JAMES MARSTERS AOL CHAT
November 14 2000
Copyright 2000 America Online, Inc.

AOLJanaM: TV Guide and AOL Live would like to welcome "Buffy" star James Marsters to tonight's chat. Any opening comments?

Marsters TV: It's good to be back online. I don't have a computer, so this is a special day for me.

AOLJanaM: Lets get started with our first question...

Question: Can you give us any insight to tonight's 2 part episode of "Buffy and Angel"?

Marsters TV: You're going to learn things about Spike that you may not like. You're going to learn things about what he was like before he became a vampire. It's more interesting that I ever thought.

Question: Do you think that it would be nice if Spike got to be Buffy's boyfriend? Or would you rather them have a love/hate relationship?

Marsters TV: Yeah. There used to be a show called Moonlighting. It was only successful before they kissed. That's the problem with sexual tension. I think people are still tuning into X-Files to see if David and Gillian are going to smooch. Plus do you really think she'd go for me.

Question: SEPoulton: Where did you learn your great British accent?

Marsters TV: Monty Python as a kid. Plus stage training. I can do most of the accents that I might be hired for. Like Russian. Russian, Irish, French. I don't do Chinese accents. I was doing a production of the Tempest with a guy from North London. And Tony Head gives me pointers all the time.

Question: What are your next projects, besides buffy the vampire slayer?

Marsters TV: Beating Level 7 in Die Hard for Playstation. I have nothing lined up so far. But I hope to get summer work.

Question: What is it like to work with Sarah?

Marsters TV: It's an absolute dream. I'm so glad you asked me this question. One of the reasons my job is so good is she sets the perfect example on set. She's always on time, she knows her lines, she's always pleasant. There are a lot of shows where the leads are not so pleasant. I adore her. Plus she can cry at the drop of a hat which amazes me. She can memorize her lines with photographic memory. My only problem is she can talk to me about a movie, 2 1/2 seconds before a scene and she can flip over like that, but I have trouble.

Question: James: have you ever wondered what you would be doing right now if you never started acting?

Marsters TV: I started acting at 4 so that never really occurred to me. Love of acting and vanity have kept me from doing very very stupid things. I've only done moderately stupid things. If it hadn't been for acting I don't know. Shoe sales.

Question: BillyRubenstein: Will Spike ever get his own show?

Marsters TV: I have heard everyone talk about this except the one guy who can make it happen. Joss Whedon. I'm not holding my breath. I'm hoping he'll hire me for my next project. Spike the Vampire Slayer Slayer. Every week a new chosen one is born.

Question: Is ole' Spike ever going to be the big bad bat again?

Marsters TV: Hmm.. I'm on the need to know basis guys, which means I don't know much. What I do know is everything turns on it's head. Last season I had a damn chip in my head, so I'm really hoping changes. But frankly they might have to kill me soon thereafter, so it might be a mixed blessing.

Question: Do you see another Spike/Buffy/Reilly love triangle in your character's future?

Marsters TV: No because I don't think Spike really likes Riley in that way, after all.

Question: IF U COULD MEET A HISTORICAL FIGURE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Marsters TV: Edmund Keane. Cause he is the preeminent actor of his day. He kept the queen waiting two hours to have sex before his performance.

Question: Do you play any type of sports?

Marsters TV: No never got into organized sports especially. I always got kicked off the team. I broke the star soccer player's ankle one. I just do a lot of roller blading and free weights now.

Question: hi. what is the weirdest thing a fan has ever done to you, or did to try to get your attention? Marsters TV: When I went to London, 15 minutes into the gig, a personal appearance, a 65 year old British lady asked me to turn around. I did. She asked me to bend over. I turned around and asked why. She told me her friend wanted to feel my ass. I was in Rome and in a generous mood, and the 80 year old women told me in her sweetest voice you can imagine..."Now clench." Other than that it's been pretty cool.

Question: James, how did it feel to work with Julia again? The two of you have as much chemistry as Buffy and Angel.

Marsters TV: Thank you and wonderful to work with Juliet again. She brings a level of dedication that brings my acting up. She pays attention to the inner life of the character, so that when we're working, we never really drop out of the scene. Look for her on Angel. I think she's filming now.

Question: James-You are loved by so many women. How do you react to all the adoration?

Marsters TV: It's a cross but I must bear it.

Question: James what cd is in your player right now?

Marsters TV: Morphine. Blink 182, Peanuts Christmas Special music, Miles Davis, Nirvana, and John Lee Hooker.

Question: I was wondering if you had any tattoos? If so what are they of and where are they at?

Marsters TV: No. I'm not adverse to them, but I haven't had one yet. I think there cool and all. Thought about getting a piercing. On my left eyebrow.

Question: james, what was your first acting role and how old were you?

Marsters TV: I was 9 years old, attempting the role of Eeyore. I wanted the role of Pooh, but that denied me that. I think that I brought the existential angst of the character. I think that I did justice to the myth and legend.

Question: What's your fave quote as Spike?

Marsters TV: My memory of doing Spike is blearily trying to get the lines right. The moment I do, they say cut and move on. I barely remember where the lines from an episode come from. Sad but try. Especially with Buffy. Cause the story arcs go the whole season, they're not individual stories. It's like that with most actors on tv.

Question: Danny: Do you ever check fan sites or message boards?

Marsters TV: I got taken online with a friend at a coffee shop. I got kicked out after 5 minutes. Something about swear words. I don't want you guys to give me a big head, so I have to be careful with that stuff.

Question: Hi James! First I have to say that you are a really amazing actor. Now for my question- How are you liking the direction that Spike is taking this season with the whole "loving" Buffy thing, and were you ever expecting something like this to happen?

Marsters TV: Well, I always knew that if you were kissing Buffy or hitting Buffy, you'd be in the center of that show. So I played an attraction to her in from the beginning even if it wasn't written. But I don't think anyone noticed. But I have a sense that that whole Spike/Buffy thing is going to make me miserable for a while. Nobody has told me if I'm really in love with her or if I had a really good dream. I mean no of us are above a dream or two about Buffy you know.

Question: Do you watch yourself on TV? What do you think about your acting? I personally love it!!!!

Marsters TV: I pick apart the way I look mercilessly. I usually pause the videotape when I look really good or really bad. I like my acting more and more. Because it's getting simpler. I feel this season, I'm finally starting to get it.

Question: James do you get any say in what happens to Spike as a character?

Marsters TV: None. Zero. Goose egg. Nada. I am not paid for my writing skills. I'm hired to wear the hair and a smirk in the right way. And to have fun.

Question: Does James have a girlfriend?

Marsters TV: James is negotiating the waters of singlehood. But I'm having a lot of fun.

Question: what was your reaction when you heard you were going to be part of buffy?

Marsters TV: I didn't even pretend to be cool. Joss called me personally at home. and I was jumping up and down and gibbering like a monkey.

AOLJanaM: Did you watch the show before you got the part?

Marsters TV: I did. I watched it after I got the audition. I almost turned the audition down, but then watched the show that night. And got actually really nervous cause I wanted it so bad.

Question: If it were your choice, how would you change Spike's wardrobe?

Marsters TV: LOL.. What needs to change? Maybe some more punk stuff though. Maybe some more metal on the belt. Maybe a nice chain around the neck. I'd like to spike my hair out actually. If any of that sounds good, watch the show tonight.

Question: How did you get the role of spike? How can you relate that to yourself?

Marsters TV: It was one of a 100 auditions that you go on as an actor in LA. 99.5% of the time you don't get it. Usually you get it when you're right for it. And for some reason, I just decided to unleash at the audition. They made me do it in a Southern accent and in an English accent. Later when I auditioned with Juliet who was precast I just climbed all over her. And they loved it. Spike and I are both romantics. We both have a pretty good temper, but mine tends not to be so funny as Spike's. Maybe my anger and Joss' humor is the combination where Spike lives. But by far, most of the affects of the character, comes from the writing. Spike is very clearly Spike on the page, before I ever touch him. And we both have bitchin blond hair.

AOLJanaM: Thanks for joining us tonight James. Any closing comments?

Marsters TV: Thank you. This is fun as always. And everybody has just got to watch. So the numbers come in big on this episode and they don't stake me. See you tonight.

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