Two stars from the supernatural series Charmed have arrived in Australia ahead of their appearance at the Supanova Comic Con in Sydney this weekend.
Holly Marie Combs and Brian Krause, who played on-screen couple Piper Halliwell and Leo Wyatt in the noughties series, landed in Sydney Airport on Thursday minus the entourage and fanfare synonymous with typical Hollywood arrivals.
The pair were so low-key that they exited customs and baggage claim along with the other passangers, instead of the side exit doors reserved for the rich and famous.
Wearing a long black coat over a maxidress and boots, Combs, 52, was seen rolling her own suitcases through the terminal and out the doors where she waited for their transport to arrive.
Krause, who was casually dressed in a grey jacket and khaki shorts, also handled his own luggage as he effortlessly blended in with the crowd.
The 57-year-old was even seen making a pit stop at one of the stores for a quick snack.
Although Charmed ended in 2006 following a successful eight-season run, Combs and Krause have remained close friends as they strive to keep the show’s legacy alive.
The duo host a Charmed rewatch podcast called The House of Halliwell alongside co-star Drew Fuller, who played Chris Halliwell in later seasons – the couple’s on-screen son who travels back in time from a dystopian future to save his family.
Combs and Krause also frequent the convention circuit to meet, greet and chat to fans about the hit series, which followed three sisters, Prue, Piper and Phoebe, who discover they are descendants of a line of good female witches who use their combined Power of Three powers to vanquish demons and warlocks.
Phoebe was played by Alyssa Milano and Prue was played by Shannen Doherty, who was reportedly fired after Season 3 amid reports of a toxic on-set feud with Milano.
In a podcast episode of The House of Halliwell which aired last September, Combs recalled her devastation over Doherty’s firing as they dissected the star’s final episode on the show in 2001, which Doherty ironically directed.
“Every fibre of my being doesn’t want to get through this episode for just so many reasons,” Combs said at the time, fighting back tears as she slammed producers.
“There was just so many different ways it could have been handled,” the actress continued. “And the fact of the matter is it was handled so s***tily. It was such massive insult to injury to let her direct it and go out on this high note. Like, it’s just so sick and twisted. And it makes me f**ing angry.”
Combs recalled that she was “so blindsided” when Doherty was axed from the show, and claimed producers told Doherty of their decision over the phone.
“They literally waited until everybody was gone on hiatus and made a phone call to her, and she called me,” Combs said. “They didn’t even tell me. I had to find out from her. And they expected me to just go on with the show.”
Krause added on the podcast that “nobody” saw Doherty’s firing coming.
“Nobody wants to speak their truth because they feel like they’ll be hated by the fandom, by the thing, by their former workers, by whatever it is,” he chimed in, as Combs added, “It’s Hollywood. It’s all so very Hollywood of them.”
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