After a 20-year absence from major big screen releases, Sarah Michelle Gellar is back and better than ever in the wickedly entertaining Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. The iconic scream queen, whose last horror role was 2006's The Grudge 2, is making her highly anticipated return to the genre in the cult slasher's high-stakes sequel – and she is loving every minute of the press tour.
Speaking to HELLO! on the red carpet at the London premiere of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's new film, Sarah joked: "I don't think I realised it was that long till everyone's decided to remind me exactly how long it's been... I'm kidding!"
© PA Images via Getty ImagesThe fast-paced horror-comedy, also starring Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Elijah Wood and Shawn Hatosy, picks up mere seconds after the 2019 original ended.
Sarah plays Ursula Danforth, a member of the Satanic High Council who goes head-to-head with Samara Weaving's Grace as she fights to survive a second - and even more sadistic - game of hide-and-seek.
"Villains do have more fun. I love this film, I’m so proud of it. We had such a great time," she revealed, launching into an impassioned speech about the power of theatrical releases.
"I want people to be in theatres. As I stand in this movie theatre, it reminds me that this is an experience that I love. I know there's been all of these [obstacles] like streaming and COVID, but I just love being in a theatre with people, and these are the type of movies that are just so much better with an audience."
© Ready or Not 2Bloody good fun
Earlier this week, Sarah opened up about her decision to take a step back from films for the sake of her family. While she appeared in Netflix's Do Revenge and fronted TV series Wolf Pack, she has mostly chosen to take on smaller behind-the-scenes roles for the best part of a decade.
Beloved for playing quick-witted heroine Buffy Summers in cult television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah was the late 90s/early noughties poster girl before taking a break to raise her children, Charlotte and Rocky, whom she shares with her I Know What You Did Last Summer co-star and husband of 23 years, Freddie Prinze Jr.
© Getty ImagesReflecting on how she handles sharing some of her more mature film catalogue with her children, now aged 16 and 13, Sarah says it comes down to personal parenting choices.
"The violence is there for the sake of comedy. It's not reality," she said. "And so I do think that we have to separate what kind of violence. As a parent, it's our job to parent and to know what your child is OK seeing and what they understand is entertainment and what is real. And if your child has trouble differentiating, then as a parent, you say this movie is not for you."
Touching upon one particularly gory moment that left the London screening audience audibly gasping and shrieking in disgust, she added: "And if your child understands this is ridiculous and silly, you don't really put people in a washing machine, then you can see the movie."
© Getty ImagesOutpouring of love from Buffy fans
Sarah took to social media last weekend to share a video message with fans, revealing the sad news that the long-awaited Buffy: New Sunnydale reboot had been dropped by Hulu.
After four long years masterminding the project as an Executive Producer alongside Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao, Sarah was "really sad" to close the chapter, subsequently revealing that a male executive had been the one to reject the pilot episode.
© Getty ImagesWhile the future of the show remains up in the air, outraged fans (including yours truly) have been rallying around the actress with messages of love and support.
Addressing the incredible reaction, she said: "I had no idea. I love Buffy and I know what she means to me, but to be able to feel the love that I've been feeling has made what is essentially a hard time feel so happy. It's really incredible."
The reboot was set to focus on a new Slayer, played by Kiera Ryan Armstrong, with guest appearances from executive producer Sarah in a mentor role.
While original cast members had expressed their eagerness to return in future for cameo appearances, one question has been on every die-hard fan's lips since the moment it was announced - would Buffy have finally ended up with her teenage love Angel or chosen the path of tortured romance with Spike?
© GettyWe quizzed the actress about the famous 'cookie dough' analogy from the series finale. If Buffy was finally done baking, who would she have chosen?
"Everyone knows what I think. We all know I'm an Angel girl, but you know what, everyone has their own opinion," she said with a smile.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is in cinemas now
