. There was an episode where I had to cry all day and that’s really tough on you [as a person].

How was it working with Sarah Michelle Gellar?

She’s extremely talented and generous. Her reputation is just completely untrue. Unfortuantely in Hollywood if you’re young and female and you have an opinion you get labeled a diva or something...else (laughs). Sarah’s an amazing talent, but she got labeled.

How close are you with the Buffy actors and actresses? Do you still keep in touch?

I am still close with a lot of them. Sarah I’ve known since we were both young actors on the New York circuit. David (Boreanez) I’ve obviously gotten to know quite intimately (laughs). Juliet Landeau (who played Drusilla) Christian Kane (Lindsey on Angel) I’m very close friends with.