Julie Benz On The Difficulties Of A 'Buffy' Revival, Her Shocking 'Dexter' Exit & More

If today Julie Benz is a fixture at pop culture conventions, it's because of her breakthrough role as the bloodsucker Darla in the iconic television show Buffy The Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel. Benz has worked solidly ever since. But, while she's starred in movies (anyone catch Sylvester Stallone's final Rambo?), Benz is a queen of the small screen.

This month the gracious American is returning to Oz for the Supanova Comic-Con & Gaming Expo in Sydney and Perth – and she always appreciates Supa-Geeks. "I find that fans of genre television and movies are just as passionate about the show or movie as we are making it and so they ask very detailed, in-depth questions about character development and motivation," Benz enthuses. "They can really challenge you as an actor to think about your process and how you approach your role. It's great."

Benz grew up in Pittsburgh, her family big on figure skating. Benz' aspirations on ice as a junior competitor ceased following an injury – and she turned to acting. The teen scored her first on-screen job in George A Romero's 1990 horror flick Two Evil Eyes, shot locally. Later, she studied drama in New York.

Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, recognised Benz' potential when she auditioned for the part of Buffy Summers – which was ultimately given to Sarah Michelle Gellar. "They saw everybody in town for the role of Buffy!," Benz laughs. "I was one of, like, a million girls that went in for it. I wasn't right for the role. I mean, I was five years too old." Regardless, Whedon was impressed by her "choices" in the reading. "He offered me 'Vampire Girl, Number One' – she didn't even have a name. Then Darla kinda evolved on set as we were filming."

The villainous Darla was revealed to be the sire – and former lover – of the tormented vamp (and Buffy's boo) Angel (David Boreanaz), who'd stake her. However, Darla was resurrected in the gritty, urban Buffy… spin-off Angel – her character enhanced. The vampiress then died a second time, sacrificing herself to save her child… with Angel.

In March Buffy… celebrated its 20th anniversary. Whedon – arguably TV's original celebrity showrunner – reunited with key cast members (minus Benz) for an Entertainment Weekly retrospective. Buffy… has been hailed for introducing a subversive feminism and postmodern pastiche. As such, the series has sustained a huge fandom. Yet the nostalgic Buffyverse mania caught even some media-types by surprise. "I'm just surprised it's been 20 years," Benz exclaims. "It feels like it was just a couple of years ago. I'm blown away that it's been 20 years. So I love that the show has stood the test of time. I think it's a real telling of Joss Whedon's talent and ability in what he created in his writing, how a show like Buffy… 20 years later is still living on. New generations are discovering it and it doesn't feel dated."

Whedon has consistently dismissed the possibility of a TV reboot, but he may be coming around – informing the Hollywood Reporter, "I don't rule it out." Is there revival talk? "Not that I know of," Benz responds. "If they did [revive it], they would probably end up recasting the role of Darla, 'cause vampires aren't supposed to age – and I've obviously aged 20 years. So I don't know how I could still play Darla. But I would love to revisit her… But I don't know if that will ever happen."

Benz subsequently appeared in the premiere season of another genre hit – Supernatural. In the now-classic episode Faith, she portrayed the terminally-ill Layla Rourke, who attends a preacher who performs miracles. Layla's recovery is stymied when sibling supernatural hunters Dean and Sam Winchester (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, respectively) rock up, suspecting a reaper's presence. "I just remember how cute those boys are – Jared and Jensen are adorable," Benz bursts out. "I loved the character of Layla so much… She was a challenge because I don't have as much faith as she does. So it was a real interesting challenge for me as an actor to play a character who just has this undying faith. I loved it."

Beginning in 2006, Benz starred in Dexter as Rita Bennett – the love interest of Michael C Hall's titular avenging serial killer. Benz' critically-acclaimed run concluded in the "gamechanging" fourth season finale, with Rita's controversial death. Did the writers make the right call, retrospectively? "I think so," Benz says. "Yes and no. I was really bummed when that was a decision they made because I enjoyed being on the show… The show was dark and twisted – which is the kind of programming I like to watch. I would have loved to have been on it longer. But, in the end, it was such a monumental moment in the storytelling. My biggest fear was that it wasn't gonna have that impact. I was afraid that people weren't really gonna care. I was shocked when it had the impact that it had – 'cause Rita had in many ways become the nemesis to Dexter. A lot of fans weren't liking her – they were referring to her as being the complaining, nagging housewife and all of this… So I was afraid that her death wasn't gonna have the impact that the writers were hoping it was gonna have. I was wrong!"

Post-Dexter, Benz guested on Desperate Housewives as the smart stripper Robin Gallagher. It remains one of Benz' favourite acting experiences – and she praises her female co-stars. Alas, Benz laments that 2010's No Ordinary Family – centring on a family discovering super powers – was cancelled. "I honestly believe if No Ordinary Family came out now, it'd be a hit – but it was right before all the Marvel stuff became mainstay." Indeed, Benz has popped up in offbeat productions – none more so than Payne, John Larroquette's long-forgotten American remake of the UK sitcom Fawlty Towers.

"Obviously, it wasn't as epic as the original one," she jokes. Currently, Benz has a recurring role in Hawaii Five-0 as the "bad-ass" detective Abby Dunn. And next? "I'd love to do a little more comedy – I haven't done comedy in a while. That's what I got into the business to do when I first started. But I also would love to be a part of the Marvel world – [I'd] love to play a superhero, a superhero's mom…"

You can catch Julie Benz at Supanova in Sydney (June 16 — 18) and Perth (June 23 — 25). Check out the Supanova website for all the details.