Julie Benz was born on May 1, 1972 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was raised in Murrysville and graduated from Franklin Regional High School. She also attended New York University. As an actress, she appeared in several movies and TV shows like As Good as It Gets, Jawbreaker and Angel, but she was popularly known for her portrayal of Darla in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Ultimately, she became part of the suspense drama series Dexter as Rita Bennet. Rita Bennet is a mother of two who is recovering from being abused by her ex-husband, Paul.