Julie Benz

Julie Benz (born May 1, 1972 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American actress. Benz grew up in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Franklin Regional High School. She later graduated from New York University. Initially, Benz followed her mother and older siblings, Jeffrey and Jennifer, into the figure skating field, and competed in the 1988 US Junior Ice Skating Championship. Benz gave up her pursuit of ice skating after an accident.
Benz achieved her first acting role in a local play in 1989. She
is best known for playing the vampire Darla in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where she was the first character seen on screen and spoke the first line, and later in the spin-off series, Angel. She has acted in such films as Jawbreaker and As Good as It Gets.
Benz also provided the voice of Miranda Keyes in the video game Halo 2, and will return in that role in the upcoming sequel Halo 3.
She is married to actor John Kassir.
She has been nominated (Satellite Awards 2006) for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for her role as Rita Bennett on 'Dexter'.

Awards

2006 Satellite Awards: Nomination (Winners Have Not Been Announced)

Supporting Actress in a Series (Dexter)

Trivia

• Benz had to overcome her fear of singing in public for the Angel episode The Trial