AOL/TV Guide Online Chat
(From 'AOL', 26 September 2000)

TV Guide Online: Tonight we are chatting with Amber Benson from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Hi Amber! Thanks for coming!

Benson: Thanks for coming and visiting us today.

Question: Hi Amber--what qualities do you most admire about your character Tara?

Benson: That she's very courageous and even though she's shy she does what has to be done. And she's really sweet.

Question: Were you a fan of the show before joining the cast and if so was it strange being on the inside of the Buffy universe? :-)

Benson: I knew Alyson before the show and got to see her. The show is awesome and very well done. It's very strange to be on the inside of Buffy-land. Where else can you eat lunch with vampires?

Question: Is it hard being an actress and how many hours does it take to film one show?

Benson: It's definitely work to be an actor, but it's enjoyable work, so I love doing what I do. And it takes 8 days to shoot one episode of Buffy. You can have an 8-hour day or a 16-hour day. It depends on whether you are lucky or not.

Question: Tara, What is your favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode?

Benson: I love "Restless", the season finale from last year.

Question: What's your most embarrassing moment?

Benson: I'm really klutzy. I'm always tripping over stuff. I'm always trying to not walk into the camera. I was shooting a scene in a TV show and I kept sneezing. Glen Frye of the Eagles was opposite me, and when we were filming, he said, Can we please stop, Amber needs a Kleenex. That was really embarrassing and I don't mind sharing.

Question: So have you been accepted as a regular now or do they still play jokes on you on the set to break you in like they have done other actors in the past?

Benson: Hmm. No they've been pretty nice to me. I haven't had any big jokes played on me. They've all been really nice. It's an awesome group of people to work with.

Question: What music do you listen to?

Benson: Gosh, I have eclectic tastes. I tend to listen to more singer songwriter, alternative kind of things.

Question: Hello Amber! I know your character has been getting a lot of negative attention, and I'm disappointed that they won't give your character a chance! Does Joss Whedon have any surprises in store for us concerning Tara?

Benson: Well, all I can say is at the moment we are filming Tara's back story and I think you are all going to be in for a really big surprise. I'm on the set right now. I definitely think it's a big responsibility and I only hope I can do it justice. I can only hope there are more role models for gay teenagers and young adults. They're doing it very responsibly on the set of Buffy. I just hope I can live up to it.

Question: I vaguely remember a scene where Tara and Willow were banishing something, it didn’t work and Tara acted all evil on us...why?

Benson: They're going to have to wait for Tara's big episode. It will explain all.

Question: How did you first get into acting?

Benson: I started as a dancer when I was a little kid. I realized I didn't like dancing, as much as being on stage and having people clap for me. That's how I segued into acting, the shortened version.

Question: What is the difference between Television & the big screen for you? Was it a big adjustment?

Benson: TV moves a lot faster. They do what film does in 3 months, they do in 8 days. You really have to be together, you have to know your lines, and be in control of what's going on around you. Whereas in film you have a little more time to get things together. And you gotta hit your mark. :)

Question: Is that a real stutter? Or do you just do it for the character of Tara?

Benson: It's real. Don't make fun... I'm kidding. It's not a real stutter, but there a lot of people that do have stutter. It personifies the shyness, the stuttering. It makes it easy for people to identify with her.

Question: Do you have a boyfriend? or boyfriends?

Benson: Not at the moment I don't have a boyfriend.

Benson: I'm preferring to go the single way for a while, it's much simpler and pleasant.

Question: How are you and Tara alike? Would you consider yourself a shy person, or very outgoing?

Benson: I was very shy when I was a kid, cause I got into the dancing and acting, I realized you don't have to be shy, you can put on a happy face and function. Even though my stomach starts screaming on the inside, I've learned to deal with it.

Question: Over here where I am, we don't get Buffy until 10pm EST- is there anything you can tell us about the season opener?

Benson: It's really cool. Nicholas Brendon is absolutely hysterical. He's funny, funny, funny, you'll love it.

Question: Have you ever done any serious research on witchcraft? Did you believe in it before your part on BtVS and do you believe in it now? I have always been a non believer.

Benson: Well I was always very curious about the occult. I think lots of young people are, cause you're curious about dying. I was interested, I'm opened to believing, but I haven't seen anything to this point in my life.

Question: Hi, Amber! If you could remake any movie or make any book into a movie, which role would you love to play?

Benson: I always loved Joan of Arc and I was supposed to have had a stab at that, but I've gotten a little old right now. She was supposed to be 13 and I have a good 10 years on her. That's about it I guess. Or maybe some Film Noir redo the Thin Man Series, I could be Myrna Loy.

Question: I think your character Tara is a good addition to the show. I didn't think Willow would love anyone after Oz, but seeing Willow with your character proves me wrong.

Benson: That's very sweet. I think you have to keep an open mind. When someone loves somebody, regardless of gender, or race or religion, you should respect them. Love is love. We're all just jealous of Tara and Willow.

Question: Is your life any different now that you're a big, huge famous mega-star, or are you still friendly with the little people, like your neighbors?

Benson: My neighbors kick ass. I totally hang with my neighbors. If I ever got a swelled head, my mother would dunk it in the toilet so fast. I'm not a big movie star, just an actor that is really, really lucky.

Question: WHAT IS YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE? AND DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? IF SO, WHAT'S IT'S NAME?

Benson: Favorite movie, I love Antonia's Line. I do have pets, I have a dog named Penny, She's a Dalmatian. A calico cat, named Benetton. And my dad has 2 other cats, Eurythmic who is Himalayan and Brittany who is a tabby cat.

Question: Are you planning to make any movies this year?

Benson: I have two films coming out. One is the Prime Gig with Vince Vaughn. And another film a friend directed called Hollywood PA. It's one of the first independent films to be broadcast live on the internet. The first one should be out in January. And the other one later next year. I'm always looking for new stuff.

Question: My friend is a huge fan of your show. What’s the e-mail or address she could write to for fan mail?

Benson: I don't know off hand, but if you write to WB television, they will definitely forward it. They're very slow, but I do get it.

Question: Is there anything that you've always wanted to do, other than acting, like singing or something? Your character is so cute with Willow!

Benson: Writing. I love to write. We're hopefully, putting on a play next spring that I wrote. One of the guys, Jess, who was in the Watcher's counsel, who chased after Faith, is going to be in it.

Question: Hiya Amber! Firstly, I think that you're an *awesome* actress and individual. Secondly, can you give us a couple spoilers as to what's happening tonight and a few episodes from now? :-D

Benson: LOL. Well, all I can say is Buffy becomes a demon, and Dawn is really Nicholas Brendon's real sister, and there is going to be an all naked Buffy in three weeks and Joss Whedon is making a cameo in the third episode. He's going to be holding a toaster.

TV Guide Online: Thanks Amber! LOL!! We'll be watching!