ife was buzzing along merrily last year for Julie Benz. After two decades of paying her Hollywood dues, the sunny blond actress, 37, nabbed a killer steady job playing a psychopathic embattled and beloved wife in the critically acclaimed Showtime series Benz loved her show and her workplace; loved her on-camera husband and real-life friend, actor Michael C. Hall. And especially loved her richly drawn and popular character, Rita Morgan, who seemed a permanent and necessary ray of light in the title dark, brooding world. And then one day, as amicably as possible, her producers killed her a literal bloodbath. Benz was initially as shell-shocked as the loyal fans. But while grieving her loss, the upbeat and up-and-coming star, who previously played the vampy vamp Darla in the hit WB drama remained philosophical and decided to keep on keeping on. And proving life after death in Hollywood, Benz quickly landed a recurring role this spring as a well-educated stripper on also got three films ready for 2010: the indie comedy the Dane Cook drama to and this Hallmark Channel romantic comedy atobody die for By Chris Mann WELLBELLA march 2010