Charisma Carpenter
By N.F. Mendoza
Managing Editor, UltimateTV News
It's no urban legend that the majority of Los Angeles' waiters
and waitresses are aspiring actors and actresses. But what about
the ones who are waiting tables just for the job?
Well, in the land of Hollywood, anything can happen. So, yes,
even a non aspiring actress can be discovered and catapulted into
TV stardom. And that's exactly what happened to "Buffy The
Vampire Slayer's" pretty Charisma Carpenter.
Carpenter gives vibrant bitchy life to know-it-all Cordelia,
whose self-commitment is as strong as Buffy's is to slaying.
And speaking of the eponymous lead, with Sarah Michelle Gellar so
firmly established as Buffy, could you imagine anyone else in it?
How about Carpenter? That's right, Carpenter was originally
slated to play the slayer herself, when producers thought she'd
be better as Cordelia. Fans all over agree they thought right.
Carpenter, whose mother got her unusual first name from what
Carpenter describes as a "tacky Avon perfume bottle,"
doesn't just play a cheerleader on TV. She really was one -- and
we're not talking just your average high school cheerleader.
Carpenter was a full-fledged San Diego Charger Cheerleader (in
1991, in case you were wondering when).
The Las Vegas native and one-time aspiring teacher lived in
Mexico and sunny San Diego, Calif. where she attended high school
-- and where her experience was decidedly less bloody than
Cordelia's.
Carpenter has told fans, " I had a great time in high school.
I certainly had wonderful friends and stuff. But I did have to
deal with a lot of preconceived ideas of what I was like, also. I
was kind of intense. And that was misconstrued often as being
snobby or -- I mean, I was confronted by it before, you know? I
guess I'm very pensive and it comes across the wrong way
sometimes." Sounds like good prep for Cordelia.
After high school, Carpenter took to the road -- to Europe that
is. When she returned to the U.S. she supported herself by
working in a video store (shades of Quentin Tarantino) and also
as an aerobics instructor.
After being discovered, she appeared in more than 20 commercials,
including one for Secret antiperspirant which had a two year tube
run.
What better big break than landing a role on the world's most
popular TV series, "Baywatch?" Then Aaron Spelling
personally auditioned Carpenter for the role of "Ashley"
in his "Malibu Shores." Carpenter, who's been to the
UlimateTV offices for a Star Chat likes "being a bad girl.
She has more fun. She gets to say what she wants to say. And I
think my character carries a lot of humor and she's really
entertaining to play. So I enjoy it very much. I'm very happy to
be Cordelia, because it's lasting. And therefore I get to act
longer and enjoy the part more."
Yes, Carpenter (who shares an alliterate name with her on-screen
alter-ego, Cordelia Chase) is infinitely more likable than
Cordelia. But Carpenter likes her just fine.
Carpenter tells UltimateTV that Cordelia "gets to say
everything that's really on her mind." Right now, fans are
enjoying the Cordelia/Xander storyline, which confirms that
opposites indeed attract.
Offscreen, Carpenter enjoys the outdoors - rollerblading, hiking,
sky diving, rock climbing, running and horseback riding - as well
as traveling and cooking. She also continues to dance.
Carpenter currently lives in L.A. with her golden retriever.
And what would the infinitely more modest Carpenter want "Buffy"
fans to know? "That I'm nothing like my character. I'm a
normal human being like everyone else. I really enjoy the
outdoors and I spend a lot of time keeping and staying fit."
And we're sure glad she does.