Editing Buffy the Vampire Slayer (section)

===Casting===
[[Katie Holmes]] and [[Selma Blair]] were in the running for the role of Buffy in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eonline.com/ca/photos/34099/25-secrets-about-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-revealed |title=25 Secrets About Buffy the Vampire Slayer Revealed |website=E! Online |date=April 14, 2023 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> [[Natasha Lyonne]] was also considered for the role but declined it due to not wanting to commit to a series at the age of 16.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/natasha-lyonne-turned-down-buffy-lead-role/ |title=Poker Face's Natasha Lyonne Turned Down the Role of Buffy the Vampire Slayer |website=CBR |first=Michael |last=John-Day |date=April 21, 2023 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> Other actresses who originally auditioned for the role of Buffy and got other roles in the show include [[Julie Benz]] (Darla), [[Elizabeth Anne Allen]] (Amy Madison), [[Julia Lee (actress)|Julia Lee]] (Chantarelle/Lily Houston), [[Charisma Carpenter]] (Cordelia Chase) and [[Mercedes McNab]] (Harmony Kendall).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/buffy-vampire-slayer-actresses-almost-cast-charisma-carpenter/ |title=Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Actresses Who Almost Played Buffy Summers |website=Screen Rant |first=Kara |last=Hedash |date=March 9, 2020 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> [[Bianca Lawson]], who played [[Slayer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|slayer]] Kendra Young in season 2 of the show, originally auditioned for the role of Cordelia before Carpenter was cast in the role.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whatculture.com/tv/10-casting-what-ifs-from-buffy-the-vampire-slayer?page=2 |title=10 Casting 'What Ifs' From Buffy The Vampire Slayer |website=WhatCulture |first=James |last=Hanton |date=February 12, 2021 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref>

The title role went to [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]], who had appeared as Sydney Rutledge on ''[[Swans Crossing]]'' and [[Kendall Hart]] on ''[[All My Children]]''. At age 18 in 1995, Gellar had already won a [[Daytime Emmy Award]] for Outstanding Younger Leading Actress in a Drama Series.<ref name="smgawards">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001264/awards |title=Awards for Sarah Michelle Gellar |work=Internet Movie Database |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120220808/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001264/awards |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1996, she originally auditioned for the role of Cordelia. After watching her audition, Whedon asked her to come back in and audition for the lead role of Buffy.<ref name="smgauditions">Havens, pp. 35–36.</ref>

A talent agent spotted [[David Boreanaz]] on the sidewalk walking his dog.<ref name="autogenerated272">{{cite book |first1=Christopher |last1=Golden |first2=Nancy |last2=Holder |title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Watcher's Guide Vol. 1 |year=1998 |page=272}}</ref> He immediately contacted casting director Marcia Shulman, saying that he had found Angel.<ref name="autogenerated272"/>

[[Anthony Head|Anthony Stewart Head]] had already led a prolific acting and singing career<ref name="headimdb">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372117/ |title=Anthony Head |work=Internet Movie Database |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=September 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903031458/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372117/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but remained best known in the United States for a [[Gold Blend couple|series of twelve coffee commercials]] with [[Sharon Maughan]] for [[Nescafé|Taster's Choice]] [[instant coffee]].<ref>Golden & Holder, p. 210. "His long-lasting fame as the romantic and intriguing coffee guy is gradually being replaced by his new image as librarian in ''Buffy''."</ref> He accepted the role of [[Rupert Giles]].

[[Nicholas Brendon]], unlike other ''Buffy'' regulars, had little acting experience, instead working various jobs—including [[production assistant]], plumber's assistant, veterinary janitor, food delivery, script delivery, day care counselor, and waiter—before breaking into acting and overcoming his [[stuttering|stutter]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nickbrendon.com/biography/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530061536/http://nickbrendon.com/biography/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 30, 2012 |publisher=NickBrendon.com |title=Biography}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kappes |first=Serena |url=http://nickbrendon.com/2001/05/01/xander-slays-his-demon/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712203905/http://nickbrendon.com/2001/05/01/xander-slays-his-demon/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |title=Xander Slays His Demon |publisher=Nickbrendon.com, originally from People.com |date=May 2001}}</ref> He landed the role of [[Xander Harris]] following four days of auditioning.<ref>Golden & Holder, p. 199. Brendon said "Four days. That's fast."</ref> [[Ryan Reynolds]] was offered a undisclosed role, but declined due to his real-life experience in high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/no-regrets-for-canuck-actor-ryan-reynolds/article_ba8b683d-ed11-5ff9-8e54-b5e9b3c21280.html |title=No regrets for Canuck actor Ryan Reynolds |work=Toronto Star |date=February 12, 2008 |access-date=April 10, 2025}}</ref> [[Danny Strong]] also auditioned for the part, he later played the role of [[Jonathan Levinson]], a recurring character for much of the series run.

[[Alyson Hannigan]] was the last of the original six to be cast. Following her role in ''[[My Stepmother Is an Alien]]'',<ref name="hanniganimdb">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004989/ |title=Alyson Hannigan |work=Internet Movie Database |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814152944/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004989/ |url-status=live }}</ref> she appeared in commercials and supporting roles on television shows throughout the early 1990s.<ref name="hanniganimdb" /> In 1996, the role of [[Willow Rosenberg]] was originally played by Riff Regan for the unaired ''Buffy'' pilot, but Hannigan auditioned when the role was being recast for the series proper. Hannigan described her approach to the character through Willow's reaction to a particular moment: Willow sadly tells Buffy that her [[Barbie]] doll was taken from her as a child. Buffy asks her if she ever got it back. Willow's line was to reply "most of it". Hannigan decided on an upbeat and happy delivery of the line "most of it", as opposed to a sad, depressed delivery. Hannigan figured Willow would be happy and proud that she got "most of it" back. That indicated how she was going to play the rest of the scene, and the role, for that matter, and defined the character.<ref>Golden & Holder, p. 202.</ref> Her approach subsequently got her the role.