Coming Of Age
Source: TV Zone Magazine [Issue #176]
Article By: Steven Eramo
Transcribed By: Drew Fuller Fan.com
Date: June 2004

The series' resident Whitelighter, Chris, takes family business very seriously - and with good reason, considering he's been sent back in Time to look after his older brother. Actor Drew Fuller talks about secrets, lies and the ties that bind…

The sixth season of Charmed has been one of keeping secrets for Whitelighter Chris. When the tall, dark and handsome stranger first arrives on the Halliwell Manor doorstep he claims to be from the future and is there to help the sisters defeat the godlike Titans. While that may be true, Chris also has a hidden and very personal agenda. He has come back to save Piper's and Leo's son Wyatt from a mysterious evil force. However, that's not the Whitelighter's only secret. He is, in fact, Wyatt's younger brother, and at one point the young man almost ceases to exist when his day of conception nearly doesn't take place.

Chris's self-appointed mission ultimately comes to a head in the show's two-part sixth season cliff-hanger It's a Bad Bad Bad Bad World, and one person who can't wait to watch what happens is the actor behind the Whitelighter, Drew Fuller. "I was bummed when I found out that [in the States] there was another month of repeats," says Fuller. "I love watching the finished product and seeing what I perhaps could have done differently as an actor as well as elements that did and didn't work."

"So I can't wait to see this season's final few episodes. In 'It's a Bad Bad Bad Bad World' we expose the evil that is after Wyatt. The story is chockfull of surprises. Believe me, there are going to be fireworks and heads will roll."

With parts ranging from a real-life serial killer in the feature film Vampire Clan to bad boy Nick Reed on the action/adventure TV series Black Sash, Fuller had plenty of acting experience behind him when he was cast on Charmed. Like any new role, though, it took him time to flesh out his character and make it his own.

"As we head towards the end of this season Chris starts to let his guard down and viewers get to see another side of him, which is great," notes the actor. "Prior to that he was all business and every action was geared towards saving Wyatt and his family or himself [as seen in the episode The Courtship of Wyatt's Father]. In these last few episodes, though, he's taken time to enjoy his family and has come to love them. Of course, Chris still has a huge beef with his father Leo [Brian Krause], which is common in real-life parent/child relationships. We've tried hard to make that situation as believable as possible to the audience."

"Let's put aside all the demons and magic for a moment and look at the family dynamic among this group of people. Working on those relationships has been a big factor insofar as Chris's development as a character. It's also helped me grow into the role. I feel 10 times more confident and comfortable now than I did at this time last year [March 2003], which was when I shot my very first Charmed episode [the fifth season's Oh My Goddess]. I can see the changes in me when I watch the early stories and compare them to those I've recently done. Chris has gone from being pointed, aggressive, and rather commanding to a somewhat vulnerable guy who is fighting demons both psychological and physical. My character has come to realize the truth about certain issues involving his family and his life. It's been a wonderful coming of age journey and one that's not over yet."

The actor chuckles when asked to describe Chris's relationship with The Charmed Ones. "There's an episode [Chris-Crossed] in which Phoebe [Alyssa Milano] says, 'That is one bitchy Whitelighter,' and the truth is Chris has been bitchy. He's always hounding the girls to get on with vanquishing demons and he backs that up by reminding them that they're doing it to protect Wyatt. Slowly, but surely, though, they learn things about Chris that help explain some of his actions and this changes their opinion of him."

"He and Paige [Rose McGowan] are very much like brother and sister. Most of the time they absolutely love each other but on occasion they will get testy with one another. Piper [Holly Marie Combs] is Chris's soft spot and he would do anything for her. As for Phoebe, she's the most tolerant and lets Chris get away with a lot, but not everything," he jokes.

Since traveling back in time to help protect Wyatt and the three sisters, Chris has, among other things, been shot by a poisoned arrow, come close to having his Whitelighter status revoked by the Elders, and been hunted by a pack of Swarm demons. In one of Fuller's favorite stories, Spin City, his character is transformed into a spider-like creature.

"The director of Spin City, Mel Damski, is absolutely fantastic," says the actor. "I had so much trust in him and as a result I never felt any self-doubt. Mel basically put any insecurities I might have had to rest and that allowed me to get on with the job at hand."

"I really enjoyed working with the prosthetics in that episode. Having all that stuff on my hands and face really helped me get into character. The biggest challenge was when the fake nails on the claws I was wearing kept falling off. We were on location for one day in a sandpit and after every take there were people on their hands and knees looking for my nails. Another challenge was trying to go to the bathroom with claws on my hands. Now that's an adventure all on its own," he laughs.

It's always a gamble whenever a new character joins an established TV show as to whether he or she will be accepted by the viewers. In Fuller's case, he has nothing to worry about. "The fans' response to Chris has been amazing," he enthuses. "I feel so loved and appreciated, and it makes me happy to know that what I'm doing on the show affects people that much."

When asked if his character will be back next season on Charmed, the actor is understandably cryptic in his response. "The moment the season finale ends, viewers will be dying to know what happens next," teases Fuller. "All I can say is it's going to be a long summer."

Make Room for Granddaddy

While Fuller had the most fun shooting Spin City, he also has fond memories from working on this season's Hyde School Reunion. "I thought a number of scenes in that episode were some of my character's deepest and most heartfelt ones and they allowed me to show a great deal of range as an actor," explained Fuller.

"I especially enjoyed my on-screen time with James Read, who plays the sisters' father and Chris's granddad [Victor Bennett]. I love coming to work and acting opposite someone who is truly excited about his or her role. I'm not saying the girls aren't. They're amazing. The three of them having been doing this for so long that they can drop right into character when the director says, 'Action!' I, however, still think of myself as the 'new guy,' so it's fun for me when another actor approaches their role as if it's his or her first time on Charmed and that was true of James. I had a blast working with him. James made my close-ups so easy to do because he was connecting with me off-camera. He didn't just sit there and wait for me to finish saying my lines. James was there with me in the moment and that made a huge difference acting-wise. So I'm truly grateful to him for that."