Born in Washington DC in 1974, Alyson Hannigan began acting at the age of four in commercials for companies including McDonalds and Oreos. She went on to guest star in TV shows including Picket Fences, Roseanne, and Touched by an Angel before landing the role of Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We caught up with her as American Pie - The Wedding was due to be released on DVD and video...

ReviewGraveyard: Where you apprehensive about whether or not the third movie would be a success? Did you hesitate at all before signing onboard?

Alyson Hannigan: No, once I read the script I was completely on board. I loved it.

I have been doing a television show for seven years! I am so grateful to be working in this business. This is what I always wanted to do in my entire life so I am not going to sit here and complain that: "It is so terrible to be in successful movies because it becomes a trilogy..!" I mean come on! I am in a trilogy!

RG: According to Internet rumours, you were not so fond of Sarah Michelle Gellar's way of announcing that Buffy had ended. Is there any truth to this?

AH: Well, I thought that was in poor taste, yes. We all pretty much knew that that was the last season, and it felt like it was the last season. But there was always the chance that if she signed on to do another season or something that the show would continue on. It would have been nice for her to have mentioned it to the crew or the cast.

RG: Did you ever talk to her about it afterwards?

AH: No. But that was just one glitch that became this big deal, and that is not the memory that I have of the show. I cherish it, it was the most amazing time of my life.

I learned so much, I met friends that I'll have forever. I met my beloved, my husband. It was such a gift and I am so blessed to have been a part of that. And OK, we had a thing with Sarah but it was mainly the crew that I was upset for.

RG: Would you have liked for it to have gone on for a couple of years?

AH: No, I think it was the perfect time because I was really excited about this movie and I was in the process of getting married. Those were seven amazing years of my life and I am really glad that I have that book, but that chapter is closed and now I know what it was.

I am glad it didn't go down the crapper and turn into a really bad show or something. I am just so grateful to have that as an experience and I am also really looking forward to my future projects.

RG: Do you have any favourite scenes in American Pie - The Wedding?

AH: I really like the dog scene with the cakes and the dog. That is brilliant. And anything with Eugene in it.

RG: Did you learn anything about weddings that you could put in to practice for your own?

AH: Yes, I learned, don't go for the big fluffy dress. Because if you want to go to the bathroom it's not convenient.

It was interesting to have that big white formal wedding but, for the real thing I wanted it to be more simplistic. My husband and I really wanted to express who we are in our relationship, so it was a lot less formal and just fun.

RG: Did you have a hen night?

AH: You know, we sort of get the short end of the stick because watching male strippers is just weird.

RG: Have you ever tried to hook anyone up with one of your girlfriends on a blind date?

AH: I actually tried to set Seann [Seann William Scott - who plays Steve Stifler in American Pie - The Wedding] up with one of my girlfriends! Seann is really busy but they met. I don't know if they clicked. I love being the little match maker. I think everyone should be in love.

RG: Were your parents open about the whole sexual thing when you became a teenager?

AH: No, we are really repressed here in the States. [Laughs]

RG: What is the funniest thing a fan has come up and said to you?

AH: [There was this one time] I had some fan come up to me, and he couldn't for the life of him remember that it was: "Band Camp", so he was like: "Yeah, the Summer School!" And I was like: "What?" And he was like: "Wasn't it.. what was it..." I was like: "Did you see the movie?" And he was like: "Yeah, what was it?"

And I just kept making him guess and he just couldn't get "Band Camp" for the life of him. So, I had fun. I was like: "You didn't see the movie! You have no idea what you are talking about!" And he was like: "Come on! What was it?" And I was like: "I'm not going to tell you! Go and rent it!" But I think after about 15 tries he finally got it.

RG: Thank you for your time.

With thanks to Rob Arnold at New Media Maze

Universal Pictures Video's American Pie - The Wedding is released to buy and rent on DVD and video from the 26 January 2004

Order your copy on DVD for £13.99 (RRP: £19.99) by clicking here
Order your copy on video for £11.99 (RRP: £14.99) by clicking here

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