Julie Benz is certainly no stranger to the genre, in fact, she embraces it. She played Darla on Buffy and Angel, survived attacks in Burma with John Rambo, will soon come face to face with The Punisher and her boyfriend Dexter is a closet serial killer. Sound like your dream woman? We caught up with Julie this evening and chatted about her role in Saw V, the latest installment in Lionsgate's long running (and uber successful) franchise, which is set to hit theaters October 24th.

How long were you on set for Saw V?

I was there for two weeks, [but] it was a very intense two weeks.

Can you tell us anything about your character?

I play a woman named Brit, very ummm, a real estate developer she's ruthless a [real] thoroughbred, very corporate, her job is her life, everything is about her career.

Was there any special convincing necessary to bring you on board?

When I got the offer I said yes, no hesitation. They didn't even show me the script I had no idea who I was going to play. It's exciting to be a part of a movie that's part of a boxed set. It's a tightly run ship. Everybody?s been working together pretty much since the first Saw. I had done a movie years ago with Greg Hoffman one of the producers of the original Saw, he was developing Saw and has since passed away and for me it was also kind of like that spiritual reinvention. It was like wow, be a part of something that Greg Hoffman had created. Maybe he's up there [watching].

We?ve never been on the set of a Saw film, the series is so guarded, but I hear from people who have been on set that it?s a very unnerving experience, just being there.

I had nightmares about shooting it. Not about shooting the movie like I normally have like remembering your lines or craft services doesn't have chocolate (laughs) this was more about my character and what she had to do. The things she had to deal with, her emotional life. I was having really bad nightmares from it. I started getting sick, thinking about the things I had to do. I got nauseous and I would throw up. I would forget [that] it's not real.

How was David Hackl for a first time director, did he know what he was doing?

Wait, is he here? (laughs)

Yeah, he's right over there?

He was wonderful! (laughs) Every scene we would have a discussion about every character?s role and how it was going to play out. It was the first time I ever showed up [to a set] and saw a storyboard. He had every scene worked out, every shot and as an actor to visually see how he was going to shoot it and tell the story, then you gauge your performance based on the shot list. He was very gentle too, he was great talking to the actors, and he didn't threaten you.

(There's a slight pause)

Have you had directors threaten you in the past?

No, well, no, umm, Stallone kind of threatens you but in a friendly ummm, way (laughs)