Exclusive Interview


US
Stefano E. for the Hannigan Hole
AH
Alyson Hannigan
GG
Gandalf Greyhame
US Hello!
AH Hi.
US Thanks for giving us this interview - we really appreciate it.
AH No problem.
US You do know we can't afford to pay you anything?
AH Er, yeah, I know that.  I don't usually get paid for interviews, only if they're like with a photo shoot or something for a magazine.
US Great stuff.  Is it OK if we take a photo?
AH Yeah, I suppose so.  I didn't think you brought a camera.
US Ah...  I didn't.  I knew I'd forgotten something.  Damn.
AH Oh, no photo then.
US Shit.  I can't believe it.  They're going to skin me alive for this one.  Oh well, ready for the first question?
AH Sure.
US First up is a Buffy related question - did you do any research on witchcraft, or wicca, for your role as Willow?
AH Yeah, I did.  It wasn't a big part of the character at first so I didn't worry too much.  But when Joss [Whedon, creator of the Buffy series] decided to add that dimension to Willow I thought it would be a good idea to do some research, to get a feel for the whole thing.
US What form did the research take?
AH I spent a month or so hanging around with Merian, a wiccan who lives in L.A.  She practises a lot of magick and is a real expert on wiccan and druid beliefs.
US That sounds fascinating.
AH It really was.  You don't realise how in tune with nature people can be until you meet them.  Merian can predict the weather really accurately - much better than the TV forecast.  I saw some amazing stuff too - things I just didn't believe possible before.
US That sounds a little scary.
AH Yeah...  It was, it really was at first.  But it's just a case of getting used to things.  The first time I saw Merion floating round the room shooting flames from her eyes I was really freaked, but after a couple of days it seemed completely normal.
US Did you try any magick yourself?
AH Only once.  I was really bad at it.  I tried to light a candle with a spell, but it exploded and burned Merion's whole house down.
US Ouch.  Was she upset?
AH She was pretty angry at the time, but we laughed about it later.
US That's a relief.  Okay, next question, and a more personal one.  How important is your acting to you?
AH Oh, very important.  There aren't many people who make money doing something they enjoy.  I feel really lucky in that way.
US It must be great.  I've hated every job I've ever had.
AH It's sad, but I think that is true for most people.
US You're so right.  Still, you don't actually need to work, do you?
AH Er, yeah, I do.  I don't get any money if not.
US I thought you inherited an old English estate when you were little?
AH No.  That wasn't me.
US Really?  I thought you teamed up with David Niven to dupe an old lady, and ended up getting a mansion and stuff.
AH No...  I think you've got me confused with Jodie Foster's character from Candleshoe.
US Oh yeah.  Yeah, definitely, now I come to think of it.  What was that film where she swapped minds with her mother?
AH Freaky Friday.
US That was it!  I was trying to remember that the other night.  Anyway, where were we?  Ahh...  Oh yes, third question.
AH Okay.
US What was the worst time of your life?
AH Wow, that is a personal one.
US Yes, it is a bit.  You don't have to answer if you don't want to.
AH No, I want to, it's a good question.  I would have to say it was the time I was turned into a pillar of salt.
US Pardon?
AH A couple of years back my boyfriend looked back at me when God told him not to, and I was turned into a pillar of salt.
US I didn't think that kind of thing happened anymore.
AH Neither did I until it happened to me.  I couldn't believe it.
US What was it like?
AH It was really bad.  I couldn't move or anything, because I was made of salt, so I was really bored.  That wasn't the half of it though - I couldn't get wet in case I dissolved, and a couple of my fingers snapped off and had to be glued back on.
US That does sound pretty bad.
AH It was really, really lousy.  I was turned back in just under a week, though, so it didn't last too long.
US Did God turn you back?
AH Yeah.  The whole thing was an administrative error, shouldn't have happened in the first place.  I got a really sweet apology letter from Jesus - I had it framed.
US Wow.  Not many people have a letter from Jesus.  Not since he died, anyway.
AH I'm pretty sure it happens more often than you think.  People just don't talk about it.  His signature is really nice - all loopy, with hearts around it.
US I never knew that.
GG Excuse me, would you like a cup of tea?
US Ooh, yes please.  One sugar.
AH Hey, aren't you the wizard from Lord of the Rings?
GG Yes, yes I am.
US Bloody Hell!  You are as well.  I didn't recognise you.
GG Most people don't when I take my pointy hat off.
US What are you doing here?
GG Oh, I just hang around making tea between adventures.
AH I thought you died when the big fire-demon thing pulled you off that ledge?
GG Oh, the Balrog?  No, no, it takes more than that to kill me.  I'm in the next film, you know.  Haven't you read the book?
US Er...  Well, I got as far as page 200...
AH I didn't get further than page 200 either...
GG Bah!  It's always the bloody same.  Get your own damned tea.  Philistines.
US Oh well.
AH Okay...
US Erm...  Next question...  What was the last movie you saw?
AH That would be Castle of the Ancients.  It was really good.
US I haven't heard of that one.  Who's in it?
AH Susan Sarandon and Jeremy Irons.  It was kind of a mystery horror - I really enjoyed it, edge of your seat stuff.
US I'll have to look out for that one.
AH Oh, you won't be able to see it.  It's not being publicly released.
US Really?
AH Yeah.  All the best films are made secretly and only stars are allowed to watch them, because the public are too fat and ugly.
US That seems a little... unfair.
AH I agree.  I think it's totally unfair, and I'm not the only one.  But we can't speak out about it - Hollywood producers would have us killed.
US Bloody Hell.  Better change subject quickly then.
AH Please.
US Last question.  What is the biggest acting challenge you've faced?
AH Ah...  That's a tough one.
US Take your time.
AH It's...  yeah, definitely, it's when I spoke to Sarah Michelle Gellar after watching the Scooby Doo movie.  I had to act like I enjoyed it.
US That must have been very difficult.
AH It was.  I think I pulled it off though - she didn't know I was pretending, I'm pretty sure of that.
US Well, looks like we're out of time.  Thanks again for the interview.
AH Hey, that's OK.
US Listen... er... Do you think I could suck your toes a bit before you leave?
AH Well...  Yeah, alright.  But be quick, I've got to be back at the hotel by nine or I'll miss the X-files.