Charmed, I'm Sure
Source: The Courier Mail (Queensland Newspapers)
Article By: Louise Crossen
Credit: "Minnie Mouse"
Date: March 11, 2004

Drew Fuller's first day on Charmed was slightly surreal.

"There were all these dwarfs, I mean little people, cruising around in full-on sci-fi make-up. It was kinda weird, but I think it's a reminder that it is supposed to be fun – Charmed isn't just another job."

Fuller plays Chris, the Charmed One's new Whitelighter – "a bit of a shitstirrer".

"I'm a little bit good, a little bit bad. It's the best kind of character to play – you keep people in suspense."

If you're not a fan of the show, a quick recap: Piper (Holly Marie Combs), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) and Paige (Rose McGowan) are three sisters with special talents. In fact, they're white witches. A Whitelighter is a special protector sent "from upstairs" to watch over the Charmed Ones. Luckily this show doesn't take itself too seriously – the supernatural elements are really just an excuse for the cast to dress up, kick butt and travel to exotic underworlds.

While it's always tough joining an established show, Fuller says the Charmed cast welcomed him with open arms. It wasn't always this harmonious: Shannen Doherty left the show a couple of years back after a bitter wrangle with her co-stars, and there are rumours that Milano and Combs (credited as executive producers) can be difficult.

"I mean they interject when they feel something can be done better . . .," Fuller says.

"Actually, I can't really comment – in the end everyone just wants to make a better show. It's a really great gift working with these women."

When asked about his input, Fuller laughs. "I basically keep my mouth shut.

"I mean I've got a stockpile of suggestions but I won't be storming into the producers' office demanding changes any time soon."

Fuller started out as a teen model, but despite traveling the world on top pay, he wasn't happy. He'd been bitten by the acting bug, and booked the third audition he went on. His first role was a lead in Vampire Clan – a low-budget schlock fest about a blood-sucking serial killer.

"It was the worst movie ever made – it's actually listed on a couple of websites," he says.
[Webmaster Note: Drew states that he was quoted wrong. He meant Voodoo Academy, not Vampire Clan.]

"At the time, I thought I didn't need classes, that I would just front up and be myself. It was probably the worst thing that ever happened to me. I got a bit of an ego, I kind of thought, 'the world is mine'. I was so wrong. I very quickly got some humility.

"I was too raw, I wasn't getting jobs, so I went to class and got serious about it. No matter what you look like, you have to have talent."

He still dreams of movie stardom, but these days his feet are planted firmly on the ground. "Charmed is the best training in the world – 10,000 times better than any acting class," he says.

"People are very quick to point out what you are doing wrong and what you could be doing better.

"But the fans are more concerned about the character than my performance. It's not like 'you could have been stronger in this scene' or 'we didn't like your hair in last night's episode'. "