Emma Caulfield is the actress who portrays Anya. She began the role in the third season episode, "The Wish" as the Patron Saint of Scorned Women Anyanka posing as a high school student. She was asked back for a later episode, "Doppelgangland" and then again in later episodes as they developed her character as a 1200 creature trapped in the body of a high school girl. Her role then developed into a recurring guest star for the fourth season.

One of Emma Caulfield's earlier roles was as Susan Keats in the long-running TV series, Beverly Hills, 90210 in 1995-96. From there, she went on to a role as Lorraine Miller in the daytime soap opera General Hospital. In addition to those roles, and her role on Buffy, Emma has had guest roles on Nash Bridges, Silk Stalkings, Weird Science, Renegade and Saved by the Bell: The New Class.