Being a teen idol is what I've waited for my whole life

Ultimately, I want to have a good career and do interesting work

I think you either live a real life or you live a weird celebrity pseudolife. I think I lead a really real life.

I think that's what growing up is all about. It's about taking on new responsibilities and learning what you can handle, and learning what you can't.

I was very burned out after Buffy. It was exhausting. It took me from essentially 18 on the pilot to being 24 and married when we finished. That show was my life. I was doing movies on the hiatuses and on weekends, but I needed to explore and live that gypsy lifestyle.

I never worked out for any kind of image.

People tell me not to do a soap, but it was a great learning experience because I became familiar with the technical aspects of the business. Besides, look who came out of soaps - Julianne Moore, Demi Moore, Tommy Lee Jones, Parker Posey, Kathleen Turner. All amazing people.