David Boreanaz: Changes

At a recent WB event at trendy Pasadena restaurant, we chatted with Angel star David Boreanaz. Now in it's third season, Angel has changed from a very dark piece to a mixture of humor, action and romance with a dark edge. David is changing too. He's gotten married, will be a dad and told us his feelings about the show and his personal life.

Teenhollywood: You signed up for Buffy and now Angel. Not much time for work in feature films. Does that bother you?

David: No. I work for what's going on. I don't look at it as television, film, theater. They're all different processes so I enjoy whatever is happening.

The gamut of my career will run in all facets as I progress. I'll end up in one place or another. I'm certainly not against doing features.

Teenhollywood: How do you think the Angel series has changed from the beginning?

David: It's progressed considerably. We were searching for what these characters were actually doing in the big city and in L.A. The second season we came across what the show probably really is. The third season is like the first but everything just fell into place from day one of Season 3. The characters are all strong, they each have their own identity and they're each going on their own paths, but all of those are going to the core.. Angel's salvation. We have the blessing of great writers and everybody who works on the show.

Teenhollywood: Are you going to do any voices on the Buffy animated show?

David: No. Joss (Whedon) came to me and said "We're doing this Buffy animated thing and you're more than welcomed to come down." I've been so tied up with work that it just hasn't happened.

Teenhollywood: What have you learned personally since you took this role?

David: That kindness is more than a loving word and to extend one's hand to your fellow workers and get through the day together. Shooting a television show can be very difficult and at times can really wear on you. If you keep reminding yourself that it is a job and you show up together as a team and as a whole, you can prevail.

Since I arrived on Buffy as a recurring character, I've grown considerably as a person with the help of my friends and family. Now I'm married and have a beautiful wife and child on the way. Life has been very good to me and I look at that as a reward in itself. I think when I am struggling on the show, trying to find something new every day, then it's more exciting for me to show up. Sometimes I set the bar high and I get frustrated with myself, but that's just the type of person that I am. Getting out of bed for anybody is hard and actually getting in your car, driving to work..Oh..wait, actually, I get picked up...(laughs).

Teenhollywood: Do you get to contribute to story ideas for the show?

David: There are certain things that we will say and do in real life that these guys (writers) will take on and say "Hey, that would be a very funny scene" or "That would work." You'll find it in the next script. When they allow you to do that, it opens things up to real-life experiences. I think it's a true, genuine moment that shines and that's a blessing to have.

Teenhollywood: Are Buffy and Angel ever going to get back together?

David: If you actually saw these two characters get back together, it would be so different. With what Buffy has gone through and Angel has done, it probably wouldn't even work.

Teenhollywood: Has having a baby on the show prepared you for being a real life dad?

David: Well (smiling), it's a little different. My son is not going to be in the environment that the child is in now. He won't have broadswords hanging in the cabinet. Working with a child every day for the past few months has been so rewarding, to have a little baby in your hands when you're doing a scene because it's so delicate. You can do a scene with a rubber doll and then when you put the actual baby in your hands, it changes everything.

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Interviewer and writer Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.