Angel star Amy Acker shares a unique casting story of how she landed a role on Alias. Joining the cast of Angel at the end of season 2, Acker played the role of the genius Winifred “Fred” Burkle. Her role changed in season 5 when Fred was killed by the demon god Illyriia, who used her body as a shell to hold its ancient power. Illyria’s look was different as it involved a significant amount of blue makeup and a leather bodysuit. As Angel was cancelled before the end of season 5, the actor began looking for new roles.
In an interview with castleberrycasting on Instagram, Acker reveals that she booked her role as Kelly Peyton on Alias while in her Illyria makeup and costume. Acker received a callback for the role on a day while Angel was filming. With a hole in her filming schedule, she drove from the Paramount lot to Disney while still in costume as there was not enough time to remove it. Acker reflects that being in her blue demon getup was a great icebreaker, and she ultimately was cast.
In the fifth season of Angel, my character turned into a blue demon goddess (as you do). We knew that the show was cancelled before we wrapped the season, so I had started going out on auditions for other things. I found out that I got a callback for a role on Alias, but I was going to be filming the only day they were seeing people.
I had a break in my work day just long enough to drive from Paramount, where we shot Angel, to Disney for the audition, but not long enough to take off my blue makeup and get it back on for the next scene. I remember driving across town still in full makeup and costume getting very strange looks from other drivers, hoping I didn’t get into an accident, but more than anything just feeling so lucky that I get to do this for a living. Being blue ended up being a great icebreaker, and I got to play a really fun part on Alias.
What This Means For Acker’s Career
The Actor Has Been Working For Decades
While Angel was Acker’s breakout role, she has been working since the late ’90s. Her role as Fred was quiet and reserved, but was developed into an active member of Angel Investigations and a strong leader at Wolfram & Hart. Switching over to Illyria, she was able to showcase even more of her acting chops by becoming a merciless and physically imposing force.
Despite only appearing as Illyria in the latter half of Angel season 5, she gave an iconic performance.
Her role on the spy series Alias proved her range as an actor as Kelly Peyton was completely different. Appearing in 13 episodes during its final season, her duplicitous character had shifting alliances as she went up against Jennifer Garner’s Sydney Bristow. Going from Fred/Illyria to Kelly helped cement Acker as a TV star as she has regularly appeared in different series, from guest spots in Dollhouse and Suits to starring roles in The Gifted.
Our Take On Acker’s Audition
She Could Return As Illyria
Since Angel ended over 20 years ago, Acker has continued a successful career. Her ability as an actor can be proven through her fun anecdote about being cast in a role while looking decidedly not human during her Alias audition. However, she may have the opportunity to reprise her role as Illyria in the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel show.
Although the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel comics continued her story (including meeting Buffy), Illyria’s fate after the cliffhanger Angel series finale is unknown in this new iteration. Aside from Sarah Michelle Gellar, casting has not been announced for the show. Despite only appearing as Illyria in the latter half of Angel season 5, she gave an iconic performance. Hopefully, she will be able to return the universe that helped launch her career.
Source: castleberrycasting/Instagram