Sarah Michelle Gellar has shared her thoughts on why she’s become known as a “difficult” person behind the scenes of her acting projects.
In a YouTube video posted on Tuesday, the 47-year-old actress took part in fitness brand Alo’s “Break the Ice” segment, in which celebrities answer questions while soaking in an ice bath. During the interview, Gellar was asked about the biggest misconception people have about her.
“I have high expectations and a really hard work ethic so people might think I’m difficult at times and I think I can come across as a little intense sometimes because I want everyone to be that way too,” the Cruel Intentions star said.
Former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar has shared her thoughts on being labeled “difficult.” (Getty)
Gellar has been working in the industry since she was a child, having made her film debut at age 6 in the 1983 TV movie “Invasion of Privacy.” In 1993, the actress got her breakout role as Kendall Hart on the soap opera “All My Children,” for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michelle Trachtenberg respond to misconduct allegations against Buffy creator Joss Whedon
Gellar said her experience on the show helped her develop the discipline she needed to have a long-term career in Hollywood.
“I made some great friends and learned some great work habits during that time. Soap opera is a lot of work, so I’m so grateful for my time and the people I met,” Gellar said in a 2021 interview with TV Insider.
In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gellar reflected on how her strong work ethic has been misunderstood throughout her career.
The actress said her strong work ethic and high expectations have been misunderstood in the past. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images via Paramount+)
“If people think you’re a jerk, that’s actually a good thing,” she said, “because they have lower expectations.”
“There was a time when I had a reputation for being difficult,” she adds, using air quotes.
Geller continued, “Anyone who knows me knows that comes from the fact that I’ve always given 100 percent and I couldn’t understand people who don’t.” [my expectations of others] — I think it was because I was burnt out.”
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In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gellar’s former Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Seth Green recalled being called a “bitch” and a “diva” when she defended a colleague. Gellar played Buffy Summers on the hit show from 1997 to 2003.
Green, who played Daniel “Oz” Osborne on the series from 1997 to 2000, explained that Gellar used his position as head of the show’s call sheet to advocate for better working conditions and hours for his co-stars and crew.
Gellar starred on Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 1997 to 2003. (Getty)
“That show difficult“We were working long hours and a lot of the stuff that was being pushed wasn’t necessarily safe or in the best conditions,” the 50-year-old actor told the outlet.
“Sarah was always the first to say, even when no one else would defend the cast or crew, ‘We promised we’d shoot 13 hours today and it’s already 15, we need to wrap it up’ or ‘This shot looks dodgy,'” he continued. “I saw her called a brat, selfish and all sorts of words that weren’t true, just because she was on a mission to say the right things and do the right things.”
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Over the past few years, Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator and showrunner Joss Whedon has been accused of fostering a toxic work environment on the show’s set.
During an appearance at The Wrap’s Power Women Summit in 2022, Gellar reflected on years of working on “very toxic male sets,” which many fans interpreted as a reference to Whedon’s approach to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Gellar has previously expressed hope that the show’s legacy will not be tarnished by the allegations against creator Joss Whedon. (20th Century Fox)
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gellar said she had previously avoided speaking about the accusations.
“It’s been a positive move for me because I’m now more comfortable talking about it,” she said. “I’m not going to tell you my whole experience because there’s nothing to gain. I’ve said everything I wanted to say because nobody wins. Everyone loses.”
Gellar also reflected on how the controversy surrounding Whedon’s actions has affected the legacy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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“I’m not the only one facing this situation. I hope the traditions stay the same,” she told the outlet. “I hope success returns to those who put in all the effort.”
“I will always be proud of Buffy, I will always be proud of what my co-stars accomplished and what I accomplished. Was it an ideal working environment? Absolutely not,” she said.
“But it’s okay to love the Buffy we made, because I think it’s a great show.”
