Buffy Summers was born in January 1981 to Hank and Joyce Summers, making her 22 now. As a child, she went through a phase during which she idolized ice-skater Dorothy Hamill, and was close friends with her cousin Celia until she died. Buffy started her high school career at Hemery High in Los Angeles, where she was a popular cheerleader; in 1996 she was elected Prom Princess and Fiesta Queen. That same year, Buffy was contacted by a man named Merrick, who told her that she was the Chosen One, the Vampire Slayer. Though Buffy was skeptical, it was true; Merrick was her Watcher. But Merrick was killed, and in Buffy's attempts at slaying, she managed to burn down her high school gym. Around that time, Joyce and Hank finalized their divorce, and Buffy moved with Joyce to 1630 Revello Drive in Sunnydale. She enrolled at Sunnydale High School, where the school librarian, Giles, informed her that he was her new Watcher. Though reluctant, Buffy was sucked full force into the life of a Slayer. Buffy became friends with Willow Rosenberg, Xander Harris, and to some extent, Cordelia Chase; and later with Willow's boyfriend Oz, all of whom knew that she was the Slayer (her mother finally found out at the end of Season 2) and often helped in her endeavors. Buffy developed a relationship with Angel, a vampire cursed with a soul; it ended when he lost his soul, turning him back into his evil vampiric self, but they got back together after his soul was restored again. Ultimately, Angel eventually realized that as Buffy got older, their relationship would be doomed, as he could never give her anything resembling a normal life. Thus, he left her, for her own good. During her freshman year at UC Sunnydale, Buffy roomed with Willow and developed a relationship with Riley Finn. After about a year together, Riley left Buffy and Sunnydale, feeling that Buffy didn't need nor love him. During her sophomore year at college, Buffy survived several family crises — first she discovered that her 14 year-old sister (introduced in Season 5) isn't actually her sister, but is a mystical "Key" just recently turned into human form and placed into Buffy's life (false memories included) so that Buffy could protect her. Then her mother had a brain tumor removed, only to later die from an aneurysm arising as a side effect from her surgery. Buffy dropped out of college to take care of Dawn. In the final fight against Glory, a hellgod seeking to use the Key, Buffy sacrificed her life to save Dawn's and the world. A few months later (Season 6), Willow brought Buffy back from the dead using dark magicks. Unfortunately, Buffy had been at peace in a heaven-like place, and being ripped out and plunked back onto earth was extremely hard on her, to say the least. In an effort to feel something, anything, she secretly took up a sexual (and violent) relationship with Spike, who had fallen in love with her during Season 5. Spike didn't accept the eventual breakup very well and at one point ended up attempting to rape Buffy. A trio of nerds (Warren, Andrew, and high school acquaintance Jonathan) who fancied themselves as villains, made themselves a nuisance to Buffy and the gang, culminating in Warren shooting and severely injuring Buffy. The same attack also accidentally left Tara dead, driving Willow over the edge. Buffy was no match for Willow's immense magical powers, and when Willow set out to destroy the world, it was Xander that got through to her and saved them all. Buffy has recently been hired at the new Sunnydale High School as a part-time counselor for troubled students.
    (The Watcher's Guide was used as a reference for seasons one and two.)

Sarah Michelle Gellar, 47, is one of the most popular young actresses today, and has worked hard to get there. Sarah has been a workaholic for years, and still describes herself as such. She was discovered by an agent at the age of four, and soon after began work on her first job, the TV movie, An Invasion of Privacy. Sarah appeared in numerous commercials, including one with Seth Green when they were around five years old. Over the next few years, she obtained small roles in movies and television (while attending The Professional Children's School), but her first big break came in 1993 when she won the role of Kendall Hart, Susan Lucci's daughter (which Julie Benz, who played Darla on BtVS, also auditioned for the role of Buffy) on All My Children. She played the villainess for two and a half years, winning a daytime Emmy in 1995 and announcing her departure the day after the awards ceremony (though she had given notice six months prior). Sarah's next big break came when she auditioned for the role of Cordelia on BtVS, but instead was chosen to play Buffy herself. And the rest, as they say, is history. Sarah has blossomed on Buffy, and the show got her the attention she needed to start getting bigger movie roles. Sarah's talents include Tae Kwon Do, kickboxing, and ice-skating (she competed when she was younger). Sarah was estranged from her father for many years (he died of an apparent suicide in October 2001) is very close to her mother. Sarah is close friends with actress Lindsay Sloane, who was a bridesmaid at Sarah's wedding.

Sarah has been a regular since the beginning, appearing in every episode thus far.