Martyn Conterio, FilmShaft.com
July 14, 2010

Actress Charisma Carpenter has been able to put some distance between her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel these past few years. Although she’ll never escape the shows completely – she’ll always be Cordelia Chase to a legion of fans – Carpenter has decided to forge a new career in film.

Psychosis is a new British retro psycho-thriller that began life as a short movie in a 1980s horror anthology. Director Reg Traviss took the seed of the idea and wrote a new script. Charisma Carpenter stars as a US writer who having suffered a nervous breakdown in the past, retreats to a country manor with her husband to write her next book.

Of course things don’t go to plan and all sorts of strangers and strangeness occurs in fine horror tradition.

FilmShaft caught up with the actress yesterday to discuss her first leading role and the forthcoming Expendables movie. Before the interview, Charisma Carpenter was having her photo taken in the street. It was one of those double-take moments as it was quite unexpected to literally walk by and notice her. Living in London one sees famous people all the time. They’re like curious objects, but being a massive Joss Whedon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly and Angel fan meeting Charisma Carpenter was just, well, amazing.

Before the interview commenced proper – as some technical dudes messed with lights – we chatted on the legacy of Buffy and Angel and it’s enduring appeal. ‘It’s still great to meet big fans of the shows because people from back then are turning their kids onto it and now there’s a second generation thing happening‘.

In person, she is down to earth, animated, friendly and funny.

How did the project come to you?

CC: A script was given to my agent and an offer was made. I read the script and I responded to it, but I wanted to talk to the director first. I think Reg (Traviss) is ultimately why I did the film. It was a great character to play and the range that I would have to use while shooting: being scared, in love, crazy and smart. The character has a mental breakdown, so all of there was all this colour and her credibility being questioned.

It’s quite a twisty-turny story.

Yeah. I had to read it a couple of times to really get it.

How did you decide to approach the character?

I think with Susan it wasn’t too hard to get into the part. Which doesn’t speak too highly of me (laughs). I really respond to the crazy characters! It’s a good part.

Did you enjoy the filming process and shooting in England?

Oh yeah. We shot in London a little bit but mostly we were in Somerset at the mansion. I come from a new country so there’s no architecture… I don’t think there are many buildings that are that old. The location also happened to be pretty close to Babington House which is the most enjoyable spa I’ve ever been to (laughs).

I interviewed Reg (the director) last week and he told me the house where you filmed was supposedly haunted. Any ghostly experiences to report?

I don’t know if Reg mentioned but there was a fire. I think it was actually in the fire place (laughs), but something went array. I don’t know if that was caused by the Blue Lady protesting about the filming or not. I think that was the only thing that took place that was a little weird.

Out of all the scenes do you have a particular favourite?

Yes, I do. I think the scene with Ricci’s character drugs me. Playing that was quite a challenge. I was really nervous about it. I’m quite proud of it, too.

It’s quite a disturbing scene to watch. What was it like to film?

I’m happy to hear that. I really struggled with that because why would she have dinner with him? How did that come about? Is she gullible or is she that much of a people-pleaser that she’ll sink as low as she can?

Have you seen The Expendables yet?

I haven’t. There was a screening June 22nd and I was in Australia, so I didn’t get to see it. My agent saw it and told me ‘it was frikkin’ awesome’.

Is your part a supporting role?

Oh yeah. It’s totally a supporting role. I mean the film is all guys.

So you don’t get to shoot anybody?

(mocks sadness) Not this time. Maybe if there’s an Expendables 2.

Would you make more horror films?

I would love to do action and I wouldn’t say no to horror films but it would just depend… I’m not against it.

Okay. For old time’s sake. What’s your favourite ever episode of Buffy or Angel?

My favourite episode of all-time is ‘You’re Welcome’ (Season Five, Episode 12).

That’s your last episode.

Yeah, it wrapped a lot of stuff up. I was sad to go and they killed her off but when I found out how she dies I thought ‘oh that’s really good’. I love the episode where Cordy got her sitcom, too. Although pretty much anything in the fourth season I didn’t enjoy. I think season two and three were probably the best. The first season was all about guest stars and them needing help and the second and third really get good. In the fourth season I hook up with Connor, become The Beast, and I’m pregnant and it was just so much. There were a lot of episodes that ran together instead of being stand alone episodes. Then in season five I was in only in one episode! That was a terrible season… awful (laughs).

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