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In 1992 the world was introduced to a young girl named Eliza Dushku as Alice Bloom in "That Night". After that she appeared in a few minor roles but basically got lost in the crowd, until last year that is. Earlier this TV season Eliza joined the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Faith, the other Slayer. Now Dushku`s talent is finally getting noticed and she is developing a strong fan following.
Born on December 30, 1980, in Boston, she got her start in the Watertown Children`s Theatre in her hometown. At the ripe of 10, she was cast the lead role in "That Night". The movie opened doors for her and in 1993 she landed another film, "This Boy`s Life". Working on the flick with Leonardo DiCaprio changed her life.
Eliza was getting badgered constantly by students and teachers about her film making. DiCaprio changed this for her. He taught her how to deal with bullies and everything else in her school life. His advice worked and the teasing stopped. Eliza says she is, "Forever grateful to him."
Over the new few years she continued getting minor roles. The last film she appeared in was "Race the Sun", a 1996 film in which she plays an alcoholic teen. After this movie she took her junior and senior years off from acting to bring up her grades. And she did. Dushku has been accepted to both Boston and George Washington Universities, though she is holding off to work on Buffy.
Eliza, who favorite color is black, lives in Watertown, Massachusetts where she graduated from high school. However, these days she can be found on the Buffy set. Also, due to the fact that minors can only work certain hours, Eliza had to be legally emancipated from her parents who are college professors living and writing a book in Romania.
Since starting on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eliza has gotten more attention. She has been featured in Teen People, Entertainment Weekly, and X-posè and is the subject of several websites. Fans may have seen her at the I Still Know What You Did Last Summer premiere or the 1999 Buffy Posting Board Party.
Eliza, who signs plays to the deaf at the Watertown Children`s Theatre, has a slightly more planned destiny than her character Faith. She still has a few more episodes left in her contract and is rumored to be signing on as regular cast member in Buffy`s fourth season. Another possibility is her shifting to the Buffy spin-off, Angel. One thing is certain, however. Hollywood has a new star on its hands.
Reprinted from The Navigator - March 1999