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At this past Dallas Comic Con (Jan. 30, 2010), I was lucky enough to snag a few minutes with the gorgeous actress, Charisma Carpenter. Carpenter is most known for her role as Cordelia Chase in Joss Whedon’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”. She has guest starred on other television series, including “Veronica Mars”, “Charmed”, and most recently “Legend of the Seeker”. Carpenter’s next film is action-star packed, “The Expendables” with Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, and more. She plays Lacy, the girlfriend of Jason Statham’s character. Here’s the transcription of our conversation.

SciFiMafia: Are you a big sci-fi/fantasy fan?

Carpenter: I’ve become one, for my son’s sake.

SciFiMafia: [laughs] What is he into?

Carpenter: I’m trying to get him into this and be a fan-boy, but to no avail so far. I’ve collected most everyone’s autograph hoping that he’d have appreciation for it, but it’s kinda lost on him still. He’s young.

SciFiMafia: He’s… seven?

Carpenter: Yes, he’s gonna be.

SFM: Well, he’ll grow into it I’m sure.

Carpenter: I hope so. I hope he appreciates it. You know, he has Adam West’s signature, Sean Astin,… I have everybody … like so many!

SFM: He’s surrounded. It’ll be like osmosis!

Carpenter: I hope so! If I were to put [them] all on a wall, his wall would be covered with signed photographs.

SFM: How awesome! I can’t think of a better way to grow up.

Carpenter: None of me though.

SFM: Awww. Don’t say that!

Carpenter: Yeah, it’s true!

SFM: Well, you’ve had quite a few notable roles in the sci-fi/fantasy genre what do you find in these characters that is a good fit for you? How do you choose these roles?

Carpenter: You know, I don’t think anyone anticipated Buffy to be a scifi … or for it to appeal … it’s not like space travel, like your typical Trekkie stuff. But I guess if it’s supernatural in some way or a special ability I guess it appeals. I didn’t intentionally seek it out, but I think it has opened my eyes personally to be involved with scifi. I think the fans are awesome and loyal and good and if there’s more to do with scifi stuff, then I’m certainly more inclined to look at it than not look at it. I mean, it would be a bigger influence on me.

SFM: What kind of role would you want if you had your pick of all the roles no matter what genre?

Carpenter: To be honest with you, I’m a mom and I would love to just do half hour sitcoms and do movies that are good with well-written women characters.

SFM: Would you gravitate more towards children as an audience because you’re a mom?

Carpenter: No, I mean it would be great to do voice-overs of an animated series and I had auditioned for that stuff a lot, but whatever works!

SFM: That sounds like so much fun- to be an animated character.

Carpenter: [Agrees]

SFM: Do you prefer working on TV or movies?

Carpenter: I’m familiar with TV and I like the pace of TV, but I don’t have a lot of experience with movies yet. I have a really big feature [The Expendables] coming out and I think it’s real exciting. I’m terrified of seeing me on that big screen.

SFM: Oh, you’re going to look beautiful!

Carpenter: Well, maybe, I don’t know! It’s scary. The screen is so big and you can see everything. Like Sylvester Stallone was teaching me that you can’t move your eye-line a lot… it’s just things that on TV you don’t have to consider.

SFM: It’s a different scale that you have to get used to…

Carpenter: You have to be in your face, … every fly-away, … It’s so… [sighs] more outwardly conscientious than I’m used to.

SFM: Speaking of “The Expendables”, do you get to kick ass in this film?

Carpenter: Noooo… [slightly annoyed/ disappointed]

SFM: Argh! I was SO hoping to see you toting a big gun or something!

Carpenter: No, I’m on a motorcycle though!

SFM: Well, who was the awesomest to work with on “The Expendables”. It’s like an A-list of action stars.

Carpenter: Stallone. It was very surreal to be working with him.

SFM: Changing subjects real quick, how is working with Joss Whedon as opposed to other directors? Like, is his creative process significantly different?

Carpenter: I don’t know what his process is. I love it when he directs though because even though I had seven years of doing Cordelia, if he came to direct an episode, usually he probably wrote it, but he’d also has another take on it- like a thought about it that might put a twist on how you might say something or the intention behind what you’re saying. He’d put something in my ear and I’d go “Oh my God, I didn’t even think of that.” And he’ll keep doing it until you get it right which I really love. And he takes the time. He’s a good director because he’s actor-driven, into performance, and he really cares about stories. So, to get the writer and the creator to direct is optimum.

SFM: Lastly, I’m a costumer and seeing all the wonderful roles that you’ve had, what was your favorite costume?

Carpenter: [with no hesitation at all] The Mord Sith from “Legend of the Seeker”.

SFM: It looks uncomfortable, but you looked fabulous!

Carpenter: It was painful, but it was amazing craftsmanship. Amazing craftsmanship.

SFM: Did they have to sew you into that?

Carpenter: It’s all custom-[made]. Like I had seams from the top of my arch to around my heel… like stuff you never even have to think about. They were all from “Lord of the Rings”, the seamstress and stuff. It was a factory. It was amazing.

SFM: “Legend of the Seeker” is filmed in New Zealand, right?

Carpenter: Yeah, it was awesome!

SFM: I’m totally envious that you got to go there!

Carpenter: Yeah, it’s a great benefit of being an actress.

Let me just say how wonderful it was to meet Charisma in person. She’s cordial and very approachable. Thank you again, Charisma, for your time at Dallas Comic Con!

Charisma Carpenter will always be associated with Cordelia Chase, the role she played on both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, but in the six years since then she has done noteworthy work on shows like Veronica Mars, Charmed, CSI, Big Shots, Greek, and Legend of the Seeker. She stars in tonight’s Syfy original movie House of Bones and has a role in the upcoming all-star cast action film The Expendables.

Al Norton: I want to start by telling you that in the years I’ve been doing interviews the biggest response I’ve gotten from male friends and co-workers was when I dropped your name this morning.

Charisma Carpenter: Really? Still? After all these years? That makes my day.

Al Norton: What was it about House of Bones that appealed to you?

Charisma Carpenter: I liked the idea of doing the first original movie since the network became Syfy. I like the genre but this one was more straightforward and gory. I liked it.

Al Norton: While the made-for-the-network movies are always entertaining, some are a bit, or a lot, more cheesy than others. How do you make sure the projects you choose is going to be on the right side of that line?

Charisma Carpenter: To be honest with you I have no control in how it ends up. There are so many components that go in to making a movie that as an actress the only thing I have control over is me and how I perform. The sad part about this film is that it was the fastest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was like doing an episode of Angel; it was that short. It had special effects, gags, elaborate make up…it was just a big enchilada and sometimes there just isn’t enough time. The producers are looking at their watch, they’re losing money, things are taking too long.

I don’t think House of Bones is really my movie. I think the standout of the movie is Corin Nemec; he got all the best lines (laughing).

Al Norton: Is part of the fun of doing a movie with a lot of special effects that you have to watch it when it’s on to see how it all turned out?

Charisma Carpenter: That’s probably the biggest nightmare (laughing). It’s hard because you are putting your trust in people you don’t know that well. When you are working with Joss Whedon, with people who have done this time and time again, it’s much easier. The only element I knew on this project were the people at Syfy and so I really took a leap of Faith. The waiting to see how it turns out is never the fun part. I will watch it Saturday at 9 pm with the rest of the audience.

Al Norton: Do you watch Ghost Hunters or any other of the ghost shows that are all over cable these days?

Charisma Carpenter: I have seen some of those. I have to admit, I get sucked in really quickly.

Al Norton: This question is right out of Cheesy Interviewing 101 but I have to ask…

Charisma Carpenter: …Do I believe in paranormal?

Al Norton: That was perfect.

Charisma Carpenter: Yes, I do believe the paranormal exists. Do I think there could be a house made out of bones that eats people? No (laughing). I do believe that it’s possible that there are spirits that are not rested, energy that can be trapped somewhere that can be harmful.

Read the rest of the interview HERE