A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Charisma Carpenter considers herself to be completely different from her character on BTVS, Cordelia Chase. Charisma explains that her unusual first name came from a "tacky bottle of Avon perfume from the 1970's." The actress's birthday is July 23, although she keeps the exact year of her birth a secret. She attended three high schools: Gorman Catholic High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, Bonita High School in Bonita, California, and finally graduated from Chula Vista High School, the school of the creative and performing arts. She has trained in dancing and gymnastics. Charisma was an aerobics instructor during her school years. She worked as a Charger Girl for the 1991 San Diego Chargers. She was discovered by casting agents while waiting tables at the Mirabelle on Sunset restaurant in L.A. She broke into the acting scene with several television commercials. She eventually guest-starred on the international hit Baywatch as the object of Hobie's desire. Charisma appeared in the stage production of No, No Nanette. Her most recent role before BTVS was that of Ashley Green on the now-cancelled NBC drama Malibu Shores. Jack Nicholson is Charisma's favorite actor, while her favorite actresses are Holly Hunter and Anne Heche. Legends of the Fall tops her movie list. During her spare time,she enjoys rollerblading, hiking, rock climbing and playing with Sydney, her golden retriever. Regarding her character on BTVS, Cordelia Chase, Charisma states, "I'm nothing like her at all -- except that like her, I do go after things I want. Not as aggressively, though!"

"A cryptic guy with a message" is how Boreanaz describes his character, Angel in the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Boreanaz, 27, graduated from Ithaca College in New York and announced he wanted to pursue a career in acting. His father, a weather forecaster in Philadelphia got in the car with him and the two of them spent a week driving to Los Angeles. His sister Beth is a production coordinator for the Rosie O'Donnell Show and his sister Bo is a costume designer whose work can be seen in Escape from L.A. and Barton Fink, among others. Prior to Buffy, Boreanaz guest starred on Married... With Children and Men Don't Lie, as well as has appeared in several films, including Best of the Best II and Aspen Extreme. As with all actors, he's also been seen parking cars at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, handing out towels at a gym, and doing commercials from time to time.  "It's definitely the biggest thing I've done so far," says Boreanaz. The agency resume lists some of Boreanaz's special skills as dialects (NY, London, German, Italian), basketball, baseball, football, bungee jumping, tennis, skiing, and harmonica.