Her big break came with a recurring role on Beverly Hills, 90210. Now she is starring in a supporting role on Life Unexpected. But I really care about actress Emma Caulfield is that she played the incredibly charming and hilarious Anya in 85 episodes of Buffy Vampire Slayer. She was a love-spited vengeance demon, who was eventually tamed by falling in love with lead actor Xander. Anya was always good for a laugh as she bumbled her way through life trying to get used to the modern day world. One of my favorite moments on the show was in the musical episode where she and Xander sing the duet I’ll Never Tell.
Unfortunately, Emma Caulfield, was not quite as charming when I got the chance to meet her at the Hollywood Show on Saturday, April 24, 2010. It wasn’t that she was unpleasant; it was just that she didn’t say a word. I first approached her handler, looking for a discount to the $20 she was charging to get a photo with her. Initially, I was declined and walked away – knowing full well that I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to get a photo and autograph of Anya. Emma was busy signing clear plastic stickers that would be presumably be placed on photos for some purpose, and never even looked up (I have seen a lot of this sticker-signing at the autographs shows lately and have no clue what they are doing with these…and who on earth would want them.)
Eventually I went back and this time made the offer to pay the $20 for the signed photo and an additional $10 for the photo op, which was accepted by the handler. She signed my photo, fulfilling my request on what to write – including her character name and “I’ll never tell” without so much as cracking a smile or making any comment. Then she dutifully came out from her table to pose for our photo. That was that.
It’s a shame that meeting her wasn’t a more pleasurable experience. She is a very beautiful and talented actress, and it would have been nice to chat and flirt. Perhaps she had just been spited again – and her utter complacency was her vengeance on the fans.
Celebs of the Spring 2010 Hollywood Show will continue…
When she was on the Buffy Reunion Panel at the Paleyfest a few years ago, she was funny and offbeat and totally on, so you must have caught her on a bad day. She was pretty delightful on that panel.
Rick Greene
January 6th, 2011