WHY HER?: Made things even darker at Sunnydale by playing Buffy's double-crossing slayer, Faith. And with the comedy Bring It On and the thriller Soul Survivors she's on her way to slaying Hollywood.

WORK RITUAL: "Before a scene, I must smoke a cigarette"

MOST CREATIVE THING SHE'S EVER DONE: "You've gotta see my house. I decorated it myself when I was only 17."

BEST SET SOUVENIR: "I Love taking the backs of all my director's chairs."

WHO'S IT?: Russel Crowe, dude! He's definitely IT"

NEXT: Bring It On, due August 18; Survivors in 2001.

Reprinted from Entertainment Weeekly - July 30, 2000