I'd been doing comedy up that point and hadn't really done a lot of drama, and then all of a sudden he casts me as a 400-year-old vampire from hell. It was, like, "What?!"
Julie BenzI've been an actor for 30 years, so I pretty much know how to do the basics of a fight without hurting anybody.
Julie BenzI worked so hard on that role [of Debra in Dexter]. And I barely worked on Rita. But I read for casting - both parts - and they said, "That's great, we're going to bring you in for producers." So I read for some producers - both parts - and they said, "That's great, we're going to bring you in to meet the creator." And I went in, and as soon as I walked in the room, he looked at me and he said, "Oh my god, you're our Rita!" And I said, "No! I'm Deb! I'm a total Deb!" "No, you're Rita!".
Julie BenzWe shot [Hi Honey, I'm Home] on location in Orlando, Florida, so I was there by myself. And I remember I was late one day, and Gale Gordon pulled me aside, and he said, "Honey, when it says you have to be here at 10 a.m., you need to be here at 9:30." And ever since, I've always been a half-hour early to my call time!
Julie Benz