Sarah Michelle Gellar, 37, is currently visiting Australia and sat down with Woman’s Day in Sydney to talk about life after Buffy and the secret behind her enduring romance.
Sarah’s relationship with fellow movie star Freddie Prinze Jr. is renowned as one of the most stable and long lasting marriages in show business. Having recently celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary it’s inspiring to see a romance that has gone the distance – especially in in Hollywood!
So what’s their secret?
“Well we don’t live in Hollywood so [that’s why] it all works out ok!” Sarah laughed.
The couple, who have two children are often referred to as the longest lasting couple in Hollywoo. Giving staid advice about what’s most important thing in a relationship, Sarah believes it is all about focusing on the moment.
“Being present in the moment – and I’m guilty of it just as much as everyone else – we live in a technological era. We talk on the phone, we text, we do all these things [on screens] but sometimes you just have to put all of that away and make eye contact,” she says.
“I can’t tell you how many times I have to go like this (waves hands) just to get someone to look me in the eye! [Eye contact] is so rare because people are so used to looking at their devices and not being in the moment.
It seems that her secret to building a lasting marriage is putting some time asideawayfrom the screen.
“And that goes for your friendships, and your children’s relationships, your relationships with your family. Just be in the moment because you don’t know when those moments will be gone. Don’t take it for granted.”
Sarah and Freddie famously met on the set of teen horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer in 1997, but they didn’t begin dating until 2000. It’s iconic 90s films such as this, Cruel Intentions and of course the TV series that became runaway success – Buffy the Vampire Slayer, that Sarah is best known for.
Indeed she has become something of a poster girl for the 1990s, and they’re still the roles she is most closely associated and she couldn’t be prouder!
“It’s why we do what we do as entertainers – to make someone feel something and the fact that we can make them feel it over and over again and that they still enjoy watching it, that’s so rare.” And now, her characters are resonating with a whole new generation, as well as still being admired and re-watched as old favourites.
“It’s funny because Cruel Intentions has been on lately,” Sarah said. “And all the mums at my kids’ school send me these pictures of themselves watching it at night – you know cos they still do!
“To me that means everything.”
Sarah’s latest project on screen was with her close friend and colleague Robin Williams who tragically committed suicide in August this year. Sarah was amongst the many stars who paid tribute to him on social media after the news broke.
At the time, Sarah said in a statement to People magazine: “My life is a better place because I knew Robin Williams”.
He was close to her family and children too. Sarah even went as far as to say, “To my children he was Uncle Robin.”
The pair formed a bond when they played father and daughter running an ad agency together on the television series The Crazy Ones. The series was cancelled after just one season and its thought that this may have played a part in Robin’s struggles with depression.
Clearly, the grief has hit Sarah hard. “It’s still very raw for me so it’s not something that I’m ready to talk about,” she said.
Sarah emphasised though that what is important now, is ensuring that his memory lives on.
“The thing that’s most important to me is that it’s all of our obligations and responsibility to keep him alive and keep his memory alive – and all of the amazing work he did, both on screen and off.”
So what is it that Sarah will miss most about Robin?
“Everything.”
Sarah is currently in Australia as ambassador for Specsavers Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2014. So what makes for a stylish specs wearer in her opinion?
Sarah says: “For me I’ve always looked at glasses as another great accessory to tell your story and if eyes are the window to your soul, then glasses just magnify that. So it’s just a greater to see someone and who they are.”
To find out more and go in the running to win visit loveglasses.specsavers.com.au.
