It took a while to get into its stride, but 'Buffy' spin-off 'Angel' now has a cult following to rival its predecessor's. Which means no let-up for its star, David Boreanaz.

Interview Noam Friedlander

David Boreanaz was married two weeks ago. His honeymoon? It's December and he's in California, on location, shooting episode 13 of 'Angel' with just 20 minutes to much on some chicken for lunch. Worse still, its looks like his holiday will be delayed for a while longer, as there are nine more episodes to get in the can before it wraps with he season finale.

'Angel' started life as a spin-off of 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer', when Angel (played by Boreanaz), Buffy's boyfriend, left town and moved to LA. It took a while for the show to settle; the first series saw Angel as a spirit world detective coming to the aid of a new client each week. It lacked the mythology and soul of 'Buffy' and the characters had little depth. But with the creative talents of Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt at its core, the show soon took shape. It didn't have resonance at first,' says Greenwalt. 'I feel better this year that I have about any year because I think we've finally found what the show is about: growing up and coming into your own. And coincidentally, that's what the show has to do.

One of 'Angel's' main themes is redemption - a pertinent topic for Boreanaz, who was raised a Catholic though admits he '[doesn't] really practice any more'. The show can be read as the quest of a parent-less child (Angel killed off his family during his 'evil' years before he gained a soul) struggling to find both contentment and his place within society. According to one of the script-writers, it can also be interpreted as an investigation of the dark side of masculinity which society constantly tries to repress. Hardly light, flippant issues for a post-MTV generation. Yet it's not all darkness, as Greenwalt and Whedon insert plenty of wit and slapstick. It also helps that Boreanaz attracts a healthy female following - it's that whole black-clad, broody-moody thing.

An unknown when he was cast in 'Buffy', Boreanaz wears the responsibility of fronting a spin-off well. 'I don't obsess about it,' he says. 'You can't live vicariously through the show and I'm just letting life take its course. I don't think way ahead.'

By now, three seasons, in to term the show a 'spin-off' is unfair, especially when you consider that the two shows are now shown on different networks in the States. By now it has a few links to 'Buffy' as 'Frasier' does to 'Cheers'. Whedon, the creator of both shows, wanted 'Angel' to 'have a more adult tone' as the character is 'trying to reclaim his humanity, even though, on some level, he's not human'. Though fans of the show believe that Whedon has stepped aside to let Greenwalt take over, Boreanaz points out that 'Joss [Whedon] is still a major part of it, but they split it between them and pretty much go back and forth to put together the best episodes for the audience'.

Putting together the series involves long day and night shoots - often between 12 and 14 hours - with a tight turnaround from studio to screen. 'It's pretty much immediate,' says Boreanaz, who refuses to give away plotlines from the new series. Some have been leaked, however, including the return of Darla (Julie Benz) and an attraction between Angel and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter). ON the whole, the buzz has been one of excitement that 'Angel' has finally found its way.

As for Boreanaz himself, his is an incredibly Hollywood story - one that has been dwelt on many a time. But to clear up the facts, yes, he was discovered while out walking his dog.

'Yeah,' says Boreanaz, 'it's true. But I mean, let's move on from the dog, there's more to me than the dog. ... She's a lovely dog, though.' You're just as likely to find Angel supping a pint of Guiness while dipping into some Kerouac, Irving or Sam Shepard - he's no himbo. Having deemed LA 'a beautiful blonde with dirty underwear', outwardly seductive but inwardly sleazy, Boreanaz has been heavily tipped as someone to watch, but whether his new bride will get to see much of him over the next few weeks is another issue. Still, it's only three months before the series wraps. Perhaps they'll get that honeymoon after all.

Season three of 'Angel' starts on January 17, Sky One.