411MANIA INTERVIEWS: CHARISMA CARPENTER
by Al Norton

I knew what kind of a movie I was getting in to. I wasn't stupid (laughing). These are 30 years of the biggest actions stars ever. It was a really special thing to be able to do.

Al Norton: You were on two very popular television shows and you play that part on reruns throughout the world every day and you seem to be pretty ok with that, which I guess is my way of asking why some people seem to run from the parts that made them famous?
Charisma Carpenter: That's a really good question. I don't know. I don't know why people aren't grateful (laughing). I really don't know. I think that maybe the feel that they will be limited because casting directors can only see you in one light. I really have to marvel after Hilary Swank; I don't know how you go from The Next Karate Kid and 90210 to being able to capture the imagination of the casting director who put her in Boys Don't Cry.

I think it's super rare for people to be able to break out and it has nothing to do with people not having the ability to do it, and that's why every time it happens I celebrate. They have no idea what people are capable of doing but they still say they don't want to see them because of a preconceived idea. You either have to have a really good agent (laughing) or you yourself have to follow up and have the desire to knock on the door until they see you. I don't know that would actually work. It's so delicate and I think that's why some people run from those parts.

I think I was lucky because when I played Cordelia she evolved so much. It was also a very demanding show and it asked a lot of an actor; you had to be able to be funny, to be serious, to be looking at a green screen and reacting to a monster that wasn't really there, and all of that is kind of major. It was a very demanding show and maybe that's why I am ok with it, because I had the opportunity to do all those different things, to show those other sides.

Al Norton: I was wondering if you could talk a little about what it was like to work with Andy Hallett.
Charisma Carpenter: Working with Andy was the biggest ball of fun ever. He had the funniest expressions; he wouldn't say "shit", he'd say, "oh, balls." He just was not the average bear. He was a total original in the way he saw things and his expressions were totally unique. He laughed a lot when I was there. I wasn't there for the last year and I understand there were a lot of physical issues in terms of his make up that created problems for him. All I remember is a really genuinely funny guy. One time I was having a get together at my house and he came and brought me these really beautiful shoes. He said, "I bought these for you because I thought you should have them. They would look so beautiful on you so you should have them." That's not a normal guy. He was a really special human being.

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