Buffy Star Gives Definitive Response On Acting Return After Scrapped Spinoff Series

After stepping away from acting, Buffy the Vampire Slayerstar Eliza Dushku gives a definitive response about coming out of her retirement. Dushku is best known to generations of fans as the rebellious slayer Faith Lehane. Introduced early on in the third season of Buffy, Dushku’s portrayal proved to be so popular that there were initial plans for a Faith-centric spinoff in the mid-2000s.

Although the planned Buffy spinoff never moved forward, with Dushku choosing to do another series instead, she continued to act in film and television until 2017. Dushku has largely focused on being an advocate for mental health and psychedelic therapy since then, working as a certified therapist to help patients with their trauma. She also graduated from Lesley University with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss her new path, in addition to her role as an executive producer on the now-streaming Netflix documentary In Waves and War, Dushku is asked whether she misses her old life. The star of Bring It On and Dollhouse replies that she doesn’t, explaining that it was meaningful for 25 years. However, she now embraces this new chapter in her journey:

People ask me all the time if I miss it. And I don’t. Again, not because it wasn’t fulfilling. It was and I did it for 25 years. I’ve met people who point out to me that I have lived these two lives and I value both of them. But I think that was part of my story and now I get to do this other life and it’s beautifully rich.

Asked directly about whether she thinks of acting as a “closed chapter” Dushku answers that she won’t appear on camera again unless “it’s in some capacity that is in service of my new work and passion.” She goes on to explain that the new Netflix documentary is special because it allows her to shine a spotlight on issues that are timely and important:

Oh yeah. Yeah. I will not be in front of a camera again unless it’s in some capacity that is in service of my new work and passion. That’s what makes this movie so special is to be able to come back and shine a light on people like Marcus and Amber and those who appear in the film. It’s so timely and important and necessary to have this movie enter as many homes and hearts and minds as possible.

In Waves and War focuses on Navy SEAL Marcus Capone and his PTSD after returning from Afghanistan, and how he was helped by psychedelic therapy. The documentary marks a relative return to the limelight for Dushku, who opened up about experiencing sexual harassment on the set of the CBS series Bull. It marked her final major acting credit.

There is a lot of interest in Dushku’s return to acting, with the Buffy sequel series gaining steam at Hulu. If the pilot is picked up, Sarah Michelle Gellar will reprise her iconic role as Buffy Summers and executive produce the sequel. There is no word yet on whether any Buffy the Vampire Slayer originals will join her. But with her undeniable impact, in such few episodes, it is no surprise that some fans still want to see Dushku back as Faith two decades later.