Sarah Was "Annoyed" By BTVS, Says Ałyson

Funny 'cos I thought she (as an actress) had great chemistry with Spike in the romance scenes - far better than with Angel.
 
William Shatner was famous all his life for one role as Captain Kirk in the last 78 of the 79 episodes of the show and really couldn't shake his association with it until Boston Legal, dacades later.

Actually, Shatner was able to shake his Kirk persona, at least to a degree, with his title role in "T J Hooker," a show that had quite a few fans who never were dedicated Trekkies. But I agree, even today, with an extra 50 pounds or so, I still see Captain Kirk whenever Shatner appears in any role.
 
Buffy Summers
Buffy Summers
I loved TJ Hooker.
I've seen and read countless interviews where Sarah stated how much she hated the Spuffy pairing. She and Nick went to Joss together before Season 7 started with the intent to get Buffy and Xander together, but that's not really what the thread is about...

I do think SMG came across as ungrateful to the BtVS fans for her success. When an actress almost refuses to be involved in anything to promote the show, such as con panels, interviews, and commentaries for DVDs, it kind of looks like they don't want to be associated with the show, to me. The fact that Sarah so rarely did anything that was specifically for BtVS back in the day pretty much proves that she didn't want to be associated with the show, which is insulting to me. We, as fans, are the people who helped make her famous... She should be a lot more grateful to the fans and to the show.

I TOTALLY understand not wanting to be pigeonholed into a role or genre, as an actor. I get that she wanted to do new things and experience other types of roles, but Sarah was getting movie roles and things. Why should be be annoyed to keep doing BtVS if it was still good writing and still making her money?
 
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Robb Stark
All fair points
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Buffyverse Fan
Very true! Keeping it in context, commentaries & panels are things even A-listers do for the fans.
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SlayerOfVampyrs
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EffyStonem
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PassionBecoming
PassionBecoming
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I do think SMG came across as ungrateful to the BtVS fans for her success. When an actress almost refuses to be involved in anything to promote the show, such as con panels, interviews, and commentaries for DVDs, it kind of looks like they don't want to be associated with the show, to me.

It's like if you were asked to constantly be doing extra work outside of your usual workday. When I was working on set the only thing I wanted to do on my day off was sleep, and I didn't have to be "on" performing the whole time and go home and learn my lines for the next day. I don't blame her one bit for not wanting to fill up her little free time, especially when she was a newlywed, doing cons and press junkets.

The fact that Sarah so rarely did anything that was specifically for BtVS back in the day pretty much proves that she didn't want to be associated with the show, which is insulting to me. We, as fans, are the people who helped make her famous... She should be a lot more grateful to the fans and to the show.

It's her job, it's not her fandom. How do you expect to be taken seriously as an actress when your major credit is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"? And just because she was ready to move on after season 3, doesn't make her ungrateful. EVERYONE wants to move up in their career, and no one wants to have to do the same exact thing for 7 years.

I get that she wanted to do new things and experience other types of roles, but Sarah was getting movie roles and things. Why should be be annoyed to keep doing BtVS if it was still good writing and still making her money?

"Annoyed" was the interviewer's term. At some point, the money isn't worth it anymore. Having no life, and then when you finally have time, having to fit in the movies that you actually want to do?

The fact that Sarah stayed throughout the entire run of the show to me shows that she was respectful of the show and the fans.
 
BuffyElevated
BuffyElevated
I see your points... I just think she could have done maybe one event a year or something, like San Diego Comic Con or something. I don't know... I just never liked that she didn't take part in things like others in the cast did.
That interview just looks like back peddling to me, like when he asks was Sarah ready to move on in season 3 she says "she was super professional" - that to me says yes, but she was still doing her job.
 
A lot of fans get really sad when they realize the actors don't necessarily love their characters as much as we do. But it's sort of the same reason a guy who works at a potato chip factory doesn't love to chow down on potato chips.

I had a similar trauma when I found out that Lucy Lawless knows less about Xena than I do. For her it was a (difficult) job, not just 43 minutes of fun in front of the TV every week.
 
It's her job, it's not her fandom. How do you expect to be taken seriously as an actress when your major credit is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"? And just because she was ready to move on after season 3, doesn't make her ungrateful. EVERYONE wants to move up in their career, and no one wants to have to do the same exact thing for 7 years.

I agree with most of your points, but SMG also acted in Scooby Doo, Scooby Doo 2, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream 2 and probably a lot of other projects with equally silly names that I can't remember right now. From this credit list, it doesn't seem as though she's trying desperately hard to be taken seriously as an actress. The only reason I went to watch the first Scooby Doo movie when it came out was SMG (and also I was about 9 at the time, so enjoyed stuff like that)

Also, she does seem to have a habit of turning down roles so she doesn't have to be away from her family. She did this with Stardust. Not saying there's anything wrong with that, but she's limiting herself due to that. It doesn't seem as though she's doing her utmost to be known for something other than Buffy.
 
Black Eye Guy
Black Eye Guy
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BuffyElevated
BuffyElevated
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I'm probably being a brash gobshite, but you know what, whatever. I have one question.

WHO CARES?!

Did it affect the quality of the show, like more than the writers' garbage? No way. Does it affect the enjoyment I derive from watching Ms Gellar's performance? No, not at all.
 
Buffy Summers
Buffy Summers
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brinkster130
brinkster130
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KendraTheSlayer
KendraTheSlayer
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I have to say, this news surprises me. I always got the impression that she had a great enthusiasm about the show and its fans.

And she certainly never let it affect her performance in any way (The Body, anyone?)
 
I'm probably being a brash gobshite, but you know what, whatever. I have one question.

WHO CARES?!

Did it affect the quality of the show, like more than the writers' garbage? No way. Does it affect the enjoyment I derive from watching Ms Gellar's performance? No, not at all.

I care and I'm interested.
 
It's like if you were asked to constantly be doing extra work outside of your usual workday. When I was working on set the only thing I wanted to do on my day off was sleep, and I didn't have to be "on" performing the whole time and go home and learn my lines for the next day. I don't blame her one bit for not wanting to fill up her little free time, especially when she was a newlywed, doing cons and press junkets.

I'm not hating on SMG, but that stuff is part and parcel of movie/tv stardom. So it is no excuse to me.

---------- Post added at 01:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:13 AM ----------

Also, she does seem to have a habit of turning down roles so she doesn't have to be away from her family. She did this with Stardust. Not saying there's anything wrong with that, but she's limiting herself due to that. It doesn't seem as though she's doing her utmost to be known for something other than Buffy.

What roll in Stardust did she turn down? The beautiful girl who sends the boy off on the adventure?
 
I totally get it.
I started watching Buffy as a teenager and it had a HUGE impact on me. BUT that's a passing phase (like it must have been for SMG) and though I enjoy the later seasons I don't feel them the same way that I did with the first three. I don't dislike them, but I don't love them with the same reckless abandon that I had for s 1-3.

I can't imagine what he schedule must have looked like (including exhausting fight scenes) and though I can still look back at the choices I made a 18 and think of them as the right for them I would have hated to be bound to them and no less still color my life so palpably years later.

I think SMG was admirable and professional to 'stick it out' without ever letting her performance slip. As for not being overly chummy with your fellow cast or doing extra stuff I've said before that I get and I still do, being a private person I like to do my job but then I go home and stop thinking about it. I need that in order to keep doing it.


At some point, the money isn't worth it anymore. Having no life, and then when you finally have time, having to fit in the movies that you actually want to do?

The fact that Sarah stayed throughout the entire run of the show to me shows that she was respectful of the show and the fans.

Agreed with everything you said but especially this.
 
I'm not hating on SMG, but that stuff is part and parcel of movie/tv stardom. So it is no excuse to me.

Depends on what kind of actor/star you want to be.

What roll in Stardust did she turn down? The beautiful girl who sends the boy off on the adventure?

She was offered Clare Danes role in Stardust (and supposedly Romeo and Juliet)
 
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fredthe3rd
Claire Danes must love SMG!
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