Charisma Carpenter has proved she’s still every bit the California girl more than two decades after Buffy the Vampire Slayer first made her a household name.
The actress, 55, looked sensational as she soaked up the sunshine in a series of sizzling beachside bikini photos shared to Instagram on Monday, showing off her toned physique and radiant smile while enjoying a relaxing coastal getaway.
In the sun-drenched snaps, Charisma stunned in a vibrant red bikini featuring a plunging neckline, accessorising with oversized sunglasses, delicate gold jewelry and a chic straw hat.
One playful selfie captured the star beaming broadly at the camera while reclining on the sand, while another showed her stretching out beneath a cloudless blue sky during what appeared to be the ultimate laid-back beach day.
A further snap saw the actress shielding her face beneath her oversized hat while lounging on a towel, with windswept dunes and the ocean stretching out behind her.
© Instagram“Could get used to this,” she captioned the post. “Beach and Garden content is going strong with no end in sight.”
Fans immediately flooded the comments section with praise, with many stunned by how youthful the actress still looks more than 20 years after her breakout role as sharp-tongued Cordelia Chase on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
“Absolutely gorgeous,” one follower wrote, while another added: “You haven’t aged a day.”
© InstagramCharisma first rose to fame starring alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 1997 until 2003 before reprising her beloved role in the 2023 Audible series Slayers.
The actress’s latest post comes 22 years after she famously posed for Playboy in a photoshoot captured by celebrated photographer Russell James.
Away from Hollywood, Charisma is a devoted mom to her son Donovan, and in recent years has also become known for speaking candidly about her difficult experiences behind the scenes of Buffy and Angel.
© InstagramIn 2021, the actress publicly accused Buffy creator Joss Whedon of “hostile and toxic” behaviour during filming, claiming he once called her “fat” while she was four months pregnant and threatened to fire her. Her allegations prompted several former co-stars to publicly support her and share their own experiences.
Despite initially feeling hesitant about revisiting the Buffy universe following the controversy, Charisma later revealed that returning for Slayers became an unexpectedly emotional and empowering experience.
Speaking at New York Comic Con in 2023, she admitted she had “a little bit of apprehension” before joining the project, but said those fears quickly disappeared after hearing co-star Amber Benson’s enthusiasm for the story.
The actress has also spoken movingly about how deeply connected she feels to Cordelia Chase after portraying the character for nearly a decade.
© Disney General Entertainment Con“It’s personal for me. I have lived with Cordelia,” she previously explained. “I performed her for about ten years of my life, and I feel she, as a character, informed me, the woman that played her.”
Reflecting on the lasting impact the role had on her own life, Charisma added: “Cordelia gave birth to Charisma and really informed who I am today.”
And judging by her latest glowing beach photos, the actress appears happier, healthier and more confident than ever.
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