Sarah Michelle Gellar Hated When Fans Called Her Buffy

[PassionBecoming]

For better or worse, Sarah Michelle Gellar will always be associated with the ass-kicking, demon-slaying TV heroine Buffy Summers.

"Back then, if you'd called me Buffy I would probably have been really annoyed," Gellar tells the spring 2012 issue of BULLETT, nine years after the series wrapped. "Now, of course, I get it and I'm appreciative of it. But that's something that comes with maturity, which most people don't have when they're 24 years old."

Still, Gellar admits she was always respectful of the beloved series, which ran from 1997-2003. "I've definitely smoked cigarettes, and I've partied plenty. I just got it out of my system early. I was lucky enough to have had my experiences when I was younger -- and out of the public eye."

"When I was younger, I was very careful not to. . .I just didn't want to be seen with a drink in my hand. People looked up to [Buffy the Vampire Slayer], and she was a character that girls respected."

Now 34, married to Freddie Prinze Jr. and mom to Charlotte, 2, Gellar tells BULLETT she's not looking to become a pop culture phenomenon again.

"For me, having a child was that cliched, life-altering experience where everything took on a different meaning. Things that had once been priorities had no meaning to me anymore, and things that I'd never thought about suddenly became things that were on my mind," the Ringer actress says. "If I'd known how happy having a child would make me, I probably would have had one a long time ago."



Read more: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity...n-fans-called-her-buffy-2012292#ixzz1noyzQf2F

 

[ashleigh]

I can't say that I'm surprised that she found that annoying. It annoys me just when the writers refer to Sarah as 'Buffy' in the DVD commentary, so I guess it'd be even more annoying to actually have it happen to you 😱

 

[Aloverssoulz]

I can understand it being a pain 😛.

It's funny that some actors dislike being called their character names because i'm also a wrestling fan and a lot of wrestlers hate it when you use their real names when you meet them. They find it disrespectful haha.

Sarah always seemed super mature even in the old 97' interviews. I am not shocked she's enjoying being settled down with her family now.

 

[Gum Gnome33]

Really interesting article!

I completely understand how she would be quite frustrated with people referring to her as "Buffy." For the sake of her own sanity, and quite frankly, in order to do her character justice--she needed to separate herself from her alter ego and live her life.

I have to admit that I used to be guilty of blending the two; years ago (without getting into details) I was in a situation where I was sort of in "similar circles," and I had trouble separating her from Buffy in my mind. Nowadays I can obviously separate them but when I really want to refocus on watching the show or something, I need to steer clear of articles about SMG, etc, so that I can really enjoy it.

When I was younger, I was very careful not to. . .I just didn't want to be seen with a drink in my hand. People looked up to [Buffy the Vampire Slayer], and she was a character that girls respected.

I love this. While I hardly would have minded seeing her with a drink in her hands, (come on!), I think it's so wonderful that she tried hard to not get herself mixed up in bad press, tabloids, which are sometimes difficult to avoid in Hollywood. Aside from being the right choice for her for obvious reasons, it allowed fans to see Buffy as a hero through and through; imagine watching an episode like "Grad Day Part II" and then the next day seeing Buffy's "likeness" puking all over a car on some magazine cover. Yikes! Yay, Sarah. 😉

 

[EvilWillow]

I would get annoyed too, I don't blame her.

 

[FaithsFollower]

Oh, Buffy, you're so cute. 😉

 

[white avenger]

I saw a video several years ago where Sarah was at a con trying to plug a movie that she had just completed ("The Grudge," I think) No one cared anything about the movie, they just wanted to ask about "Buffy" and her experiences on the show, which I'm sure didn't place her in the best of moods. Then someone accidentally referred to her as "Buffy," and it was obvious that she was way beyond being simply annoyed. I will give the lady credit, her only noticeable reaction was to state, "My name is SARAH."

I guess the guy got off easy. If it actually HAD been Buffy, she would probably have staked him.

 

[Summerlilly]

I understand where she's coming from but I'm glad to hear her say she now gets it and is appreciative of it. I never quite understood what happened between her and Joss and I always got the impression she was holding onto some sort of grudge, which I find very sad. 🙁

 

[Connor Holtz]

Actors are always going to be associated with their most famous soles. Especially when they are such iconic roles as "Buffy". These actors need to learn to embrace it.

 

[November]

Nice article 🙂 I can understand her being annoyed by being called Buffy. I think it is great she was not tarnished by the media.

 

[Astral]

I would probably be upset as well if I was referred to as my character instead of my actual name. Im sure most actors would like to be know for who they are more so than the parts they play.

 

[Taake]

Great article, I understand her annoyance completely (and she's right who is mature at 24) and I think it's great that she tried not to be photographed with drinks etc cause Buffy was a role model.

The best part though is hearing how happy she is now, having a child etc, she seems to be doing really good 🙂

 

[Bexieh]

I know it's not quite on the same level, but I once had a teacher who would constantly refer to me as Bianca throughout the last couple years of school because I once played that role in Taming of the Shrew, and that annoyed me. But mostly because I don't think she actually remembered my real name. But if that was annoying, I imagine being constantly referred to as Buffy can be quite frustrating!

I love what she said about her kid though. Too cute :')

 

[BuffyElevated]

While I can understand how an actor/actress would get annoyed at being called by their character's name, I feel like her saying this is a slap in the face to Buffy fans. I don't know why; I'm just really irked by the fact that she seems to never want to do anything but reject the role that made her a household name (and yes, SMG, I'm sorry but that was NOT your role as Kendall on "All My Children").

 

[WileyDairyGnome]

Huh? Who is this "Sarah" everyone is referring to? 😕

 

[Taake]

While I can understand how an actor/actress would get annoyed at being called by their character's name, I feel like her saying this is a slap in the face to Buffy fans. I don't know why; I'm just really irked by the fact that she seems to never want to do anything but reject the role that made her a household name (and yes, SMG, I'm sorry but that was NOT your role as Kendall on "All My Children").

Honestly the way I read it isn't that it's meant to be a slap in the face, more that she feels that it's not fun to after years and years not be told that "Oh Sarah, you were great as Buffy" but to be told "Hey Buffy, what about this or that?"

I mean at the end of the day she is Sarah playing Buffy. Not Buffy being Buffy. And being over-identified with a character must be a pain especially when it doesn't seem to go away. And personally I feel it's a bit disrespectful of fans to not have the time/ability to learn that Buffy's actual name is Sarah. No matter how famous the role made her she is still her own person and an actor and has the right to be acknowledged as that.

 

[shadcat]

It's odd that people would call her Buffy when meeting her. Separate TV from reality people!

 

[kndizzle]

I just love that Sarah took role model position so seriously. So many female stars nowadays don't recognize the number girls that actually look up to them. Go Sarah. What a classy woman.

 

[sk]

And personally I feel it's a bit disrespectful of fans to not have the time/ability to learn that Buffy's actual name is Sarah. No matter how famous the role made her she is still her own person and an actor and has the right to be acknowledged as that.

Just wanted to say that I totally agree with this.

Actually, people who doesn't seem to be able to separate the actor from the character they play kinda scare me.

I do realise though that most people who says - Hey, isn't that Buffy over there?
Probably means - Hey, isn't that the actress who play Buffy over there?
Since I believe that most people have no problem to do that separation. Even if it doesn't sound like it every time.

/SK

 

[sisterofmercy]

Her reaction is fair enough really. I imagine she was wary of being typecast at that time as well so wanted to maintain some distance from her Buffy work. I always find it a bit strange when people call the actors by their character's names when they know their real name.