Alyson Hannigan's Transformation From Buffy The Vampire Slayer To Today

Alyson Hannigan was born in Washington D.C. to a Jewish mother and an Irish father. After her parents split up, Hannigan moved to Atlanta with her mother and began acting in commercials when she was only 4 years old. At 11 years old, Hannigan and her mother moved to Los Angeles so Hannigan could pursue film and television credits. She worked steadily throughout her childhood and teen years but took time off to attend college at the University of California, Northridge, where she earned a degree in psychology.

Unlike many child actors, Hannigan never went through a wild or rebellious phase. She didn't go down a dark path of self-destruction or addiction, nor did she struggle to make the transition from child actor to adult actor. When asked about what helped her to keep her priorities straight, Hannigan responded, "I have always known that I wanted to be an actress," telling Collider, "I never want to jeopardize being able to do that [...] so that kind of, like, kept me from going anywhere, like dark," while also acknowledging she has always been a rule follower who doesn't want to get into trouble.

Although Hannigan was a child actress who cut her teeth in commercials, film, and television series, her breakthrough role as Willow Rosenberg in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" made her a household name in the late '90s and early 2000s. Join us as we explore Alyson Hannigan's transformation from a teenage witch on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to today.

Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof met on the set of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in 1997 when he began playing the new watcher, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. It was attraction at first sight, for Hannigan, but Denisof was hesitant. "I was trying to pursue him, but he said he didn't want to date somebody he was working with," Hannigan told The Sun. "We developed a great friendship and I started dating someone else."

After that relationship ran its course, Denisof admitted he had developed feelings for Hannigan and they started dating in 1999. Hannigan told The Sun that her mother had counseled her to think deeply before marriage. "It wasn't an important thing for me until I met Alexis," Hannigan admitted to Moviehole, adding, "I know he's the one for me." Denisof proposed during a road trip through wine country in northern California in 2001.

They married in October 2003 at Two Bunch Palms resort near Palm Springs, California, in an intimate ceremony. "It was very small, so a lot of people got nixed," Hannigan told Entertainment Weekly, adding "Jason Biggs gave me hell for not being invited." Hannigan and Denisof celebrated their 20^th anniversary in October 2023.

In 2004, Alyson Hannigan starred opposite Luke Perry, of "Beverly Hills, 90210" fame, in a stage adaptation of "When Harry Met Sally" in London's West End. Although some theatergoers in London were reportedly frustrated with the Americanization of London's West End, Hannigan argued Americans were perfect for this play. "First of all, this play takes place in New York so I think it's better with Americans," Hannigan told The Guardian, adding, "I don't care if you hate me for doing it. I wanted to come to prove to myself that I could do it."

As for the famous "I'll have what she's having" scene from the film, Hannigan admitted, "I've been practicing and I have gotten over the embarrassment factor." Hannigan shared with The Guardian, "Every time I do it, I get more and more confident and bigger and bigger. Now I have to learn how to do it from my diaphragm rather than my throat."

Although the play didn't garner universally glowing reviews, Hannigan was praised with the statement, "The best thing about a pointless evening is Alyson Hannigan who lends Sally a bright-eyed perkiness," The Guardian reported, adding, "Hannigan does an unearthly impression of the young Meg Ryan: complete with pert and self-satisfied little smirk." Perry didn't fare so well under the scrutiny of London theater critics who agreed he was miscast as Harry.

On March 24, 2009, after nearly six years of marriage, Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof became parents. The couple kept the gender of their baby secret during pregnancy but announced that they welcomed their first daughter, Satyana Marie Denisof, into the world. Their firstborn shares a birthday with Hannigan, making her birth story extra special. "They're very excited, and mom and baby are doing great," the couple's representative told People Magazine.

Hannigan admitted to Us Weekly that becoming a mother "has changed me in every way because my life is so much greater." She continued, "It filled a void I never knew was there — it's the most amazing experience of my life. I just feel so blessed to get to be on this journey, to be a mommy." Although producers hid Hannigan's baby bump during her first pregnancy, "How I Met Your Mother" worked Hannigan's second pregnancy into the storyline of Season 7. On May 23, 2012, Hannigan and her husband welcomed their second daughter, Keeva Jane Denisof, making their family of four complete.

Alyson Hannigan has starred in a handful of films over the years, but lately, she's been teaming up with Disney for multiple projects. In 2021, Hannigan starred as Phyllis, in "Flora & Ulysses," an adaptation of the beloved children's book. It's a delightful story about a superhero squirrel and the little girl who rescues him. When asked what drew her to the project, Hannigan was enthusiastic. "I was such a fan of the book. I immediately wanted to do it," Hannigan told Screenrant. "It was just really exciting to do something that my kids already were familiar with. So it was kind of a no-brainer." Hannigan loved working with Matilda Lawler, who plays Flora in the movie, saying "She is so talented. She's so professional as well."

Hannigan shared how she hopes audiences are inspired by the film's message of holding on to hope, "Because especially now things can be very dark and overwhelming and it's okay to have hope and you kind of have to have it in order to get yourself through whatever your situation is," Hannigan told Screenrant. Getting to watch her daughters enjoy a movie she was in was a really special experience for Hannigan. "Oh, this is absolutely their favorite ... it was just like maybe the greatest gift I've gotten as an actress and a mom ... They genuinely loved it and not because I'm in it ... They just loved it."

Alyson Hannigan began doing voice acting while playing Willow Rosenberg on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," voicing characters in "Rugrats" and "The Wild Thornberrys." Hannigan continued to lend her voice to many productions over the years. She voiced multiple characters in three episodes of "American Dad" and joined the cast of "The Simpsons" for one episode. Hannigan also joined her "Buffy" alumni Seth Green in two episodes of his animated series, "Robot Chicken."

Hannigan was such a fan of the "Fancy Nancy" book, that she asked her agent to reach out when she heard it was going to be adapted into an animated series. Although she offered to play the dog, Frenchy, Hannigan was cast as Claire Clancy in 57 episodes of "Fancy Nancy." Although Hannigan has done voice work throughout her career, "Fancy Nancy" was her first foray into being a series regular. "My whole life, I've always wanted to do cartoons, and I don't think I was actually really good at it until I became a mother," Hannigan told Paste Magazine.

In 2023, Alyson Hannigan became a contestant on Season 32 of "Dancing with the Stars." All of her performances show how much she enjoys dancing with her partner, Sasha Farber, and how much she enjoys the scenarios of the dance routines. From her Halloween-themed nod to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to a "Beauty and the Beast"-themed jazz performance, Hannigan brought her A-game to the competition.

Hannigan's dedication to the show was made even more clear when she danced her way through an intense migraine. "I didn't realize migraines can also cause you to just throw up anything in your body," Hannigan told Entertainment Weekly after her Motown night performance. Hannigan might not be taking as many acting jobs as she once did, but it's clear she's enjoying throwing herself into the dance contest.

Over the years, we've watched Hannigan transform. In the years after "Buffy" ended, we've watched her become a confident actress, wife, mother, television host, and most recently — a dancing diva — proving Hannigan just might have more hidden talents to share with fans.