Julie Benz Movies
While her roots in Italian horror (Two Evil Eyes) and penchant for small-screen fantasy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Taken) may not make actress Julie Benz the most likely candidate for mainstream stardom, the prolific ice skater-turned-onscreen talent has come quite a long way since her early days in community theater and has since become one of the most promising... (read more) emerging talents in film and television. A native of Pittsburgh and professional ice skater from the age of three, Benz made a name for herself in both singles and ice dancing and was at one point ranked 13th in the United States for her remarkable grace. While professional skating afforded Benz the extraordinary opportunity to travel the U.S. and visit foreign lands, the training needed to maintain one's footing on the ice is rigorous to say the least, and she ceased competitive skating at the age of 16. The daughter of a vascular surgeon, Benz hailed from a long line of doctors and was determined to become the first female medico in her family. Of course, some folks just aren't cut out for a career in medicine, though, and shortly after witnessing her first surgery, Benz realized that she was a bit too squeamish to become a doctor. With her days as a professional skater over and a life behind the scalpel out of the question, the talented teen auditioned for a role in a local community theater production and later connected with New York-based agent Vincent Cirrincione during a local acting seminar. After honing her craft in New York City, Benz set her sights on Los Angeles and never looked back. She also appeared in the horror sequel Saw V, the action film Punisher: War Zone, and the long-anticipated sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day.
In 1990, Benz made her screen debut under the direction of legendary Italian horror specialist Dario Argento in the "Black Cat" segment of Two Evil Eyes, though it was walk-on roles in such popular television shows as Married With Children, Boy Meets World, and Diagnosis Murder that served to introduce her to stateside viewers. Of course, big-screen appearances in As Good As It Gets and Jawbreaker only helped to increase her profile, but to many fantasy fans, Benz will always be known for her role as malevolent vampire Darla on the hit shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.
With additional appearances in the miniseries Taken and and the TV show Roswell (not to mention vocal contributions to the hit video game Halo 2), it seemed that Benz had become something of a sci-fi mainstay, yet the rising star wasn't willing to be pigeonholed just yet and soon began to branch out with appearances on such popular shows as Navy NCIS, CSI, and CSI: Miami, as well. In 2006, Benz settled into her most stable small-screen role to date, playing Rita Bennett -- the emotionally damaged love interest of a Miami Police Department blood-spatter expert...who also happens to be a part-time serial killer -- on the the Golden Globe-nominated Showtime series Dexter. In 2008, she appeared opposite action icon Sylvester Stallone in the belated, bullet-strewn sequel Rambo. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Answers to Nothing
R 2011
A handful of wayward souls from Los Angeles cross paths against the backdrop of a missing-child investigation in this ensemble drama starring Dane Cook, Elizabeth...
Held Hostage
2009
A terrified mother becomes the prime suspect in an elaborate bank robbery following a harrowing home invasion by three masked gunmen. Bank manager Michelle Estey (Julie Benz)...
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
R 2009
Boondock Saints, the 2000 crime picture renowned for the unique story of the fast rise and fall of its egomaniacal filmmaker, Troy Duffy, as well as the cult following...
Dexter: Season 04
2009
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Rambo
R 2008
When a group of missionary aid workers in Myanmar disappear into the vast green inferno, vigilante Vietnam War veteran John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) leaves his job as a...
Dexter: Season 03
2008
Season 3 of the drama about the Miami forensic expert (Michael C. Hall) who moonlights as a vigilante serial killer features Jimmy Smits as ADA Miguel Prado, who...
Saw V
R 2008
Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) might be dead, but his traps live on in this fifth Saw entry, which finds the series' production designer David Hackl at the helm for his debut...
Punisher: War Zone
R 2008
Marvel Comics' vigilante character The Punisher gets another big-screen outing in this third film incarnation of the character, this time from Green Street Hooligans...
Dexter: Season 02
2007
Based on the acclaimed novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, Dexter is a crime drama about Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a man who leads a double life as an incredibly...
Dexter: Season 01
2007
Dexter is based on the compelling novel "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay. Orphaned at the age of four and harboring a traumatic secret, Dexter Morgan (Dexter Morgan (Emmy-...
Kill Your Darlings
2006
A man fascinated with the process of ending one's own life meets some rather disturbing kindred spirits in this dark comedy. Erik (Andreas Wilson) is a commercial...
Lackawanna Blues
2005
A young boy grows up among a makeshift family of oddballs and dreamers in this adaptation of Ruben Santiago-Hudson's acclaimed one-man show. Ruben Junior (Marcus Carl...
8MM 2
R 2005
An extortionist threatens to derail the career of a prominent politician by revealing visual proof of his lurid sex life in this sequel to Joel Schumacher's disturbing 1999...
Bad Girls From Valley High
R 2005
They're cute, they're perky, and they're lethal -- they're the malicious high-school students in this dark teen comedy.Brooke (Monica Keena), Danielle (Julie Benz),...
The Long Shot
2004
Produced for cable's Hallmark channel, The Long Shot stars Julie Benz as expert equestrienne Annie Garrett. Forced by her demanding mother, Bonnie (Laura...
George of the Jungle 2
PG 2003
Longtime television director David Grossman makes his feature debut with this direct-to-video sequel to the 1997 hit family comedy George of the Jungle. Filling the...
Angel: Inside Out
2003
Following their discovery of her recent betrayal (see "Players"), the pregnant Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) escapes from the fang gang with help from Connor...
Taken
2002
Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, the ten-episode, 20-hour miniseries Taken was one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by cable TV's Sci-Fi Network,...
Angel: Redefinition
2001
Angel (David Boreanaz) undergoes a punishing regimen of physical and mental training in preparation for his inevitable showdown with Darla (Julie Benz) and Drusilla...
Angel: Epiphany
2001
Angel (David Boreanaz) awakens from his night of passion with Darla (Julie Benz), seemingly in the throes of losing his soul. But as it turns out, the hollow...