Nearly 25 years ago, a new heroine emerged and took the television landscape by storm. It was none other than Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar. She brought humor, style, and some serious ass-kicking to battle against the many forces of darkness that plagued her beloved town of Sunnydale inBuffy the Vampire Slayer.
The showblended supernatural horrorwith themes of feminism and immediately garnered acclaim. Over the years, Buffy has developed a devoted cult following and established Gellar as a symbol of female empowerment.
However, as the old saying goes, there is no destiny but which we make ourselves. Gellar’s iconic turn as Buffy nearly went to someone else back in the day. Creative mastermind Joss Whedon was taking auditions from a number of big-name actresses, all of whom were eager to personify the Chosen One. He had a clear vision for the complex and multi-faceted vampire slayer, but finding the perfect person to bring Buffy to life wasn’t easy. Of all the names that came close to claiming the role, Whedon picked Gellar to come back and audition once again.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
To this day, it is impossible to imagine another talented actress slipping on Buffy’s jacket instead of Sarah Michelle Gellar. Regardless, it is interesting to know who came closest to owning the career-defining part. Four favorite actresses nearly brought in the same firepower as Gellar, but were bested. The rest were chosen to play other roles inBuffy the Vampire Slayer. Here’s a detailed look at the top contenders.
Katie Holmes
Katie Holmesfirst came into prominence in the teen dramaDawson’s Creek, which ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2003. With her girl-next-door charm and ability to act naturally, she brought to life the chirpy and emotionally complex Joey Potter. Around the same time, Holmes also started to show her dramatic chops in movies likeTeaching Mrs. Tingle,Wonder Boys, andThe Gift. Later, she starred in Christopher Nolan’sBatman Beginsas Rachel Dawes, a role that got her Best Supporting Actress nomination.
She Turned Down the Role to Finish High School
It is no surprise that before all the stardom, whenBuffy the Vampire Slayerwent looking for its titular heroine, Holmes was among those considered. While she would have been appealing for the challenging role of Slayer,PopSugarreported that Holnes turned down the role and chose to finish high school instead. Either way, things worked out really well for her, and she has an illustrious career of her own, both in film and on television.
Natasha Lyonne
A New York City native,Natasha Lyonnehad already established herself as a raw and talented artist with her distinctive raspy voice and fearless sense of humor. Her'90s appearancesincludedEveryone Says I Love You,Slums of Beverly Hills, andBut I’m a Cheerleader. Though still young, she displayed nuance and vulnerability beyond her age and went on to appear inOrange is the New Blackas Nicky.
Lyonne is known to throw herself completely into her roles, so it is easy to see why she was considered able enough to handle the multidimensional character of Buffy. In a2013 interview with Entertainment Weekly, she revealed,
“I remember after the Woody Allen movie [Everyone Says I Love You], The WB was really eager to have me join the network. They were giving me scripts forBuffy,Dawson’s Creek. … I remember going to see my mother after Slums of Beverly Hills. She was like, ‘I told you to doBuffy.’ Incidentally, I think Sarah Michelle Gellar is all-natural in that department.”
She Didn’t Want to Commit toBuffy the Vampire Slayerat 16
While Lyonne would have brought a refreshing look to the Whedonverse, she simply did not want to commit to a series at 16. Sadly, audiences will never experience that new side of Buffy through her eyes. But Natasha took the missed opportunity as an important positive development. Recently, she has been treating fans to countless roles including Nadia Vulvokov inRussian Doll, a mystery drama she created herself, andRian Johnson’sPoker Face.
Related:10 Actors Who Were on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Before They Became Famous
Charisma Carpenter
A particularly familiar face,Charisma Carpenterplayed Sunnydale mean girl Cordelia Chase inBuffy the Vampire Slayerand its spin-off seriesAngel. The role really set pop culture ablaze because Cordelia was stylish, a little troubled, self-centered, the queen bee with a sentimental side who stole hearts of the 90s’ audiences. The supernatural drama helped her make a name for herself in the empowering genre and Carpenter went on to star inCharmedandVeronica Mars.
A Top Contender Who Went on to Play Cordella
However, when the original audition process forBuffy the Vampire Slayerbegan, Charisma was a top contender for the titular role and inversely, Sarah Michelle Gellar was auditioning for the role of Cordelia Chase. Back then, Whedon must have seen something in both the stars because ultimately, their roles were reversed. It would have been intriguing to see Carpenter put her own spin on the iconic character, but with her portrayal of Cordelia, she still managed to leave an indelible mark on the Buffyverse.
Selma Blair
Her blend of snarky humor and hidden wounds in films likeCruel Intentions(where she starred against Gellar) andHellboyhad enthralled audiences in the late ’90s. Naturally, Whedon figuredSelma Blairwould be an outstanding addition to the Buffyverse. Her clever wit and knack for playing badass roles was magical, but back in 2018, Blairlet her Instagram followersknow that she auditioned for Buffy but “did not even come close.”
A Major “What-If”
While Selma’s take on the Chosen One remains limited to the land of “what ifs,” sheshowcased her talent and skillsin the industry in hits likeLegally BlondeandThe Sweetest Thing. Her incredible screen presence is testament to her ability to convey emotions profoundly.
Additional Close Calls
A Few Early Considerations
While not even making the final four,several other accomplished talentshad nearly taken the role of Buffy.Mercedes McNab, known for her later role as Harmony Kendall onBuffyandAngel, auditioned for the role. Her comedic timing and skill at portraying witty characters were impressive, but Whedon passed. Meanwhile, the ever-so-versatileJulie Benz, who later charmed audiences with her appearance as Rita Bennett onDexter(a role that won her a Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role), also suggested she was capable of handling the complex role of Buffy. She got cast as Darla instead.
Two other names in the running wereElizabeth Anne AllenandJulia Lee, who later got other roles as Amy Madison and Chantarelle/Lily Houston, respectively. The former was a recurring witch inBuffy the Vampire Slayer. While they missed out on defining Buffy, each contender displayed their own kind of depth and vulnerability in the show. Clearly, Joss Whedon had a picture of who he wanted to cast Buffy as, and the missed opportunity left the role in the stronger and more capable hands of Sarah Michelle Gellar.
