An Interview with Emma Caulfield Ford from ‘Slayers: A Buffyverse Story’

Emma Caulfield Ford as Anya Jenkins & Anyanka in ‘Slayers: A Buffyverse Story’. (Photo Courtesy of Audible.)

Emma Caulfield Ford has enjoyed quite the amazing career as an actor, for she has appeared in countless iconic franchises over the years, such as Fear the Walking Dead, and she’s even taken part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe through her work in WandaVision. But she is of course, best known for her work in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where she played the character Anya and well… it just so happens that Emma has returned to the franchise courtesy of the new Audible Original, Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, and we had the distinct honor of sitting down with Emma to discuss her return to the world of Buffy.

John Betancourt: What attracted you to take part in this project?

Emma Caulfield Ford: Amber (Benson), really. Yeah, Amber is a dear friend of mine. I, I just love her. She has one of those amazing gifts that came from working on the show all those years ago. You know, she's, she's such a fun writer, and she's so smart. And she has such a great take on, on just keeping things cohesive, and the overall arcs and the messages. She's just you know, she's… she's just great. She was like, “So, I have this project. And so, how do you feel about returning to this world? And I was like, “Nope, no, thanks. No interest, she died.” And I asked to be killed off. So, I'm quite happy. I'm fine. You know, there were just… there was a lot of great memories. And there was so much that was so great about that time, back in the day, and then there were there were, you know, scars that are like, oof, I don't… like I'm cool. Like, I don't need to go back.

Then she talked about a little more. And it didn't, it really didn't take much. And I was like, “I'll do it. I'll do it for you. I'm gonna do it.” I meant it and I’m like, “If this was anybody else coming to me do it. I would never touch this with a 10-foot pole. But I trust you and I love you. And so, let's go.” And I think a year passed or something. I was like, “Is this ever gonna happen?” She's like, “It is, it is, it is… it's just a process. I'm like, “Cool, let me know, whatever.” And then, you know, it happened. And it was incredibly fun. I mean, I can't say that enough. Like it's the best. One of the best personal experiences -- professional experiences, and personal experiences I've had. It was great.

John Betancourt: I heard a lot of passion in your voice and the voices of the rest of the cast, as this story played out, and I’m curious what you enjoyed the most about working on this, that helped to bring out such passion?

Emma Caulfield Ford: Well, I love all the people in that room, first of all, and I never got to work with Juliet (Landau). And I said this to her, and I mean it completely, like kind of 100% sincere, being in the room with her while she's doing Drusilla, it’s like, “I pound for pound put you in a room with Meryl Streep. Any day.” Like I am -- anybody who knows me knows that I like I have a hero worship situation with Meryl Streep. I have since I was a child. I'm sure most actors do. You know, but I think I'm an alien in that way. But it was like, “No, dude. You're as good as Meryl Streep.” Like what the… I can’t swear, probably, but you know, it was it was thrilling. It was an absolute joy. It left me like just awestruck. I was like. “I'm not worthy to be in the same space with you. Oh my god, you're so good.” Also, working with James (Marsters), like I just love James. He's so fun to watch. He's so fun to work with.

It's like great. I get to be back in the room with James too. Like this is really interesting. Like Charisma (Carptenter)… too. There was just a lot there that was really tantalizing. And I just realized how much I like psychotically love doing voiceover. I was like, “I've had so much fun in this booth. It's so liberating to not have to worry about your face.” (Laughs) Like, no one cares what they look like right now. I don't have I don't have to like; I mean, I personally care. Like, I don't show up looking like garbage. And I try not to. But you know, it's just a, it's a whole other skill set. That was just so fun and challenging for me.

John Betancourt: Now, without spoiling anything, what are you most excited for audiences to experience with this story?

Emma Caulfield Ford: For me personally, like, as far as, as being in the Anya sphere, again, I suppose the variations of Anya? I did, I did a few voices. I’m a few characters. And getting them all together at the same time and, and recording all of those back like, fluidly, like we didn't break. Some it was like, go jump from that one to that one to that one. Back to that one. You know, for pages and pages. It was like running a race. It was very, very fun. So, when people obviously understand what I'm talking about when they're hearing it, they’ll be like, “Oh, okay!” And know that, you know, this was all happening in real time. Like we didn't break, there was no, like, do this character. Come back. Do these lines, come back. You know, they were… it just all was all done concurrently. So, it was It was exhilarating. Hopefully, it's fun for people. I haven't heard it. But damn, it was fun, for me.
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John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to your work on this project?

Emma Caulfield Ford: It's really just being a part of the collective awesomeness that is this group of people. It's what I'm most proud of. It's not something that for me, it's not like, “I'm proud of this particular moment. And this thing that I'm so proud of…” no, it's like, I'm just proud of the group. You know? It was just incredibly fun. It was just magical. I really, really hope we get to do that again. Really. As soon as possible!

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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