Sarah Michelle Gellar's work schedule was to die for.
After all, the actress shared how she was able to prioritize time with her and husband Freddie Prinze Jr.'s kids Charlotte, 15, and Rocky, 12, while starring in the upcoming series Dexter: Original Sin.
"One of the beauties of being on the show was that we filmed at home," Sarah, who lives in Los Angeles, exclusively told E! News at the New York premiere of the Showtime prequel. "We were there for breakfast and dinner, and the kids got to be a part of it."
"Nothing really films in Los Angeles anymore," she explained. "To get the opportunity to be on something at home—it just makes all the difference."
It also helps that the 47-year-old—who plays Dexter's boss and head of forensics at the Miami Metro Police Department, Tanya Martin—has always dreamed of appearing in the original series, which ended in 2013 after eight seasons.
"I was a huge fan," she shared. "I remember being very sad that I never got to guest star on it because I always thought it was such an incredible show. You think that those opportunities have passed, and then all of a sudden, you get this call that it's coming back, and your chance you haven't missed it. It's incredibly exciting."
And since Sarah's character didn't appear in the original Dexter, she had the chance to find her own voice for Tanya in the new series that focuses on Dexter (Patrick Gibson) honing his murdering skills with the help of his dad Harry Morgan (Christian Slater) as he interns at the Metro PD.
"I spoke a lot about what it would have been like to be a woman in the '90s working in a male-dominated field," she explained. "She was a boss and she had her own department. What kind of strength and camaraderie did she have with the other guys to get through that?"
Despite the heavy undertones of the show, Sarah revealed that the vibes on set were quite the opposite due to the cast, which includes Patrick Dempsey, Christina Milian and returning star Michael C. Hall, who voices Dexter's inner monologue In fact, the Buffy The Vampire Slayer alum admitted that it was difficult to "take things seriously" when everyone was together. She emphasized, "It was actually quite hard!"
Needless to say, Sarah didn't bring any dark energy home with her, which was a relief since she always prioritizes spending quality time with her family.
"Dinners for me are really important," she told E! News in February. "We're a food family, food friends, we love to cook."
"We play board games," she continued. "I puzzle-overloaded during Covid so I had to take a little break from puzzles, but we do a lot of board games and card games."
As Sarah noted of their activities as a family, "It's a moment of connection."
Dexter: Original Sin premieres Friday, Dec. 13 on streaming and on demand for Paramount+ with Showtime plan subscribers and debuts on air in the U.S. Sunday, Dec. 15.
Now, read on for more of Sarah and Freddie's sweet family moments.
Party of Four
In January 2019, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. had a double date with Shannen Doherty and the actress' then-husband Kurt Iswarienko.
Kiss Kiss
"No mistletoe, no problem," the mom of two wrote on this December 2018 kissy photo.
Halloween Hotties
In 2018, the lovebirds took their Halloween costumes to the next level by dressing up as characters from The Royal Tenenbaums.
Blissful
It doesn't matter what these two do, as long as they're together they are having a good time.
Ice Cream Cuddles
"If you were ice cream, you would be my favorite flavor," Gellar captioned this sweet snap in 2018.
Wine Not?
"It's the freakin weekend, baby I'm about to have me some fun," Gellar wrote on this cheeky post in March of 2018.
Photo Booth Fun
In December 2017, the cute couple had some fun at an engagement party thanks to photo booth props.
Pretty in Pink
Gellar channeled her inner Molly Ringwald with her Andie costume from Pretty in Pink in 2017 while her husband nailed it as Duckie (played by Jon Cryer) from the film.
Sparks Will Fly
"The only time I don't mind giving up #independence lol," Gellar joked to her followers on the 4th of July in 2017.
Ready, Set, Smile
The couple that snaps selfies together, stays together!
Birthday Lovin'
Gellar's birthday message in 2017 to her husband was just the cutest. "Happy birthday @realfreddieprinze," she wrote, "'the happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything.'"
Hearts Full
In January 2017, the pair celebrated National Spouse Day by taking this pic.
Red Hot
"Someone let me know who that red head was seen trick or treating with @realfreddieprinze ..." Gellar joked on Instagram while celebrating Halloween in 2016.
Beachin'
The Scooby-Doo stars soaked up the last bits of summer together in 2016.
Proud as Can Be
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum couldn't help but gush about her husband after his cookbook came out.
Movie Night
"Finally out like the adults we are...to see #fantasticalbeastsandwheretofindthem," Gellar revealed while out on a date night in November 2016.
Fight Club
In October 2015, the duo posed with wrestling belts and tried to out muscle each other.
Friends Forever
The bond between Gellar, Prinze and Selma Blair has lasted for three decades and we can't wait to see what they do during the next three.
Cookin' Up Love
The Back to the Kitchen author and his wife are often found in the kitchen whipping up delicious meals for their family.
Baby on Board
In this adorable throwback, Gellar revealed that the couple took this photo in Hawaii after they learned they were expecting their daughter Charlotte!
Dirty 30
These two have had a lot of fun in their relationship, and the Foodstirs creator's "Dirty 30" birthday party was no exception.
Gobble, Gobble, Gobble
This throwback snap, the happy couple celebrated their first Thanksgiving together.
Beach Babies
The I Know What You Did Last Summer costars looked like babies in this photo from a vacation way back before they had kids together.
Sunsets Forever
We just love these two.
Christmas Cuties
If you've ever wanted to know what Prinze and Gellar looked like when celebrating their first holiday together, then look no further!
Drunk in Love
How happy do these two lovebirds look in this sweet photo from their honeymoon back in 2002?!
Just Married
Clearly, this pair was a match made in smiley heaven.
Look of Love
"I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you," Gellar shared on one of her past wedding anniversaries. "I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me."