You cast a lot of Buffy auditionees in other roles - is that common?

Especially when you're casting an all-young show, you're casting from a pool of people. You get a good actor and think, "Well, they're not this, but I'll remember them for when this comes up." So yes, that happens a lot.

The only person for me who was a contender for Buffy who I had to eliminate immediately was Katie Holmes, because of the night-shoots and the length of hours. Katie was not yet eighteen and worked the regular workday, so I couldn't put her up for the part. But the next job I got was to cast for Dawson's Creek, and Katie was the first person and we all signed off on her. So casting out of a pool of people really served my next job very well.