| The Official Anthony Head Site | BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER |
Television Series: Regular character in seasons 1 - 5, recurring character in seasons 6 - 7. Summary: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' was a critically acclaimed American television series created by writer-director Joss Whedon under his production tag, Mutant Enemy. The series followed Buffy Anne Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a long line of young women chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness. Like previous slayers, Buffy is aided by a Watcher (Anthony), who guides and trains her. Unlike previous Slayers, Buffy surrounds herself with a circle of loyal friends who become known as the "Scooby Gang". Character: Rupert Giles |
| Anthony was keen on the
concept of Buffy from the start, and recalls his first read through: "I was sitting
in the Border Grill in Santa Monica, on my own. I was reading the script and laughed out
loud, and sort of suddenly found myself having to stop because people were looking at me!
As I was reading it, I couldn't wait to turn the page and find out what happened next. I
thought, 'This is an extraordinary combination. I'm no judge of what is going to be a
success on TV but this has to be a success. It's so different. There's nothing like it on
TV." When asked how Anthony 'saw' Giles, at the beginning of the series, he said, "The way I always envisaged it was that all he knows is what he has been trained to do. He knows books, but he's had little or no practical experience. When I was researching it, I went to an American High School for a while. I got a vibe for the library, then I went upstairs and sat in their lunch area. It was such a cultural shock that it was the best part of the whole experience, because I felt so ill at ease and so alien in this little world. It was like nothing I'd ever known. That was it basically. Giles was completely out of place." Anthony has taken the character a long way since the first season. The boundaries of the character were pushed open and it was revealed that he was a rebel in his teenage years. "I was glad Joss gave him that," says Anthony, "it's fun to actually play somebody who has secrets." |
At the end of season four, after a period of time as a man of leisure, 'Giles' place of work became the Magic Box set. Anthony told David Richardson of Cult Times magazine, in issue # 81 June 2002, "the Magic Box was definitely designed with all the needs in mind - different areas, lots of colours, different ways to make interesting pictures. There was a common sigh of relief when they did build The Magic Box."
Many people feel that the musical episode, 'Once More with Feeling', that aired in season six, was one of the best episodes ever. A CD of the soundtrack was released on September 24th, 2002. "There are things that we recorded that didn't end up in the episode. Lots of little bits and pieces that you don't hear on the finished article," he told David.
Anthony singing in a scene from "Once More With Feeling" |
At the end of season five
Anthony became a recurring character, enabling him to spend more time at home in England
with his family. A spin off from 'Buffy' called 'Ripper' has been discussed. "Joss
and Jane Espenson are cracking out a two-hour pilot, which we might shoot without
committing to a full season, but the BBC are very keen and he's very keen. It's just a
question of everything falling into place." The series finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired on UPN on May 20th, 2003. The Official Buffy magazine Yearbook interviewed Anthony for the 2003 issue. The following question and answer is from the article: Q. Do you think we will be seeing you on 'Angel' later this year? |
Thanks to the Official Buffy Magazine Yearbook 2003 for permission to display the above quotes. Pictures © 20th Century Fox Film Corporation. |
* Thanks to David Richardson, of Cult Times magazine, for quotes from his interview with Anthony. Don't forget to visit the Cult Times website.