Who Did Rachel Bilson Play in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’? She ‘Doesn’t Have Memories’ From the Show
Rachel Bilson has been in front of the camera since a very young age. Her first roles included small parts in popular television sitcom series, such as That ’70s Show and MADtv. She also starred in the hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The 40-year-old actor continued to grow, with recurring roles in hit television dramas including The O.C., Nashville, and Take Two. It was so long ago that the single mom doesn’t even remember being on the show.
One of Bilson’s first roles was in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
Buffy the Vampire Slayer captured the imagination of teens for seven seasons. The popular television series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar ran from 1997 to 2003.
One of Bilson’s first television appearances was on the iconic show. She appeared in the final season in the 18th episode, titled “Dirty Girls.”
In an interview with InStyle, the accomplished actor revealed she was on the show, saying, “I don’t think I spoke.” She confessed, “I don’t have memories of being on Buffy.”
The O.C. alum questioned, “Was it a sex scene or something? I feel like that’s in my mind for some reason.” Bilson continued, “I have no idea. I’m a little scared to find out.”
According to the Buffyverse Wiki Fandom, Bilson had a short role, where she played Colleen, a potential slayer. She becomes the subject of an erotic dream experienced by Xander (Nicholas Brendon). Her only line, when Xander suggests a threesome, is “I’ve never been with a man before either.”
Appearing in that same episode was Nathan Fillion of Castle and Suicide Squad fame, who played the role of the evil priest, Caleb.
Fans will always think of Bilson as Summer Roberts
Bilson is best-known for portraying privileged teen Summer Roberts in the hit Fox television series, The O.C. The popular drama ran from 2003 to 2007.
She shared a real-life relationship with O.C. co-star Adam Brody, who played nerdy teen Seth on the long-running show. The actors dated through much of the series, sharing an on and off-screen romance. InStyle reported they split in late 2006, with the series ironically canceled several weeks later.
When the show ended, Bilson continued acting, starring in her first movie, The Last Kiss, alongside Zach Braff. In 2008, she collaborated with DKNY Jeans on her own fashion line and that same year met her future husband on the set of the film Jumper.
In 2010, she landed a recurring role in How I Met Your Mother. The following year she secured the lead role of Dr. Zoe Hart in the CW television series Hart of Dixie, which lasted for four seasons and ended in 2015. According to IMDb, the actor’s last appearance was pre-COVID-19 when she starred in the television movie Lovestruck.
According to US Weekly, Bilson ended her 10-year marriage to Star Wars actor Hayden Christensen in 2017. The couple shares a 7-year-old daughter, Briar Rose.
Bilson’s first acting role was chewing gum
Before Kaley Cuoco became the hot girl across the hall on The Big Bang Theory, she starred as Bridget in the endearing comedy 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. She worked alongside veteran actor Katey Sagal and Three’s Company star John Ritter.
Bilson got a chance to work on the hit show with the now-deceased Ritter in Season 1, Episode 14, titled “Career Choices.” In her interview with InStyle, the Drunk History narrator fondly recalled appearing on the television sitcom, saying:
“I was a day player, I had no lines. I was ‘Gum Chewing Girl.’ I sat there, and I chewed gum, with nothing to do.”
Bilson said this was her first television appearance, and remembering Ritter, she said he “could not have been nicer.” The O.C. alum revealed, “this was my first acting job – chewing gum.”
