Charisma Carpenter plays Cordelia Chase on Angel. Her character began as a stuck-up snob halfway between completely rude and totally understanding on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As revealed in episodes of Buffy, her character has always been a really nice person but, she kept up the mean attitude for popularity's sake.
She dated Xander and slowly began to show a new side that no one had seen before. She became a part of the Scooby Gang, and while keeping some portion of her spoiled attitude, Cordelia willingly involved herself in deadly situations to help save the world. After high school graduation, she moved to L.A. to pursue an acting career. Her parents, in trouble with the government for money fraud left her penniless and alone, fending for herself.
Acting hasn't exactly been Cordelia's strongest talent, but she's pursued it with a passion. She met Angel in L.A., at a party and eventually came to work for him. The untimely, but heroic death of another co-worker, Doyle left Cordelia with visions. He was given them from the Powers That Be so that Angel would be made aware of those who needed his assistance. The visions began as something Cordelia despised, and the splitting migraine pain didn't do much to change that opinion. After an incident in which Cordelia was cursed with continuous visions, she came to realize that they're a part of her and she can help do good by having them.
Cordelia's life took another turn for trouble when she was accidentally sucked into another dimension, Pylea. She was enslaved at first, but her visions earned her the position of princess. Her friends came to rescue her, but they didn't leave until Cordelia had made some serious changes to the primal way of living in Pylea.
In season 3 the gang finds out that Cordelia's visions are taking are harder toll on her than they thought. Actually they're killing her. In "Birthday" Cordy passes out and and a demon approaches her astral self. He tells her if she continues having visions she will die. She accepts his offer to choose a different path and sees her life as the star of her own tv show. But, she starts to remember her old life and can't help but try to help the girl she saw in her last vision. Wanting to have her old life back, she requests to keep the visions. But, she has to be turned part demon in order to live. She accepts without hesitation and now her visions are a breeze.
Charisma traveled Europe after graduating from High School. When she came back to San Diego she worked to support herself through Jr. College. While waiting tables she was discovered by a commercial agent. She later appeared in over twenty commercials including a Secret antiperspirant that ran for 2 years.
On TV she started her career with a guest spot on Baywatch late to audition for Aaron Spelling and his NBC series, Malibu Shores. She then went on to get the role as Cordelia Chase on BTVS. Charisma is a very active in outdoor sports. Such as rollerblading, sky diving, hiking, rock climbing, running and horseback riding. She is a dancer and a former San Diego Charger Girl.