.com On line chat 17 May 2001

angelus1701uk: How much have you enjoyed this season Emma?

Emma Caulfield: I hated it, it was miserable.. glad it is over. j/k I always have a great time We get along so well, we are all pretty good friends The first seven months goes by pretty fast, and then its really only the last two that you are like "all right.. when's vacation?".
Just because of the hours. But it has been a great season.

btvsandangellover: Hi Emma what do you like most about Anya and ar you anything like her in real life?

Emma Caulfield: I love Anya's earnestness. I think probably the quality that she and I both have in common -- the most -- would be our sense of loyalty. I think we are probably more dissimilar than similar... Except for the fact that we both feel everything.. You know, if she is mad or happy, then you KNOW. She sort of wears her emotions on her sleeve -- and for the most part I do as well.

buffanatic1: Why is Buffy moving to the UPN?

Emma Caulfield: Because it can :) Thats really it, in a nutshell. I mean, the bottom line is that The WB couldn't afford the show any longer and someone else came in, bought it and there you have it. To be blunt, that is really it.

reco84: Who gets the most fan mail out of the whole cast?

Emma Caulfield: Good question! I have no idea. I really don't. I mean, we certainly don't have days where we sit around and compare mail!! ;-) It is spread out fairly equally.. but if I had a bet, I'd say SMG. But we are lucky that our fans really love the show.. We wouldn't be anything without the fans. We are very grateful.

drama_mama4ever: Emma- It is awfully cheesy, but my brother would be jealous if he knew that I was cyber talking with you. You are our favorite character on Buffy. Was it hard coming joining a show that was so established with so many wonderful characters?

Emma Caulfield: It was only difficult in terms of developing a fan base for my character. The show's fans are pretty loyal, they all definitely have opinions about who should stay, who should go.. I think it has taken awhile for a lot of the fans to warm up to Anya, to kind of really get her -- to understand why she is important to the show, and to appreciate what she brings. I have always loved playing her, I have always understood just how necessary her character is in terms of providing some levity and really just having a character who can really not be "in" on everything, much like the audience is not "in" on everything. To have someone going through all the craziness much like the audience would.. I don't know if that makes any sense, but I just hoped that after awhile -- and I guess it is starting to happen now -- that people would feel the way I do about her.

angelus1701uk: What has been your favorite episode this season?

Emma Caulfield: "The Body".. Definitely. It was really amazing to shoot and even more amazing to watch as a viewer.

pimpn_n_da2g: Emma ...how DID YOU GET STARTED AS AN ACTRESS?

Emma Caulfield: I actually was stopped on the street. I had just moved to L.A. as a transfer student to UCLA, and I was leaving work -- I was waitressing at the time -- and my old agent came up to me and asked if I was an actress. One thing lead to another, and next thing you know I was auditioning and dropping out of school. It just happened like that -- I've been really lucky. I've been living out the Los Angeles urban myth. It has been the most amazing, frustrating, wonderful ride!

bonk81: If the actors on Buffy were on Survivor island, who would you want to vote off the most?

Emma Caulfield: No comment :-) I can't answer that for fear of my life!

Yahooligan_melanie: have you ever had like a nightmare because of the show?

Emma Caulfield: The only nightmares I've had with regards to the show have been about my performance.. those insecure dreams where you feel completely worthless and you don't know your lines. I've had a few of those, definitely. I used to have a lot more.. But I think that it is sort of typical for any new job... you are not sure if it is going to last, you don't know if people like you, if you are doing a good job. Luckily, I have relaxed a little bit more now but there were definitely some rough waters for me for awhile.

TeenHollywood_Marc: We are chatting with actress Emma Caulfield.

TeenHollywood_Marc: To ask a question, type it into the "ask question" box and click on "ask".

rocking_jock: Any spoilers about the upcoming season finale?

Emma Caulfield: I'd love to talk about the season finale. It should be pretty amazing. It was an amazing script, it was very exhausting to shoot... Very fun as well. I mean, the truth is I can't say anything and everybody knows that I can't say anything. But I don't think that anyone is going to be disappointed!

gilly_cious: Emma, what is the most challenging aspect of being a celebrity and a role model? Thanks, Denis

Emma Caulfield: Oh my god, am I a role model? That is terrifying -- good god, when did that happen!? Probably the most challenging thing about being considered a celebrity is probably understanding that you are considered a celebrity as opposed to believing that you are a celebrity... It is a very tricky line that is often crossed by people in this business. That is why some people can't keep a straight head on their shoulders. I don't think that I am a celebrity, I don't live my life like I am a celebrity. I'm actually pretty boring. My boyfriend and I are total homebodies. We live a normal life with normal people who are as weird as we are. .. And the role model part? I can't even grasp the idea of me being a role model. That is kind of strange. I am flattered if someone considers me a role model .. I just hope that you mean me instead of my character. Although, for all her faults, Anya is still very honest and does try her best at all times. And one thing that I want to point out -- lots of people on-line talk about how they think that Anya is stupid. I don't think that Anya is stupid at all, I want to try to get rid of that rumor that she is stupid. She is naive, maybe, but not stupid.. I mean, granted she has been around for a long time but only from a certain kind of perspective. This is a whole new world for her.. You can imagine how long it took us to figure out how things work. I think that people need to give her a bit of a break sometimes. Sorry for the tangent :) But if somebody does consider me a role model, I am flattered. But I am far, far, far from perfect. I am ridiculously flawed. But I try to always know my limitations and push them just a little bit. And I try to be good to people and be more forgiving. Yes, I mean I didn't really get a chance to know him before he left for "Angel". A few crossover episodes he's done are usually with just him and Sarah.. He is in and out of the show. But I have met him.

Yahooligan_Carrie: Has acting been you dream since you were little?

Emma Caulfield: Well, I know that I've always been a drama queen -- in every sense of the word. I definitely have a flair for the dramatic. But I don't think that I ever really .... prepared myself for the life that I am living now. I don't think that one really can.. my life is so random. Being successful in this business at all is just such a crapshoot -- the odds are so stacked against you all the time. I don't know though.. It is probably better than any dream that I've had, and more unbelievable than any dream that I've had. And its a mixed bag of nuts...

amber_03_25_2000: There are lots of rumors going around about who will die on the season finale I know you can't say anything but is there on crazy rumor you could put to rest for us??

Emma Caulfield: No... sorry :-)

kinkywillow: do u have any tattoos?

Emma Caulfield: No, I don't. It's so funny.. I've been thinking about getting one actually. I don't know, I'm such a baby -- I don't know if I can take the pain. I can barely give blood at my yearly physical, I don't know if I can sit through an hour at the tattoo parlor. I don't know even what I'd get.... I'd probably get a tiny tattoo of an old cartoon called "Superchicken". Don't ask why, I just like chickens.. I don't get it myself... I just do.

rocking_jock: When you got the part of "Anyanka", did you expect to have a recurring part in the show?

Emma Caulfield: No, I was brought in to do one episode... Luckily, I got a phone call probably a month later to ask if I wanted to come back and do another one.. Then, a month later I came back and did another one and then another one and before I knew it, it is 2001 -- not 1998 -- and it just blows my mind that this wonderful job of mine began as this one small appearance. That's Joss Whedon for you though.. He gets something in his head and he may not use it for the next episode or the next five or ten, but he is a genius that way. I'm so grateful that he has given me the opportunity to work on the best show on TV!

madmaxcm: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Emma Caulfield: I love to garden, I'm currently obsessed with Tiger Woods Sony Golf.. My boyfriend and I play pretty fierce rounds on that thing for hours.. We are nerds. It seems like I always have something to do. There is so much more that I enjoy in life that has nothing to do with the business of acting. Loving my character is one thing, but loving the business is something different.. it certainly doesn't feed your soul -- at least not mine. I read, hang out with friends, play with my cats. I am starting to work with different animal organizations. I love animals. I am ashamed to say it at times, but I sometimes love them more than people. I don't know if that is bad or good.. but I am pretty passionate about animals. I love going to the movies but I really haven't gone much lately

kinkywillow: U came over to the UK before did you enjoy your time over here?

Emma Caulfield: I love love love love love London. love love love love loooove London :-) !!! I can't wait to go back!! A bunch of us are here in New York for the "up-fronts" for UPN and they were talking about a nocturnal fest in June which I did last year which was quite an experience for me. It was my first convention, so I was a little overwhelmed to say the least. I am a bit better about it now...Any excuse to go over there. People are so lovely. I just LOVE it. The food could use a little work.. sorry.. :) Its a little bit bland. Or maybe we are just spoiled here in L.A., we can get any kind of food that we want. But I'm just nitpicking, because I am going on and on and on about how great it is. I just can't wait to go back!!

TeenHollywood_Marc: We are chatting with actress

Emma Caulfield. Emma currently appears as "Anya" on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Keep those great questions coming!

solarflare819: Do you have anything in the works other than Buffy?

Emma Caulfield: I have a lot of plans to travel. There is a project that has been in the works for awhile now, but the dates keep shifting and I'm not sure that I'm going to be able to do it now. I'm hoping that I can, but it starts shooting roughly right after we are supposed to go back to work assuming there is no strike. So I don't know. That is sort of a monster that is up in the air... Its just kind of hanging in the air like one of those cartoon balloons with a big question mark in it. If it happens, that's great but if it doesn't, that is fine too. Honestly I'm having a really nice time not working right now. After nine months, it takes its toll. It is just nice to have a life that goes beyond Buffy for a little while.

lca_4: Hi, have you done comedy before? Your comedic timing and delivery is fantastic!

Emma Caulfield: Oh, that's so sweet. Thank you! I mean, I'm a real goofball you know? Someone just asked me today what I thought the best quality in myself and the best quality in Anya was. The answer for me is probably my appreciation for the ridiculous. I think that is definitely true, I pretty much love to just laugh a lot just all the time. I always just try to find the humor in something. I do comedy just in my normal life with my friends and people that I interact with. Luckily, I've been able to harness whatever that is -- if you want to call it timing or whatever -- through the show. I am truly grateful. I've had a difficult time to get people to allow me to do comedy.. Once people see you as a dramatic actress, it is hard to branch out of that stereotype. Luckily, that is something that I won't have to worry about in the future .. Although, finding a part that is as challenging and funny as Anya will be difficult.

morbidmuch: What are your plans for the summer?

Emma Caulfield: We are supposed to go back the beginning of July. In the mean time, I am supposed to go to Australia next week, I'd like to try to go back to London.. I'm here in New York right now.

ria4184: What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever done for you?

Emma Caulfield: Weirdest thing? I haven't had a fan do anything weird for me... They've all been really sweet. Like Alyson Hannigan, for example, she has had really bizarre things happen to her. Someone tried to give her a horse.. They actually walked up to her house with a horse and tried to have it to her. That is pretty extreme, I can't top that. Friends send me letters, send me birthday cards. It is really sweet, nothing strange.

kinkywillow: What's your favorite TV program of all time?

Emma Caulfield: Of all time? Oh, wow. I don't know. I LOVED "Cheers". I think that it was probably the best half-hour of all time. It was an amazing show. Current favorite would be "Sex in the City", I'm a total junkie, I'm completely addicted to that show. I love it!

englishgirlieuk: What's your favorite novel and why?

Emma Caulfield: "Catcher in the Rye".. I mean, I have a few but that is the first one that pops into my head. There are too many reasons why I love that book. Anyone that has ever read it I'm sure can appreciate why. A newer book called "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt. The "Divine Comedy" was pretty good, but it was so massive. I was 15 or 16 when we tried to dissect the book, but it definitely left an impression on me, it is a pretty amazing piece of work... a little light reading, 500 or 700 pages.. pretty big :)

calculoso: Pick five words to describe yourself...

Emma Caulfield: Opinionated, Loyal, ... hmm... I'd say more "Kind" than "Nice". Its a weird distinction, I know, but I think that it is a pretty important one. Passionate Distrustful

TeenHollywood_Marc: Thank you for joining us, Emma! Any last words?

Emma Caulfield: Being Loyal and Distrustful makes for an interesting combination, let me tell you :-) Thanks so much for being a part of the chat and caring enough to care what I have to say about anything. It is flattering and so sweet. I am appreciative of everyone who tunes in every week.. and thank you for coming.