by Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

Every so often it happens--an actor takes on a role for which there are almost zero expectations, and the TV gods turn it into a bona fide fan favorite: Dennis Franz's Sipowicz, Henry Winkler's Fonzie...David Boreanaz's Angel.

Created as a recurring character two years ago on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, bad boy Angel drew a raft of fan mail after just his first appearance.

Angel's following grew in leaps and bounds as the "good" vampire consummated his relationship with his beloved Buffy, unleashed an age-old curse and turned into a demonic, fanged creature.

No wonder the 244-year-old bloodsucker--Boreanaz is only 28 in real life--has been granted his own series, Angel, which airs on the WB right after Buffy on Tuesdays beginning October 5.

The Philadelphia-born Boreanaz fell into acting while looking for work behind the cameras. A film major at New York's Ithaca College, he moved to L.A. to get into the movie business--but while walking his dog, Bertha Blue, a chance encounter with a talent manager set David on course for an acting career. His first break came as Christina Applegate's biker beau on a 1993 episode of Married...with Children.

With Angel, Boreanaz--along with Buffy-mate Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia) and former Roseanne cast member Glenn Quinn (Doyle)--has left the comforts of Sunnydale for the dark streets of Los Angeles to embark on a soul-saving quest in a town replete with candidates.

clip "I felt the pressure was on" QuickTime | RealVideo factsheets • David Boreanaz • Sarah Michelle Gellar • Glenn Quinn • Charisma Carpenter reviews • Angel Review

Your life has been quite a whirlwind lately. Have you gotten used to all the screaming girls, or do you shun the limelight?
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I don't like going to all the premieres. Some of them are kind of fun, but they're all the same thing. You go to a premiere, you see people looking at other people, not knowing what to do with themselves. It's very funny. The people outside are looking at the people going into the theater, and then, once you get inside, people are looking at people entering the theater--bizarre world. Just ridiculous.

Spoken like a truly grounded guy. How'd you get so well adjusted?
I'm blessed with a good family. And my father and I have a great relationship.

He's involved in show business, too, right?
Yeah, he's been in television for over 35 years. He's a weatherman in Philadelphia.

So, you grew up conscious of the business but far from Hollywood?
Yeah, you know, you've got to understand this town. It's definitely a beautiful blonde with dirty underwear, as they say. Living here is interesting. I'm an East Coast person, but I love Los Angeles.

Did you love it as much before you became a working actor?
When I first started and wouldn't get a part, I'd get upset. Then I started to think it wasn't necessarily rejection, just somebody's opinion. Good or bad, it's just an opinion, and I wouldn't take it to heart. If I did, I probably would've been out of this business a long time ago.

So, when you first auditioned for Buffy three years ago, did you think it was for a one-sCelebs spot and that it'd be just another learning experience?
No. I knew going in that it was a recurring role, not just a one-part deal.

Was the reading even more stressful than a typical one?
Yes, it was nerve-racking, but all auditions are nerve-racking. I read first for the casting director, and then she wanted me to meet with [creator] Joss Whedon and a bunch of the producers in a small room.

And you got called back?
No. I got the job!

Then and there?
Right then. I got the job, and the next day I went in for costumes, and I started shooting the day after that. I had to shoot until two or three in the morning down in an alley in Los Angeles.

Then--BAM! You were on a hit show.
Yeah. I came in for seven out of the 12 episodes in the first season. And then Angel just blew up. I didn't think anyone knew that he was taking such a strong role. I was fortunate to get a character that gave me a lot to work with. And I was fortunate that the writers were able to create a space for him. And it just worked out.

That's an understatement. When did you get a hunch that Angel would get his own starring vehicle?
When Joss talked to me about it two seasons ago. I had to wait the whole last season, knowing Angel would be getting his own show.

And now, a year later, how's it feel to have Angel be one of the Celebstest fall entries?
I don't have any expectations. I'm not putting any pressure on myself. I'm not out there to satisfy anybody. I'm just out there to show up on time, remember my lines and do my work. What happens, happens. If the show succeeds, great. If it fails, great. I'm just having a good time with it. I can't look at it and say it's going to be a great show. When you hear people say that, you have to put it in perspective and remember the nature of this business. Tomorrow, the show could be over and I could be back to auditioning. You take it for what it's worth.

What's your wife's take on the whole show-biz thing?
Ingrid's always been supportive. She has the same attitude as I do: If you don't get something, it's not meant to be. It's not about what could have happened. You can kind of get lost in all that crap, and it's not good energy--not worth it. She'll help me along the way, as far as preparing for something. She's tough as nails--one strong Irishwoman.

She's a social worker, right?
Well, she was, but she's taking some time off because it was grueling [to be] working with children. She's writing, doing very well. She sold her first screenplay.

And didn't you just sign to do your first film?
I was supposed to be doing a movie in Mexico City with Courtney Love and Kiefer Sutherland, called The Beat Generation. I was supposed to play Jack Kerouac, which would have been cool, but I couldn't get time off from the show.

I've heard you have a pretty grueling production schedule.
Well, it's very different from Buffy. We're shooting in downtown L.A. in these gray, old buildings, and we're usually off the set three nights out of the eight days [it takes to shoot]. But I'm really enjoying the chemistry between Glenn and Charisma and myself. Also, they're finding great actors for guest spots, including some theater people who've done Broadway. [Series creator] Joss Whedon brings in these people who can just explode to become bigger characters.

Is there going to be much interaction between the two series?
The crossovers will be determined by whether they fit the storyline and if they're appropriate. We did a crossover on the second episode, and the structure fit perfectly.

Who crossed?
James [Marsters] came to us. So, Spike will be in that second show.

I'm sure you know you've been described as a brooding actor. Are you?
A brooding actor?! [Laughs.] Well, I do like intense stuff, dark, mysterious stuff, passionate stuff. Hmmm. Whatever. Better than being Wile E. Coyote, I guess.

But as a person, are you--
I take my work serious, but I don't, you know, walk around sulking. I'm a lighthearted, fun, funny, humorous guy.

How unlike Angel. Is his personality going to change at all?
Yeah, it's pretty shocking. But that's 'cause being in L.A. definitely opens up the story, the character, his personality, his humor, his lighter side. It definitely helps on all levels.

How does Angel compare to Buffy where romantic storylines are concerned?
I think the romanticism will come through the situations the characters find themselves in. I think that romance for Angel right now will not be as big, because he's left his soul mate, so to speak. And there's always been this question that he can't have sex because he'll turn evil. I mean, if he had meaningless sex, it wouldn't hurt him. I think it's the love thing; if he buries his true love, his soul will be lifted. If that comes back in his life, it'll be very difficult for him. And we haven't seen the last of Buffy yet, so we'll see what happens.

We haven't?
No, we haven't.