M
opposite: danielle kosann
ultihyphenates are a dime a dozen in Hollywood. Actor-writer. Producer-host. Model-actress. But Emmy and People’s Choice Award winner Sarah Michelle Gellar has been all the above and more: a competitive ice skater, a taekwondo black belt, a wax figure at Madame Tussauds, a celebrity face of Maybelline, a video vixen for Stone Temple Pilots and a regular on men’s magazines’ lists of the world’s sexiest women. She’s now writing a new career chapter as a cookbook author (Stirring Up Fun With Food) and the co-founder of Foodstirs, a brand of organic, ethically sourced baking mixes and kits. Gellar’s acting career began before kindergarten and picked up steam in her teens with All My Children. Film hits followed, including I Know What You Did Last Summer, Cruel Intentions and The Grudge. But it was Buffy the Vampire Slayer—one of the most popular shows in TV history—that made Gellar a household name. Twenty years later, her kick-ass character was ranked No. 3 on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of favorite fictional females. Gellar and her onscreen and offscreen partner, husband Freddie Prinze Jr., live on L.A’s Westside with their two young children, Charlotte and Rocky, and a Bernese mountain dog, Bella, aka “the world’s biggest lap dog.” What is life like in the GellarPrinze home?
We drop the kids off at school ourselves every morning. Freddie takes one and I take the other, then it’s straight to work, then back home for family dinner. We built
the whole house around the kitchen and the family room. It’s where we all gather together, and cooking has always been a participatory experience for us. Both you and Freddie have written cookbooks. Who does most of the cooking?
Everybody. Freddie went to culinary school, so I’m never going to compete with him in that space. He’s better at dinners, but I beat him when it comes to desserts. Even the kids do their own cooking. It’s quite the family affair. What’s your favorite family meal?
Sushi! It’s the one thing we can’t do better at home. Asanebo is the finest Japanese food I’ve ever had in the world, hands down. It’s life-changing. Sushi Sasabune has some incredible preparations, Wa Sushi & Bistro and KazuNori are great, and my kids love Katsuya and Sugarfish. I remember asking my pediatrician, “When can my children have sushi?” He said, “Do you want your kids to eat sushi?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Then you’d better give it to them!” What inspired you to start your own organic-foods brand?
Our kids. I met my Foodstirs partners through our kids’ playdates. We’re always looking for those moments where you can put down all the devices and connect. That’s when memories are made, and it usually happens in the kitchen. Pinterest is so intimidating, though, that you don’t know where to start. So we started at the grocery store. I was shocked that there were no mixes that we wanted, just niche products or legacy brands, which were around when my mom
was a child, with ingredients I’d never consider putting in my body. Nothing spoke to us. We thought, “Well, if nobody else is going to do it, we’ll do it.” Now we have distribution in 7,500 stores. The ultimate goal is to have Foodstirs come to mind when you think “clean” and “green” and “ethically sourced.” What do you do to combat those extra calories?
I do everything from Pilates to TRX to boxing. I’ve had a bad back after eight years on Buffy, so Pilates is the one thing I find that strengthens my back and keeps my pain at a minimum. I love working up a sweat in a jump-board class. And we live in California, so our favorite way to enjoy the weather is to go hiking. We’ve had the kids hiking with us since they were little, when we used to carry them. Where do you feel most at home in L.A.?
We’re a beach family. That’s where we spend most of our weekends to take advantage of being so close to the ocean, whether we’re surfing or swimming or digging for sand crabs. We’re so lucky to have access. Sometimes I drive out of my way just to see the ocean and feel its power and magic. I feel least at home in L.A. on the 405 or 101 freeways. It’s a real indicator of my love if I drive the freeways to see someone. What do you do when you have a little “me” time?
Reading is my biggest passion. I go through two or three books a week. I like to read everything, but I do like crime and procedural thrillers a lot. For a while my husband thought there was something wrong
with me and would ask, “What’s going on with you?” because every book was something like The Husband’s Secret. I love that stuff, but I’m open to everything. You’re also a longtime volunteer.
I think charities matter. I’m very proud of the Good+ Foundation. The idea is to help families in need by helping the whole family. One of my favorite aspects of their work is a project called the Fatherhood Initiative, which is about empowering fathers to find time for activities to bond with their children. It’s been 20 years since you starred in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Are you surprised that Buffy has remained such a popculture icon?
I’m not so much surprised as awed by it. Sometimes, to really understand the impact of something, you have to stand away a little bit. Now, 20 years later, I feel that resonance, and I realize how impactful [it was] and how it stands the test of time. I’m extremely proud. As Buffy would say, “It doesn’t suck.” What mantra or personal philosophy drives you?
Someone once said to me, “Add ‘for now’ at the end of every sentence,” such as, “Oh, my God, I’m getting no sleep … for now” or “Oh, my God, I’m still underwater … for now.” It reminds you that these situations are temporary, and you can get through them. [Ultimately, success is] about having a passion and being dedicated to it. You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. You don’t have to know everything. The desire to fixate is the drive that takes you places.
W H E R E G U EST B OOK 3 9
038-039_QA_GBLA18.indd 39
12/15/17 2:48 PM