Charisma Carpenter: From Buffy Star to Podcast Host

Charisma Carpenter is currently promoting her podcast, "The B**ch Is Back!," while reflecting on her impactful career, particularly her beloved role as Cordelia Chase in the supernatural horror series Buffy The Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel. Carpenter, who exited Angel in 2003, has openly discussed how playing Cordelia for nearly a decade profoundly shaped her into the person she is today, fostering a sense of personal power and outspokenness.

Carpenter has also been a vocal advocate, having accused Buffy creator Joss Whedon of fostering a "toxic" work environment and abusing his power in 2021. Her statements aligned with those of other actors who spoke out about alleged "abuse" and "unacceptable behavior" on set. Despite past hesitations to return to the "Buffyverse" due to these experiences, she recently participated in the Audible Original series Slayers in 2023.

Reflecting on her character's arc, Carpenter expressed that Cordelia's journey on Angel ended unjustly. She voiced hope for a potential inclusion in any future reboots, viewing it as a poetic and dream-like opportunity to revisit the character. Carpenter emphasized that embodying Cordelia allowed her to discover inner strength, enabling her to navigate personal challenges and ultimately speak out against her former showrunner.