Julie Benz plays Darla, the vamp who once shared Angel's life, bed and passion for evil. Then what? He gains a soul and she loses a bedfellow, but she's back in the latest series and - major spoiler alert! - she's pregnant and looking for daddy.

'The opportunity to play her is really a gift,' says Benz. 'It's awesome. I think they spoilt me for life.' Some fans of the show may ask 'intelligent questions', but there are those who have one thought in their heads: What's it like to make out with David Boreanaz? Her standard response? 'I usually joke around saying it's terrible, horrendous, awful. But I'm just kidding. Of course.'

Benz's latest project, which she works on when not wandering round the 'Angel' set in considerable padding, is the 20-hour mini-series 'Taken', executive-produced by Steven Spielberg. Focusing on alien abductions, it's directed by Tobe 'Chainsaw Massacre' Hooper. A link to her 'Roswell' roots, perhaps? No, it seems the vamp series was the key: 'Spielberg had seen me in an episode of "Angel" and really liked what I did, and asked if I would be interested in it.'

It's been a busy time. 'I feel lucky, it's not just about talent but also about luck. I'm fortunate to have people who believe in me, push me, help me and give me great gifts like Darla.'
Noam Friedlander