Behind The Lying Game with Charisma Carpenter

Actress Charisma Carpenter recently landed a recurring role on the popular ABC Family series The Lying Game as Char’s aunt Annie who has suddenly returned with several secrets about Alec and Ted who would love nothing more than to keep Annie’s information under wraps.

Although Charisma Carpenter has a somewhat mysterious multi-episode arc on The Lying Game, Carpenter knows a thing or two about popular teen television from her days on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

Ahead of January 9 episode of The Lying Game, The Deadbolt recently caught up with Charisma to learn more about Annie, how she approaches a character with secrets, and what it’s like to be on the set of The Lying game.

THE DEADBOLT: Can you give us some insight into why Annie has been gone so long and her relationship with Phyllis?

CHARISMA CARPENTER: She’s been gone so long because I think when she was there, she was in high school, and things did not go well for her. She was very – well, treated poorly, not well received. I think some very bad things happened to her and what they are exactly has not at this point been revealed to me. It’s just touched on a little bit here and there.

But when she does come back, she is a completely different looking person in appearance and obviously, she’s monetarily better off. I guess she was in Los Angeles running a music company with her husband, who she is no longer with. She thought she would go back home and start fresh, to everyone else’s chagrin.

THE DEADBOLT: How do you approach a character like Annie who knows so many secrets about people like Ted and Alec?

CARPENTER: I think it’s not about them, I think it’s about her is the way I would approach it. It being sort of like just focusing each interaction one at a time and knowing what my overall purpose is to be there and it’s a fresh start. So, it’s positive and it’s up and it’s a good thing. To play it any other way would just be a different show.

I mean, part of The Lying Game is that appearances aren’t always what they seem. I think if you go into it being difficult or giving too much attitude, or whatever, there are not a lot of places to go with that.

She’s optimistic. She wants a change. She’s open to befriending those people that weren’t nice to her when she was younger and starting new. I think she comes from a place of confidence and success and she has nothing to apologize for and she’s interested in opening those doors again.

THE DEADBOLT: How familiar were you with the whole Lying Game phenomenon when you were first invited to join the cast?

CARPENTER: Not at all. In fact, I had no idea what The Lying Game meant and I’m still missing the last five episodes of the first ten. So, obviously, I’ve got the first five and then I’ve got episodes ten through sixteen down, but I’m missing five there. I was given the link but I can’t get the link to work on my Mac, so I’m a little bit challenged in that regard.

THE DEADBOLT: How is the chemistry on the set of The Lying Game and how are you enjoying that?

CARPENTER: It’s one of the best sets I’ve been on. It’s probably on par with my experience on Veronica Mars. A lot of young kids with a great deal of pressure and responsibility just killing it every day. They get it. They’re appreciative. There is no diva. There is no attitude. There are no hang ups. Everybody, everybody, I mean everybody, has a fantastic outlook.

I think too, it helps like in this economy, everybody is really appreciative to be working. It’s not lost on them. It’s really a wonderful thing to see such young people taking on such huge responsibilities and jobs and hours and just do it with such grace. I really have been impressed a great deal. And Alexandra Chando without exception. She’s mid-20s and she’s not one character, two characters.

The Lying Game airs Monday nights at 9pm on ABC Family.