So, let’s dispense with all objectivity right at the start. We love Alyson Hannigan. Best known as Band Camp Girl of “American Pie” trilogy fame, Willow, the eventually lesbian witch on TV’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and as Lily on the ensemble sitcom, “How I Met Your Mother,” the usually redheaded, slender Ms. Hannigan makes us all sticky with happiness. Her flair for comedy and pathos, her air of innocence mixed with earthy sexuality, the way her little mouth kind of crinkles when she smiles….Sorry.
Okay, then. Alyson was born in 1974. Growing up in Atlanta, Alyson was brought before cameras almost immediately. By age twelve, she had moved west with her mother to Los Angeles and was appearing alongside Dan Aykroyd, Kim Basinger Jon Lovitz, and future “Buffy” boyfriend Seth Green in “My Stepmother Is An Alien.” After that, Alison kept working through her high school and college years in commercials and episodic TV, including “Touched by an Angel,” “Picket Fences,” and “Roseanne.”
In 1997, former “Roseanne” writer Joss Whedon cast 23-year-old Alyson as the slayer’s nerdy best friend, Willow Rosenberg. Wise choice. Alyson’s blend of charisma, empathy, and sheer cuteness made her and her character a perennial audience favorite. In 1999, Alyson was originally cast as choir girl Heather in “American Pie,” but the comedy-loving Carol Burnett fan begged for the part of Michelle, the sex-positive band geek. Another wise choice. Soon, the former junior high school clarinet player became raunch comedy’s most famous flutist, and Alyson continued in the increasingly prominent role for two top-grossing sequels.
On the personal side, early on, Alyson dated Marilyn Manson drummer Ginger Fish, described by his boss as the “quietest, but most dangerous” member of the Satan-praising ensemble. In 2002, her bad-boy phase apparently long over, she accepted the proposal of her occasional co-star, clean-cut thespian Alexis Denisof (a.k.a. rogue demon hunter Wesley Wyndam-Pryce). The couple was married the following year, and we wept.
By 2004, Willow had become TV’s best-known lesbian and Buffy and her pals had saved the world one last time. Citing a desire to do more comedy, Alyson was cast as the lead in the London stage production of “When Harry Met Sally” opposite Luke Perry, as well as the pilot for the CBS sitcom, “How I Met Your Mother.” That show was picked up, and continues to provide Alison with plenty of opportunity to engage in the physical comedy she adores. She was also featured in a recurring role on “Veronica Mars.” In 2006, Alyson got her first big-screen starring role in the spoof-comedy, “Date Movie.” The movie was horrible. It made some money. We love Alyson so much, we’re glad.
Iconic Character – Lily Eriksen on “How I Met Your Mother”
Alyson is having a fantastic career as she shows off her many talents and continues to look amazing. But for many fans, her role as Lily on “How I Met Your Mother” will always be a favorite. We highlihgted this character in our “TV Girlfriends” feature in the “Thy Neighbor’s Wife” catagory. Here’s what we said about the character:
“There isn’t any harder nut to crack within this or any of our lists than the woman known as Mrs. Marshall Ericksen. Lily’s been devoted to her big lug of a husband since they met in college, and it’s completely and utterly mutual. Frankly, it’s not hard to see why: not only is she as cute as a button, but we suspect there are porn stars that aren’t as sexually ravenous as she is. Not that we’d know…but she would, as she regularly (if quietly) acknowledges her appreciation of that particular genre of cinema. You don’t find many kindergarten teachers willing to admit that. You probably shouldn’t hold your breath that you can sway Lily away from Marshall…and even if you did, the man’s a behemoth, so it’d probably be the last thing you ever did…but, dammit, look at her attributes. Isn’t it at least worth trying?”
Alyson’s Lily character ended up winning the Thy Neighbor’s Wife round of fan voting, and here’s what we said about what it would be like to date that character:
WHY SHE GOT HERE: Not only is she as cute as a button, but we suspect there are porn stars that aren’t as sexually ravenous as she is.
DATING PROS: In addition to her aforementioned attractiveness and unabashed lovability, we have to give her a thumbs-up for acknowledge her appreciation of the pornographic arts. You don’t find many kindergarten teachers willing to admit that.
DATING CONS: There isn’t any harder nut to crack within this or any of our lists than Lily. She’s been devoted to her big lug of a husband since they met in college, and it’s completely and utterly mutual.
Alyson Hannigan as Lily
Here are some sexy kissing highlights from the show.
Alyson Hannigan on the Screen
We may be biased, but “American Pie” notwithstanding, her work as Willow on “Buffy” remains Alyson’s best so far. As an actress, she got to run the gamut between the silliest comedy and some pretty searing drama, and she did it all marvelously. Favorite moments include an encounter between ultra-good-girl Willow and the ultra-evil vampire Willow from another dimension.
Alyson Hannigan Quotes
On dating (B.A.D. – Before Alexis Denisof):
“I know quickly whether a guy is boyfriend material. If I can have a good time doing absolutely nothing with him, then that’s boyfriend material for me. Like if we’re able to have fun at a gas station. I’ve had some really good times at gas stations.”
On married life to a co-star:
“But when we’re at home, I promise you, we certainly don’t talk about vampires or suck each other’s blood for tea.”
On real-life weddings versus TV and movie weddings:
“…It’s nice to dress up and have a pretty gown. But it’s strange, because there’s no similarity to my wedding whatsoever. So if I go into wedding mode and try to think, “Well, if it were a real wedding,” it just frustrates you. Because you’re like, “Well, I wouldn’t be sitting here, but it’s a better shot if I sit here. And we wouldn’t dance like this.”