Charisma Carpenter, 55, starred on Buffy The Vampire Slayer and posed for Playboy… see her now

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Charisma Carpenter began her acting career in the 1990s with a guest appearance on the popular show Baywatch.

She then appeared on the popular 1990s supernatural horror TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.

As a lifestyle expert, I always love seeing actors revisit beloved roles! This particular star got to reprise their character in a spin-off series from a hugely popular show that first aired on The WB back in 1997 – and that character was Angel. It’s fantastic when a show resonates so strongly that it gets extended like that!

Throughout her career, the actress has collaborated with many famous stars, including Sylvester Stallone, Kristen Bell, and Jason Statham.

And she even posed for Hugh Hefner’s Playboy magazine in 2004.

See her now at age 55 in a new Instagram post as she promotes her podcast The B**ch Is Back with Charisma Carpenter. 

In 2021, she also accused Whedon of creating a ‘toxic’ work environment and ‘abusing his power.’ 

She posted a detailed message on X (then known as Twitter) supporting actor Ray Fisher, who had previously claimed that Joss Whedon engaged in abusive and inappropriate conduct during the 2017 filming of Justice League.

Charisma spoke with IGN about her character’s death on Angel and the possibility of returning for a potential reboot of the show.

“I’m honestly not sure how to interpret that,” she said. “Of course, there’s a catch – Cordelia died on Angel, not Buffy.”

I’m not sure exactly how this will affect Cordelia, but I really hope she’s included. It would be amazing if she were, and it would feel especially meaningful to be part of this particular group.

When asked about returning to her role in Buffy, Carpenter readily agreed, saying, ‘I absolutely wouldn’t disagree with that.’

It was really unfair how things ended for her. She had achieved so much and grown into a remarkable person, so to have her journey end so abruptly and without a proper conclusion felt deeply unjust.

She later praised the character of Cordelia, and shared that playing her had a personal impact, changing her as a person.

Playing that character completely changed me. I used to be shy, always trying to make others happy, and afraid to speak my mind. Cordelia helped me find my voice and become a much more confident person.

The actress explained that playing the character for almost a decade revealed a part of herself she hadn’t known before.

Mary Elizabeth Carpenter began her acting career in 1994 with a guest appearance on the television show Baywatch.

Three years after that, she landed the role of Buffy, and later appeared in the spin-off series Angel until she left the show in 2003.

She went on to take in smaller roles in other shows including Charmed and Veronica Mars. 

Charisma made her film debut in the movie The Expendables (2010) and returned for the sequel in 2012.

The actress and Damian Hardy were married from 2002 to 2008, when they got divorced.

The ex-couple had a son together, and Carpenter sometimes shares photos of him on Instagram.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE how amazing Charisma is! She was actually on Charmed with Shannen Doherty – can you even imagine?! And get this – she was a Playboy Playmate back in June 2004! Seriously, she’s just perfect!

Charisma Carpenter returned to her iconic role as Cordelia Chase in the 2023 audio drama series, Slayers.

Carpenter and Gellar previously worked together on the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which ran from 1997 to 2003.

After she publicly accused Buffy creator Joss Whedon of misconduct in 2021 – prompting other cast members to share their own concerns in 2022 – she was reluctant to revisit the Buffy universe.

She previously stated that Joss Whedon made a hurtful comment about her weight, calling her ‘fat’ while she was four months pregnant, and also threatened to remove her from the show.

Following his unclear response to her claims, she described him as a controlling and self-centered boss who refuses to take responsibility or simply say he’s sorry.

In an October 2023 interview with Us Weekly at New York Comic Con, she admitted she was initially a little hesitant when first approached about joining the cast of Slayers.

She explained that the painful emotions and feelings were instantly relieved when Amber Benson presented her idea, as she could clearly sense Amber’s excitement.

She worked with Benson, who played Tara Maclay, on the first audio story created for a version of the Buffy universe where Buffy Summers never existed.

Years after the show ended, Carpenter publicly shared her difficult experiences working on set, becoming the first of several actors to accuse the show’s creator, Joss Whedon, of creating a negative and harmful work environment.

However, she told the outlet that she wanted to channel her character’s strength. 

This role is deeply meaningful to me. I spent ten years performing as Cordelia, and I believe playing her actually shaped who I am as a person.

‘It’s rich to me,’ The Expendables alum continued. ‘The idea of coming into my own power as a young woman through a character that then I ended up using that power in a way to speak out against the creator of that power.’ 

She shared that playing a strong character felt especially meaningful and empowering while she was going through a difficult period in her life.

She explained that Cordelia was a major influence on her, shaping the person she is today, almost like a mother figure to her creative persona, Charisma.

Carpenter explained that it gave him the strength to overcome significant challenges during a difficult period in his life.

For me, the heart of the Buffyverse is about discovering your own purpose and then using it to help others and improve the world.

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2025-12-12 17:51