Julie Benz in London

Friday afternoon and ordinarily I’d be mighty peeved at anything standing between me and the start of the World Cup. But when it’s the chance of meeting beautiful American actress Julie Benz I can let it pass (ouch! Bad footy pun).

So it is that I find myself in Room 1010 of The Soho Hotel in the heart of London where Julie is perched on a sofa wearing a black dress, with immaculate shoulder length blonde hair, and is charm personified.

Dexter fans will already know Julie Benz as serial killer Dexter’s new wife Rita, although she first found fame as Darla on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, and its spin off Angel, with Bones star David Boreanaz. Julie is surprisingly perky having flown into London that very morning after attending the 50th Monte Carlo Television Festival. I know she’s been in Monte Carlo because I’ve seen it on her Twitter page, and when I mention the fact she smiles: ‘Do you follow me on Twitter? Everybody should follow me on Twitter. I’m fun.’ Indeed she is.    

Julie was in Monte Carlo picking up an award - a Golden Nymph - on behalf of her Dexter co-star, Michael C Hall, who was back in the States filming the show’s fifth series. Not only did she meet Prince Albert, but also among the stars Julie spotted on the red carpet in Monte Carlo were Larry Hagman, Donna Mills, and some of the casts of Glee and The Vampire Diaries. But the biggest thrill after joking with pals that they were in Monte Carlo and going to see James Bond, was actually then spotting Roger Moore on the red carpet too!

‘My biggest freak out moment was seeing Roger Moore,’ says Julie. ‘I had to go and ask him for a photo. I was so excited!’

If you’re wondering, you can see the snap on Julie’s Twitter page. Interestingly, Julie also asked her followers a fun question of what her Bond girl name should be. I’m curious if she has a name yet.

‘I’ve gotten quite a few responses as to what my Bond girl name should be. I could read you some of them,’ says Julie as she reaches for her phone and checks the replies. ‘Some of them are offensive and some of them are actually kind of brilliant.’

Among the suggestions are Ivana Humpalot, Top Totty, Heavenly Delights, Holly Gonightly, and Chicksy Firecracker. ‘This is what I get on Twitter,’ she shrugs. However, Julie opts for Faren Hite, the name sent in by a fan who typed her name into a Bond Girl name-generating website.

As for the whole Monte Carlo experience, she admits: ‘Oh wow! The 50th Television Festival in Monte Carlo is probably the most glamorous four days I have ever had in my entire life.’

During our chat Julie discusses season four of Dexter - which sees Dexter settling into domestic life with Rita, but also has a really big shock in store for fans - as well as her new show No Ordinary Family with Michael Chiklis of The Shield fame, her recent guest role in Desperate Housewives as lesbian stripper Robin Gallagher, and fans’ reactions to her. Of course, no chat with Julie could be complete without speaking about Darla too. You can read what Julie has to say about all this and more in an upcoming issue of TV Choice to coincide with the return of Dexter on FX in August. Far more interesting than South Africa drawing with Mexico anyway…

By Nick Fiaca