It makes me so happy to see how Sarah Michelle Gellar has embraced her Buffy legacy over the past few years. When Buffy was nearing the end, there were a lot of rumors about how difficult she had become, and how resentful she was of the show. Much of that may have been exaggerated, but as an adult I can understand how she may have felt at the time. 7 years is a long time to commit to one project. She started the show when she was still a teenager and it carried her through to adulthood. I imagine she may have started to fear her career was passing her by. A few movies here and there didn’t add up to much and at the time, television wasn’t viewed with the same respect and prestige as it is now. Actors feared being forever branded as their character, never able to break free. I can see why SMG wanted to move on from Buffy. There was no social media, no way to brand and promote herself outside of her work and her work labeled her as Buffy before it ever labeled her as Sarah. That being said, it warms my heart to know that the long lasting impact of the show does matter to her. It’s validating as a fan and as a woman to see that she understands the importance of the character she brought to life. She has become a passionate advocate for the legacy of Buffy and it’s really really wonderful to witness.
