September 28, 2001

On the third season of "Angel," DAVID BOREANAZ learns a basic law of physics: actions -- both new and ancient -- have consequences as he explores the twists and turns of life -- or undeath -- in the City of the Angels.
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ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: What have you been up to?

DAVID BOREANAZ: I shot a movie in New York and Miami called, 'I'm with Lucy,' with MONICA POTTER, HENRY THOMAS and HAROLD RAMIS -- a romantic comedy. That was a great experience: a lot of fun, a lot of traveling. Monica was a very honest, great person, great crew.

ET: Where did you go?

DAVID: Besides New York and Miami, I went to Hawaii. I think every actor in Hollywood goes to Hawaii, so I went to Hawaii and I went to Philadelphia and spent time with my parents. I was in Salt Lake City, Utah. My girl, my woman -- JAIME BERGMAN -- is from Salt Lake.

ET: How do you like "7th Heaven" as a lead-in?

DAVID: Honestly, I don't really think about lead-ins and timeslots. I am happy to be on Monday nights. "Buffy" was on Monday nights when we first started. Everyone always asks, "How are you going to feel being separated from 'Buffy'?" I think we were separated after the first season of "Angel." We were trying to find a show, and we found it at the end of the first season. Crossovers are always tough to do, and now we can't because we are on a different network.

The addition of a new cast member -- AMY (ACKER) -- is going to be great. We are just excited. So the third season is a testimony to the sophomore season of the show. You kind of struggle and the third season is always uplifting and fun in a way. We really don't have much to hide. It is just going to open up the doors for us a little more.

ET: Where do you see it going?

DAVID: I wish I could tell you, but I can't. I know where it is going but....

ET: The general sense of it?

DAVID: It has touched on a more mature level with the fact that it deals with different kinds of crimes and adults and demons in the Los Angeles area, but I think it is dealing more with the inner strife of Angel's character and what he is going through. I think this season he is going to have somebody who is going to affect him in a way that he has never been affected before -- who will be very close to him, so it is going to be very family oriented.

ET: Does JOSS (WHEDON, director/writer/executive producer of "Angel") sit you down and tell you what was going to happen?

DAVID: I go in and get a sense of what is going to happen for the season and then I take it from there. I don't know episode by episode.

ET: Are there things he won't tell you?

DAVID: There are some surprises, but he is pretty much open and he always has been confident in all of the actors to take on the responsibility of keeping that information under wraps because that is what makes it fun television.

ET: So you are looking forward to "Angel" gaining its own following and not really being tied to "Buffy"?

DAVID: Well, I think after the first season they were two totally different shows. Sure the two shows worked together but, at the same time, I think we gained our independence the second season and it showed. There are a lot of people who watch "Angel" that don't watch "Buffy," and there are people who watch "Buffy" that don't watch "Angel." As far as trying to build it as a staple show, sure the challenge is there to survive being a solo show, but we're just out to make good episodes.

ET: Joss previously said he originally thought that "Angel" would be an anthology but it really didn't work out that way. Is it more fun, less fun, harder, or easier for you to be working with a show that is more than it started out to be in terms of having an ensemble cast? You had three regular cast members when you started and it was supposed to be more individual episodes than arcs.

DAVID: That's true. But what we found out as this show went on was people were really interested in Angel's past life, where this character came from, his history, so the arcs developed and got longer and larger.

ET: What did you think of the "Land of the Lost"?

DAVID: Pylea? I liked it. I thought it was interesting and refreshing to be outside -- to see his character be in the sun. But, I like working at night. Morning shoots are rough, I tell you. I am more of a night person.

ET: How do you think your character changed the most this year?

DAVID: He really battled his own bullshit and the baggage that he has carried around for a long time. He distanced himself from his fellow co-workers, and then he kind of got over that and decided to work as a team. I think this season the challenges will be more family oriented.

ET: In what sense do you relate to Angel?

DAVID: I think in anything that you do, you are going to have some kind of personal attachment to the stories or the episode. You take them as they come. I don't know. Angel represents something inside of me that I kind of pull out and use. It is kind of tough to answer without being there.

ET: Have you ever felt like an outsider?

DAVID: I guess all of us feel like an outsider at some point in their life, sure -- growing up as a kid, moving to a new city, trying to meet new friends, going into new environments. For me -- coming to Los Angeles, trying to find an agent -- all of that stuff makes you feel like an outsider. Trying to have your voice heard. It happens every day more than you think about.

ET: Now that you've done a few movies and can compare TV and film, after "Angel" is over, which would you like to do?

DAVID: We'll see what happens. I enjoy the whole process of it. Maybe get to do some directing and producing. I like the whole ensemble of the entertainment industry. I don't really prefer one more than the other -- to me they are both great. Whatever is meant to be is meant to be.
 

Quelle: Entertainment Tonight