Clare with Bring It On co-star, Eliza Dushku

Taking the knowledge of the stage and putting it to work for you on the screen is an easy one, but there are few skills that one can bring back to the stage from the hours of production experience on a television series. "I don't think I'll use any tactics," she explains, "any of the logistics from film and TV with theatre. When I work [in theatre] I don't even really pay that much attention to the blocking. It's so far out of the level of important and with film and TV that comes first. You have to be where you say you're going to be or the camera is going to screw up and you're going to waste money. Which is what it's all about in that side of things." There are comparable differences between stage and screen and the transition between the two can be daunting for some actors. Once having experienced it, most prefer the stage and the challenges it offers; a live audience with immediate genuine feedback, the continual run of a scene, and the opportunity to develop a character over a period of time while doing the same performance again and again.

Actors who have done both stage and film usually have a preference for one or the other, and always for different personal reasons. Clare's preference has to do with her familiarity with the medium. "I'm just beginning to feel comfortable with film," confides Clare. "Film and TV I kind of use as one term because there isn't any difference in actually shooting it, it's the other things that are different. In fact, Buffy was the best training ground I could have ever asked for to learn how to work in front of a camera because it was week in and week out; monologues, dialogue, special effects, stunts, everything all compiled into one show. I'm very thankful just on that aspect alone because now I feel comfortable in front of a camera where as when I first got the part, even though I'd done Bring It On [2000] and another movie [the independent film, Hangingaround (Ropewalk), released in 2001] I really didn't. I was still new to it, 'You want me to walk and hit a sandbag?' " she offers with a laugh, " 'With my foot? How am I supposed to do that?' "

It's not easy being a God! And when talking with Clare how can you not talk about Glorificus, "Most beauteous and supremely magnificent one!" according to her minion Dreg. Ironically, you could say the supernatural preceded Clare; while attending Delaware Hayes High School she worked on the school newspaper, aptly titled: The Talisman. We venture into the Buffy-verse to deconstruct Glory by beginning with the man behind the red dress. Doug Petrie, one of Buffy's more prolific writers, was mostly responsible for Glory's dialogue as, well known to Buffy fans, for the majority of Faith's [Eliza Dushku]. A good friend of Clare's, Eliza also starred with her in the feature film comedy Bring it On.

As Glory, Buffy's Season 5 Big Bad!

What Doug gives the actors to work with, in terms of script, is amazing and what Clare was able to accomplish with that was even more outstanding. But when she would receive these scripts, wherein each week she was expected to do, as she put it, 'a montage of monologues', and some great one-liners: 'Sunnydale's got too many demons and not enough retail outlets', the one thing that would go through her mind was dread! "Right," she laughs and remembers saying, " 'Oh Lord, I better start practicing!' That's exactly what I was thinking. You know, I recruited everyone I knew to be my rehearsal partners because there's no way I could have shown up without having rehearsed. For that I just had to rehearse on my own and never expect to do it with the director, with whomever, the other characters. But I would have my friends come over to my apartment and be like, 'Alright, now we're gonna pretend this is this and that,' which was actually good because then when I got there for the blocking of the scene I felt clear to throw out ideas because I felt like I'd already kind of dissected the material."

One thing Clare wishes is that she had been more privy to the early stages of the character's development; the depth of the character, where she was going and what she was all about. Perhaps the producers and writers didn't quite know where Glory would take them but having that knowledge upfront, Clare might have played her differently. Although considering where she did go, Clare's performance was complete and memorable. During the annual Buffy Posting Board Party of 2001, Doug had commented that what Clare brought to the character helped to develop Glory as well. It wasn't a case of, 'Here's what's on the page and this is what you're expected to do and nothing more.' There was an open rapport with Doug that allowed Clare to add her own personal touches and depth to make this evil adversary of Buffy just that much more endearing to fans. "That was cool because I did feel like I'd do something and then the next week I'd get the script, I'd be like, 'ah ha, uh huh,' " she laughingly recalls.

Although Clare was unable to attend this year's Posting Board Party she was present in 2001 and it marked her first experience of encountering fans en mass. But unlike some of her co-stars before her who may have gotten a cooler reception at first due to character arcs (Willow's long-time boyfriend Oz was replaced by girlfriend Tara [Amber Benson] and a never-before-seen sister of the Slayer Dawn [Michelle Trachtenberg] appeared), Clare's Glory had no problem with fan acceptance and was a rather hip villain during Season 5. After all, who wants to offend a God. "I was totally honored," she sincerely replies, "and just felt very grateful that everyone liked the show and that people were receptive to my character because coming in--in the fifth season--I was really scared to do that. Everybody had been established for a long time." As witness, fans continually surrounded Clare during the evening and gave her much deserved praise.

Recalling some of the more humorous happenings of the night, she indulges Julie and myself by telling us a story; the security was high and the manhunt was on but Clare was left holding the conversation. "Well it's funny," Clare begins, "because they assigned this Buffy fan who happened to be a Secret Service Agent (who she believes is now guarding Jenna Bush). He showed up and he was like, 'I want to volunteer my services,' they're like, 'Okay, stay with her.' Well of course then, my friends who I brought, take him aside and they're quizzing him about the FBI and Secret Service and I'm like, 'Hello!?' " she laughs.

Gracing the pages of Maxim, it's all Clare

A most impressive quality about Clare: is her depth as an individual. She doesn't rely on her acting career alone and her personal interests far exceed the fulfillment that Hollywood tends to endow on their up and coming talent. There's always the 'what if' questions; what if Clare had found dancing to be her true love of performance, what if she hadn't found her niche in acting. What profession would she find herself in today? The answer might just surprise you! In addition to her studies in the Arts, Clare also has a major in Psychology and a minor in Special Education. "I probably would have been a Special-Ed teacher. I always enjoyed - I worked at camps for 'special needs' kids growing up and actually still do so it's just something I feel I'm good at and I like. I could easily see myself doing that if I weren't acting, she confesses.

Of course this set us off-topic but in a direction to a few more laughs that truly reveal the charm which Clare possesses. Did Psych 101 help you with Glory? "I tried to forget all the Psychology 101," she admits laughing. "I know, you're like, 'I don't need to analyze my life every second of the day.' " You get too over analytical. "Exactly and then I'm like, 'I'm gonna drive myself nuts.' " No, then you realize you are nuts. "Yeah, you're like, 'I'm doomed!' " Well Clare is certainly doomed, doomed to have a very long and enlightening career. Be sure to see her in the upcoming film: The Rules of Attraction, set for release this September and co-starting James Van Der Beek and Jessica Biel. She'll also be touring the UK this May to meet and greet her fans starting with the Starfury Convention: Bad Girls & Wild Boys , May 3-5, once was not enough!

And for all the info on the Clare Kramer UK Tour 2002, May 7-13, visit the Starfury website!

CityofAngel.com would like to Gloriously thank Clare Kramer for allowing us a part of her busy schedule and for such a wonderful time.

Special thanks to Allison Dolan for all her timely assistance.

Continued thanks to Titan Publishing and Starfury's Sean Harry for squeezing us in.

If you have any comments for CityofAngel.com regarding this 'Spotlight' feature, we would love to hear from you. Just email us at: comments@CityofAngel.com