Renowned for her breakout role in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” American actress Eliza Dushku has undergone a remarkable transformation since her heyday on the beloved TV series. Now stepping away from the limelight for nearly a decade, Eliza’s current look might surprise her long-time fans.

In recent social media updates, Eliza, who is now 44 years old, showcases a dramatic new appearance. Her once signature chocolate-brown, shoulder-length hair has been replaced by long, highlighted tresses that cascade down her back, marking a significant departure from her character Faith Lehane’s iconic style.

Living a seemingly more tranquil lifestyle, Eliza often appears in her posts without makeup and in casual attire, an image that starkly contrasts with her polished on-screen persona. This more laid-back approach reflects a departure from the high-profile world she once inhabited.

Despite the changes over the years, one thing remains constant—Eliza’s timeless beauty. Her transformation might be striking, but her youthful appearance continues to captivate, echoing her enduring appeal from her days as the formidable counterpart to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy.

Despite looking worlds away from her days as the foil to Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy, Eliza still looks positively ageless.

Since stepping away from the spotlight, Eliza traded the glitz of Hollywood for a life far removed from Tinseltown.

These days fans may struggle to recognise Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Eliza Dushku (pictured here on the show) 

Recent social media posts show Eliza, now 44, sporting long flowing highlighted hair – a far cry from the chocolate shoulder-length locks her Buffy character Faith Lehane rocked in the iconic teen series 

She is now certified in psychedelic-assisted therapy and recently completed her master’s degree in counselling and clinical mental health at Lesley University.

She took to Instagram in April to mark the occasion with a series of graduation photos.

‘Graduating with my master’s degree (!!) feels like more than an achievement—it feels like a deep calling realised,’ her caption began.

‘True growth, energy, and passion – manifested. After nearly a decade of inner work and building a new life, I’m so grateful for this moment in time.

‘To my highest self – for taking this wild leap away from everything I knew and making it happen.’

Alongside her husband, real estate developer Peter Palandjian, Eliza is funding groundbreaking research and clinical trials on the potential of psychedelics, according to a 2024 interview in Boston Magazine.   

‘I had the means to shift directions and choose a course in my life that focused on healing myself so that I could help heal others,’ she said.

‘I would be remiss if I didn’t now share the transformation and the peace and the passion that I have. This is just absolutely so clearly my real calling, my real purpose.’ 

Despite looking worlds away from her days as the foil to Sarah Michelle Gellar ‘s Buffy, Eliza still looks positively ageless 

She is also the executive producer of a new Netflix documentary – In Waves and War –  which explores the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapies on veterans struggling with PTSD and other trauma. 

Eliza hasn’t been seen on screen since 2017, when she appeared in Netflix’s The Saint and played J.P. Nunnelly in CBS’s Bull.

That year, she stepped away from Hollywood after accusing her Bull co-star Michael Weatherly of sexual harassment.

In the wake of the allegations, which Michael has denied, Eliza was written out of the show and informed that her role as a series regular had been abruptly cancelled.

Mediation with CBS resulted in the network agreeing to pay Eliza a confidential settlement of US$9.5 million – roughly the amount she stood to earn if kept on the show for four seasons.

Michael apologised for his behaviour toward Eliza in a statement to the Times, saying: ‘During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script.

‘When Eliza told me that she wasn’t comfortable with my language and attempt at humour, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologised.’

He continued: ‘After reflecting on this further, I better understand that what I said was both not funny and not appropriate and I am sorry and regret the pain this caused Eliza.’ 

Eliza first rose to fame in 1998 when she was cast as Faith, the rebellious Slayer, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

In her personal life, Eliza married real estate developer Peter Palandjian in 2018, and the couple has since welcomed two children

Eliza first rose to fame in 1998 when she was cast as Faith, the rebellious Slayer, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Her standout role as Faith, which she portrayed until 2003, earned her a devoted fan base and solidified her status as a rising star in Hollywood.

She also reprised the role in the Buffy spin-off Angel. 

Following Buffy, Eliza starred in the hit cheerleading film Bring It On (2000), which became a cult classic.

In her personal life, Eliza married Peter in 2018, and the couple has since welcomed two children.

The family has since made a home in Boston, Eliza’s birthplace, where they are enjoying life away from Hollywood.