11 Amazing Bodies of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Stars

1. Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar played the title character. In an interview with Shape, she talked about how her approach to fitness has changed. "I think it's become more emotional. [Exercise] used to be, sort of, 'I have to do this, this is my job, this is work.' But I think there's an emotional component too, which is, it's what clears my mind. When I work out for an hour, I can sort of let everything else go, and I just focus on whatever the movement is and making sure it's correct.”

2. Alyson Hannigan

Alyson Hannigan played one of the main characters, Willow Rosenberg. She recently appeared on Dancing With The Stars, making it to the finale with partner Sasha Farber. Hannigan opened up about her weight loss from the show on Instagram. She captioned the post, “The before and after says it all. I lost 20 pounds of both weight and emotional baggage during my time on @dancingwiththestars. I can’t thank @sashafarber1 enough for helping me shed my insecurities and getting me to the confident and strong place I am today!”

3. Charisma Carpenter

Charisma Carpenter played Cordelia Chase on both Buffy and Angel. She shared some of her fitness secrets in an interview with OK! Magazine. “I train with a trainer regularly. I love my trainer Mark Monroe. He mixes it up. We did some boxing the other day. I brought my son to work out because he’s out of school and we had a lapse between summer camp and school. Sometimes we do that together. We’ll do an outdoor workout when he comes along.”

4. David Boreanaz

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David Boreanaz played Angel on the show, and his own spinoff. His most recent role was on the CBS show Seal Team. Boreanaz shared how he got in shape for the show to Men’s Journal. He revealed that the crew has special forces members that help the cast train. “I can’t explain how crucial they have been to the character,” Boreanaz said. “During these operations they can’t go below 100 percent, they are always going and burning. I get so much out of being around those guys, and it pushes me to work harder.”

5. Michelle Trachtenberg

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Michelle Trachtenberg joined the show as Dawn Summers in season five. In an Instagram post, she revealed that she was bullied as a child due to her acting career. Trachtenberg gave her advice to others in similar situations in the post. “I write this to every child, teen, person out there who is bullied. You are something. Do not put your value in someone else. Not letting them win, is your win.”

6. James Marsters

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James Marsters, who played Spike on the show and on Angel, talked about what he wants people to take from the series to The AV Club. “It began just as the story of an adolescent who’s going through a period in her life where she realizes that the world is messed up, her parents don’t always know what they’re talking about, her teachers don’t always know the subject matter they’re teaching, and we’re going to watch to see if she gives up. If she’s going to continue to try to find answers and engage with the world or just going to cocoon and give up. I think it’s well done enough that someone who’s older or younger than that can still identify with that and say, ‘Oh, I know what that feels like.’ It’s hard to wake up every morning and not give up and [instead] say, ‘I’m going to try to help out today.’ I think that’s very important right now.”

7. Seth Green

Seth Green played Oz on the show. He talked about his long career and how grateful he is in an interview with Looper. “I've been really lucky to have consistently gotten to work with people that I'm inspired by and been able to collaborate with friends of mine. And I got to a point where I made enough money where I could be far more specific about the choices I was making and only work on things that I could predict would be a positive experience or would be something I was truly passionate about. To that end, I love it all. Like, I can't even believe looking back that I've gotten to do the work that I have, and I am eternally grateful for that.”

8. Bianca Lawson

Bianca Lawson played the role of Kendra in season two. She shared her secrets for getting good sleep with Glamour. “I’m someone that loves to feel like I’m sleeping on a cloud, so a very soft mattress, very soft pillows, a weighted blanket, has been really helpful to me. Sometimes I play a rain app since there’s something that feels very cozy about listening to rain or the sound of waves. I need to have blackout curtains. I can’t have any lights on.”

9. Emma Caulfield

Emma Caulfield joined the show in season three, playing Anya Jenkins. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she revealed that she has MS, and talked about why she wanted to talk about this. "I’m so tired of not being honest. And beyond that, my daughter has changed my perspective, as I think anybody who is a parent can attest…Truthfully, my attitude is not crumbling under the fear of ‘what if’ or ‘what can,’ or ‘what has’ for other people. I just have to keep going.”

10. Julie Benz

Julie Benz played the recurring character Darla on the show. During the pandemic, she made sure to work out from home. Benz revealed in this Instagram video that she uses workout apps, captioning it, “Working out from home using the @bodybysimone app!! Dogs not included! Stay healthy, stay strong, be kind and WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!” In the video, Benz is seen jumping on a treadmill and doing plank walks.

11. Eliza Dushku

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Eliza Dushku played the fan-favorite character, Faith Lehane, in season three. She notably spoke out about being sexually harassed by a co-star, Michael Weatherly. This led to her testifying in front of the House Judiciary Committee. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she talked about what she took away from the experience. “With mandatory arbitration clauses, there's no accountability, no transparency. And so it continues. And that affects the culture both at specific workplaces and as a whole. If you keep harassment shrouded, that allows harassment to continue. We can heal from this, but the healing will come from action—from, hopefully, Congress choosing to act and protect future victims.”

Cue spooky music and embark on an extraterrestrial expedition to uncover the secrets behind the show's most iconic figures. The FBI's finest, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson have revealed their off-screen regimens to maintain those investigative physiques that could even make Cigarette Smoking Man quit a bad habit. From Duchovny's passion for juicing to Anderson's dedication to skincare, it's clear these stars are as committed to their health as they are to solving paranormal phenomena. Joining the dossier are Annabeth Gish, who takes family fitness to new heights, and Joel McHale, whose disdain for lunges is matched only by his determination. Read on.

1. David Duchovny

David Duchovny played one of the lead characters, Fox Mulder, on the show. He shared some of his diet and workout secrets in a video interview with Men’s Health. He loves to make juices. “Down here we have juicing stuff like beet, carrot,” he said, showing the viewers his fridge. “I’ve got back into juicing recently. Fruit. I like this coconut stuff.”

2. Gillian Anderson

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Gillian Anderson played Dana Scully on the show. She shared some of her skincare secrets with New Beauty. "Even with all the fancy creams I’ve been gifted over the years, once I started seeing that my skin was suffering, I began to pay more attention to it. There’s a Clinique Moisture Surge Gel, which is kind of extraordinary for application in the afternoon, if you’re starting to feel like you’re drying up and need some hydration.”

3. Annabeth Gish

Annabeth Gish played Monica Reyes on the show. She revealed to Sportify that she and her family do a lot of physical activities together. “My kids know that working out for my mental and physical health is a priority. We all go rock climbing as a family. We ski. We scuba dive. My children are starting to now out-pace me. They want to go deeper, and ski faster, and climb higher. It’s beautiful to see when your children start to actively excel beyond you.”

4. Joel McHale

Joel McHale played Ted O’Malley on the revival series. In an interview with Men’s Journal, he revealed that he does a lot of tough lower body workouts. “I think all leg workouts are harder than upper body workouts just because it’s a much bigger muscle. Even though I don’t like doing lunges and they annoy the hell out of me, I do them, because I know I’ll be happy sometime later. I really don’t have that much trouble with motivation. I’ve never been one of those guys that’s like 'I don’t know if I’m going to work out today.' I’m way too vain to not work out.”

5. Robbie Amell

Robbie Amell played Miller on the revival. He shared some of his at-home workouts in an interview with Men’s Health. "Obviously, times are really weird right now, but I think it's really important to try and stay active, whether it's pushups, situps, burpees, jumping jacks, you know, anything to just get the blood flowing and get the endorphins going.”

6. Robert Patrick

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Robert Patrick played John Doggett on the series. He also appeared in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, and talked about the experience with The Chicago Tribune. “If you let your imagination go, you can kind of endure anything. I don’t want that to sound so cavalier, but I think because of the preparation I had done, the training that I had done, I was able to do what was asked of me. And no one got hurt — including myself. I felt like I did a good job. Every effort was made to make me feel comfortable.”

Sink your teeth into the fitness secrets and healthy habits of the supernatural stars of "True Blood." From Sookie Stackhouse's enchanting workouts to Jason Stackhouse's resilient spirit, this article reveals how the cast of this vampiric saga maintained their amazing bodies. Anna Paquin's on-the-road workouts, Anna Camp's snack-hoarding strategies, and Joe Manganiello's 80/20 diet plan will leave you thirsting for more. Rutina Wesley's agile dance-based regimen and Jurnee Smollett's jump rope prowess prove that vampires aren't the only ones with killer moves. Whether they're riding horses in the wild west like Luke Grimes or juggling auditions like Denis O'Hare, these actors have secrets to staying in shape.

1. Anna Paquin

Anna Paquin played lead character Sookie Stackhouse on the show. She shared some of her fitness secrets in a 2010 interview with SELF. "I had this really amazing trainer in New York, who I worked out with for years," she said. "He got me in amazing shape and taught me how to work out by myself and on the road. Half the time, I'd be in a hotel room somewhere and there would be a gym - if you could call it that - with not much more than a treadmill and some weights. He would write out workouts for me that I could do anywhere."

2. Anna Camp

Anna Camp played Sarah Newlin on seasons two, six, and seven. She tells People that she takes healthy snack options with her when she’s working. “I’m on the run a lot in L.A. Whether I’m hiking with my dog Rocky or driving from meetings to sets, having good snacks on hand is a top priority. I always carry almonds, fruit and water with me to fight the afternoon crash.”

3. Joe Manganiello

Joe Manganiello played Alcide Hervaux from season three on. His trainer, Ron Matthews, told Men’s Health that he has the actor on an 80/20 plan. “We never do less than 80 percent of full capacity with the diet and the workouts. But that means he can still have a cheat meal and enjoy life the other 20 percent.”

4. Rutina Wesley

Rutina Wesley played Tara Thornton on all seven seasons of the show. She shared some of her favorite workouts with Fitness Magazine. “I do a mix of cardio and strength — the elliptical machine and weight lifting — three times weekly. But a lot of my agility comes from being a dancer; I trained at Juilliard. I also do yoga. It helps me relax and let go of the crazy character I play.”

5. Ryan Kwanten

Ryan Kwanten played Jason Stackhouse on all seven seasons. He revealed in an interview with FOX News that he’s developed a lot of resilience, which has helped with his career. "I have that sporting background where I want to be the best, I want to be the champion. If I'm knocked down, you're damn sure I'm getting back up again. A lot of actors who may very well be more talented than me don't have that kind of tenacity in the face of rejection. That resilience gives me a distinct advantage."

6. Christopher Meloni

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Christopher Meloni played Roman Zimojic in season five. He shared his approach to eating with Men’s Health. “I have to juggle the correct kinds of foods, but I have to ingest enough calories to push the weight that I need to push in order to kind of maintain…whatever this thing is. I really eat everything. My philosophy—well, my diet—is I’m basically horse-trading all day. I like to pick and choose where I’m going to ingest my cholesterol or my heavy fats or starches.”

7. Denis O’Hare

Denis O’Hare played Russell Edgington on seasons three and five. He shared how he approaches an audition with Backstage.com. “I try, when I go in, to not let the director talk to me. I don’t want them putting any ideas in my head before I’ve done what I’m doing. Afterward, it’s fine. And I don’t tend to banter—I don’t tend to chat. I don’t try to make friends. I just come in, do my job, and leave. And I also don’t hang around. Once I’m done, I get out of there so fast. I don’t want anybody to see me. I don’t want to have another conversation. I don’t want to have a second audition. I just leave.”

8. Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett played Nicole Wright on the final two seasons. She shared some of her favorite exercises with SELF. Smollett says that she makes sure to workout when traveling. “If I have a jump rope and a resistance band, I can work out anywhere. Even without a jump rope. If you do 200 jumping jacks, then drop and do some crunches, and then do some squats, you’re good.”

9. Luke Grimes

Luke Grimes played James Kent in season six. He also appears on the hit series, Yellowstone, and revealed to Monsters & Critics that he did a lot of riding to prepare for the role. “When we got to Utah, where we filmed the first season, a lot of us went on a cowboy camp where we went on a pack trip that went out for three nights. Taking these horses up mountains, jumping creeks, and doing a lot of stuff that a lot of us had never done before just to try to get us into the feel of the place and of the world.”

10. Lizzy Caplan

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Lizzy Caplan played Amy Burley on season one of the series. She opened up about finding fulfillment in her career to Variety. “It seems rare to know, for me, what a whole year is going to look like,” she says. “I keep it moving, jumping from lily pad to lily pad. I feel extremely lucky that I get to bounce around so much and do the things that I personally find meaningful or scary or a challenge.”

11. Carrie Preston

Carrie Preston played Arlene Fowler Bellefleur on the entire series. She shared some of her wellness secrets in an “A Day In My Life” interview with Us Weekly. Preston revealed that she makes smoothies for breakfast. “My smoothies are legendary. I start with pea milk, avocado and kale, and then I throw in every kind of berry, flaxseed, cacao nibs powder and nut combo it can handle.”

Explore the fitness routines of the actors from "Burn Notice," a thrilling TV series about Michael Weston, a former spy who finds himself 'burned' and cut off from his intelligence agency. The show follows Michael's endeavors to uncover why he's been burned while helping others with his espionage skills. Jeffrey Donovan, portraying Michael, enjoys diving for fitness. Gabrielle Anwar, as Fiona, practices yoga. Each cast member, including Bruce Campbell and Coby Bell, shares their unique approach to wellness, reflecting the diverse methods they use to maintain health amidst the physical and mental demands of acting in this action-packed series.

1. Jeffrey Donovan

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Jeffrey Donovan played lead character, Michael Weston, on the show. In a 2011 interview with Men’s Health, he revealed that he loves to dive to stay in shape. "Diving is a very solitary, very insular, peaceful activity. At 100 feet there are no phones, and no one's bothering you—there's just a bunch of fish wondering what the hell you're doing in their backyard."

2. Gabrielle Anwar

Gabrielle Anwar played one of the main roles, Fiona Glenanne. In a 2010 interview with SELF, Anwar revealed that she practices yoga to stay in shape. “I love yoga because every muscle is being toned from the moment one spreads their toes on that mat. My goal is not to target the area that might be less toned than another, my goal is to feel that during each pose, I bring awareness into each muscle, each space around each muscle, each joint, each space around each joint, and so on and so on, so that I do not neglect a single part of my whole. I am less concerned about an area of 'imperfection,' because I am not a professional bodybuilder, model nor trainer. What I am is imperfect. Gleefully so.”

3. Bruce Campbell

Bruce Campbell played one of the main characters, Sam Axe, on the show. He talked about what he thinks makes a successful film or series with Artpublika Magazine. “Everybody involved in a project, in my opinion, has to let the material rule. If it’s a comedy, then liven up your game. If it’s a serious drama, ok, tone it down a little bit; keep the intensity. And, everybody has got to be in the same movie. Actors are not allowed to be in their own little sphere; they have to acknowledge the world around them.”

4. Coby Bell

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Coby Bell played Jesse Porter, joining the main cast in season four. He also appeared in the 2017 FOX sci-fi series, The Gifted. Bell shared how the show incorporates social issues to Show Biz Junkies. “I guess it’s a way of talking about social issues without talking directly about them, you know? It makes it a little more palatable, a little less preachy. But at that same time, the message is getting across. It’s really cool. Starting with Star Trek, they were breaking some serious barriers but it’s in outer space so it’s fine. So, yes, I never thought about it. It’s cool.”

5. Tricia Helfer

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Tricia Helfer played Carla Baxter in season two. She has amazing skin, and makes sure to take care of it. “I like to use Proactiv cleansers when I’m working, because they seem to deep clean the skin from all the set makeup,” she told Real Style Network. “When I’m not working, I use a Kiehl’s Rare Earth cleanser and cucumber toner. For toners, serums and moisturizers, I vary it between Nars, Kiehl’s, Prai and La Mer. When I was filming in New Mexico last fall, the climate is so insanely dry that the only thing that kept my skin from falling off was La Mer. It’s so expensive but it certainly did help with that crazy climate.”

6. Moon Bloodgood

Moon Bloodgood played Michelle Paxson in season three. She is an action star known for her roles in Falling Skies and Terminator Salvation. While promoting Falling Skies, Bloodgood revealed to CineSnob that she does a lot of her own stunts. “I did a lot of my own stunts in ‘Terminator Salvation.’ With this one, it’s not as physical because I play a doctor. I’m not out in the field battling with the aliens. At times it was physical, because doing a show of this kind of magnitude is crazy. There are crazy and demanding hours.”

7. Chris Vance

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Chris Vance played the recurring role Mason Gilroy in season three. While promoting his show Transporter, Vance revealed the intense training he did to prepare for it. “I put in about three months of training before we start the shoot,” he told My Take On TV. “Before the first principle day of photography, I generally put in about three months of training. Just for stamina reasons; it’s not always to do with fighting. It’s a lot to do with stamina training, stretching, running and aerobic sort of training.”

8. Sonja Sohn

Sonja Sohn played Olivia Riley in season six. She shared how she stays in shape for roles to DailyActor. “My health and wellness regimen in general is more influenced by just the way I want to feel as a human being. But also, being an actress and being in front of the camera, you do have to be conscious of that, and so it’s more tied into just understanding the nature of my job. Iimage is a big part of the job. And how you are – and how the camera captures you is important. But like I said, it's more influenced by just my personal choice on what kind of shape I want to be in. I might want to be walking around 25 years from now, so I should be eating and exercising.”

9. Danny Pino

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Danny Pino played Adam Scott in the fourth season. He shared his secrets to a successful marriage to Closer Weekly. “It takes work. So even on days you don’t necessarily feel like you want to follow through with things, it’s important to make the effort, to show that you’re there and you care, to try to understand what’s going on. Just like in acting, the most important thing in a relationship for me is listening. And we love to travel together!”

10. Patton Oswalt

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Patton Oswalt had a recurring role as Calvin Schmidt in the sixth season. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Oswalt opened up about returning to comedy after the passing of his first wife. “I had this weird breakthrough onstage during a set down in Irvine last month, like, ‘Oh, this is just going to be uncomfortable. I’m going to have to make comedy out of it being uncomfortable.’ That set was the first one where I just embraced how awful it was.”

11. Garret Dillahunt

Garret Dillahunt played the villainous Simon Escher on the show. He talked about his career to Leo Edit. “I directed an episode of Raising Hope, and I enjoyed it very much. For a long time, I didn’t have any aspirations beyond that. I felt very fulfilled. I feel pretty lucky in the roles I’ve gotten to play as an actor. I know plenty of actors that can do what I do. I get flattered when people say, you can do anything, you do comedy, you do drama, you do whatever, because I feel like I know so many people that can do that and do it even better, but just weren’t given the opportunity. And I’ve been given those opportunities, and I love it and I never thought I would produce anything. But as you get older, you want to have a little more of a hand in things. If I’m not having fun, what’s the point? And so, if you think you can do better, why don’t you get your hands a little dirty? And I wish I’d done that a long time ago. Don’t wait until you think you deserve it or that you have all the knowledge, ’cause you’ll never feel that way.”