About the Future of Buffy
By Melissa J. Perenson (Science Fiction Weekly Interview at scifi.com)

Since it first became clear that demons and vampires were on the hunt in Sunnydale, Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) has been a vital part of the quest for good to reign over evil in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Under the guise of Sunnydale High's librarian, the academic Giles was Buffy's Watcher and mentor.

Logic defined a lifespan to Giles' role in the Scooby Gang - after all, Buffy is all grown up now, and has to make it on her own - and earlier this season, in the episode "Tabula Rasa," Head left the show to be with his family on the other side of the pond. But that doesn't mean that Head is finished with Buffy just yet. We caught up with the actor from his home in Bath, England, to get his thoughts on Buffy's past success, Giles' character, and what he's up to now.

What are your thoughts on the direction Giles took in the later seasons?

Head: My character went the way I kind of wanted to take him. It was interesting that, at a time where I was feeling slightly outside of the group, because I was feeling the need to go home, basically, I found myself on the outside looking in. I'd talk to Joss [Whedon, series creator], and it was very interesting how he would then mirror that in my character. Giles' midlife crisis was very much about feeling he wasn't communicating and feeling like an outsider. I never did feel as an outsider on the set; I've always felt very much part of the family. And it really is a family; it's extraordinary that not only do we all still talk to each other, but that we're actually friends, and we enjoy each other's company and meet off of the set.

Looking back on the early episodes, did it take long for you to settle in to your role as Giles?

Head: No. It's in your body. It's in your being. It doesn't take much to tap into.

Did your character's journey resonate with you at all?

Head: I think Giles' journey has been fascinating. I think that's what made it such a joy to play. The character was never static; you never knew what his deal was. And you still don't know what his deal is. The conflicts I was given to play are not soapy, they're not silly things or huge story arcs.

What's it been like working with Buffy's ensemble cast over the years?

Head: I've always had a wonderful time on the set, because they're all really wonderful actors, and the casting has always been excellent. I always enjoy scenes I do with Sarah Michelle. We have a great deal of respect for each other, and they have a real resonance, which I think shows on the screen. When I watch our scenes, you can always feel that here's a real strength there, a real bond. And doing scenes with Alyson [Hannigan] - fantastic. Nicky [Brendon], James [Marsters] ... they're all rare talents. They really are. And to get that much talent in the show - and to keep it constant and consistent - I think is a remarkable feat.

How does Buffy stand out from other projects you've been involved in?

Head: It's really good television, and it really stretches the bounds of television. Joss is a really interesting director, writer and producer. He has a great deal of kudos - there's an enormous amount of respect for him in the industry - but I feel it's a great shame that [Buffy] hasn't found its way to some kind of award for him. Because he really deserves it. He pushes the boundaries. "The Body" is the best thing I've ever seen about death and dealing with it, and how different people deal with it, and asking the questions people ask, or that people feel, but can't ask. It's just a beautiful way of handling it.

Is Giles going to make a return visit to Sunnydale anytime soon?

Head: Maaaaybe. Maybe. I'm not saying nothin' [laughs]. As I say, the door is always open. And Joss has various plans and things afoot. But I'm not saying nothing.

What have you been up to since moving back home to England?

Head: I did a series over here called Manchild. I think, bizarrely, they're airing three episodes of it in America, and then they're going to pull it and they're going to reintroduce it and do a big push in August. It's a very funny series, about men in their 40s to 50s, kind of living out their fantasies. We all have independent means. So basically [we] have all the toys that men apparently think they want. I'm still gently promoting the CD album I did with George Sarah, Music for Elevators.

As a musician, did you enjoy the chance to do this season's "Once More, With Feeling" - better known simply as Buffy: The Musical?

Head: It's a wonderful piece. And it brought back for me the concept of musicals. It was so cool, and it took all of the things that are wrong with musicals and addressed them. And it took all of the things that could have gone wrong with Buffy as a musical and addressed them. It didn't shy away from anything. I had a whale of a time, because I was in my element. I used to hang around the studio after I'd done my takes, asking, "Who's coming in? Can I sit and wait for them?" [Laughs.]

What's the status of the Giles-centric Buffy spinoff that would air in the U.K.?

Head: It's still being talked about. Joss has been sideswiped. He had a series that he'd been thinking about for some time, and Fox just asked him at an opportune moment, does he have anything, and he had this space series called Firefly. But I believe the BBC has put in an order for six episodes. And I know that Joss has been working with Jane Espenson on a two-hour pilot. We've talked about it, and I've pitched two ideas that Joss has said he likes. It's really a question of [getting] certain things in place.

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