Stephen Moyer Opens Up about Work and Family

With production on True Blood’s third season set to begin in a matter of days, Stephen Moyer took a break from filming the futuristic thriller Priest to discuss the path that has brought him to happiness and success. Sitting down with Red Magazine, Stephen talked about finding fulfillment as an actor and in life, with fiancee and co-star Anna Paquin.

At age 40, Stephen tries to dispel the notion that fame happens instantly. It is only because he was a steady working actor that he got the coveted part of soulful, brooding vampire Bill Compton. Alan Ball had been searching for five months without finding the right person. At the insistence of his agent, Stephen read the pilot script and was instantly drawn in. He never would have been in that position, however, without effort and motivation to continue developing as an actor:

“I haven’t had to take a bar job since I left drama school. People like to think that you’ve suddenly been discovered, but if I hadn’t been working all along, I would have had to give up by now.”

Quite unexpectedly, his new job on True Blood became another source of joy when he met, and fell in love with, his leading lady, Anna Paquin. Stephen knew how talented she was, having seen her perform on stage in London, in addition to her Academy Award for The Piano when she was only 11 years old. He was thrilled to be working with her:

“I’m excited by it, more than intimidated. It helps you bring your A-game, doesn’t it?”

From the very first time they met, they were constantly joking around. He loved her sharp wit, sense of humor and straightforward manner. With Stephen and Anna being the only out-of-towners in the True Blood cast, HBO put them in the same hotel during the pilot shooting and the two of them spent a lot of time together:

“I knew some people in town, but wasn’t based here. So, I’m basically alone and the other person I’m doing all my scenes with happens to be seven doors along. HBO has only themselves to blame.”

I’m sure HBO is pleased by the match! Since disclosing their relationship early this year, the paparazzi have been following Stephen and Anna all over the place. The show certainly benefits from the publicity of its likable, engaging stars.

But the pregnancy rumors do not seem welcome to Anna. Stephen tells the story of one red carpet event to which she wore a loose-fitting dress, sparking talk that she was hiding a baby bump. His sweet but clueless response:

“I was like, ‘Can’t you just be flattered that they think you would be [pregnant]?’ But the next time we went out, she wore the most fitted dress!”

The couple divides their time between homes in Los Angeles and London. Having grown up in England, Stephen’s parents are still there, and they are incredibly proud of his success. Imitating his mother, with what the interviewer calls “a touch of Ricky Gervais,” Stephen rambles:

“I always knew he had such a good eye for the ball. He could have been anything, he could have been a footballer — lovely shoulders — could have been a swimmer. Could have been anything.”

Well, his mom’s confidence was not misplaced. Stephen found his calling as an actor and excelled at it, arriving at this point in his life where he has a dream job on True Blood.

He’s also got the support of his family, which is soon to include Anna. Stephen’s daughter, Lilac, has recently moved to L.A. with her mother but his son, Billy, still lives in England with his mother. Stephen says that they talk on Skype every day. It is perhaps understandable, then, why he offers this wisdom:

“There is this idea that home has to be one place and I’ve only just realized that home really can be as many places as you want it to be.”

When the people you love are spread across continents, you make each one your home. A beautiful thought from a beautiful man. And he does indeed have lovely shoulders, just like his mom said.

SOURCE: Red Magazine via The Vault

(Photo credit: paquinanna.com)

Stephen Moyer In Latest Issue of VMan Magazine

Stephen Moyer, who plays the handsome 173 year old vampire Bill Compton on Alan Ball’s hit HBO TV series True Blood is creating quite a buzz with his appearance in the latest issue of VMan Magazine.  Stephen posed for photos for the magazine and provided some insights into how he likes to spend his vacations and the notion of escapism. Stephen states that since True Blood is on hiatus be has been taking the opportunity to do some surfing, skateboarding and spending time out on the beach with his dog.  Since we all know once season 3 begins he will have to limit the amount of sun that he gets, as it will take longer to cover up a tan with the white makeup that he has to wear for the show as vampire Bill, he should enjoy his time in the sun now.

As to the popularity of the show and what is offers to audiences Stephen states that:

“True Blood is the apex of a pop-culture crazy for vampires. It’s people having no money and choosing to spend it on things that are truly escapist. There’s nothing more escapist than our show.”

Other projects that Stephen would love to do in the future is to direct Anna in a production.  Many thanks to VMan Magazine for allowing us to publish the scans of Stephen from their magazine. Don’t forget to read more of Stephen’s interview and to get your hands on these terrific pictures of Stephen get the latest issue of VMan magazine on newsstands today (November 17, 2009).

Click on the image and then go to the bottom right-hand corner of the image and click on the square box to see the image at its original size.

SOURCES

VMan Magazine

@eye4style

JustJared.com

(Photo credit: Paul Jasmin/VMan Magazine and JustJared.com)

Stephen Moyer Begins Filming The Caller In Puerto Rico

Stephen Moyer is set to begin filming the thriller, “The Caller,” in Puerto Rico this week. The film also stars Luis Guzman, Lorna Raver and Brittany Murphy. The movie is about a troubled divorcee, Mary Kee, who begins to receive mysterious phone calls from an unknown caller. She quickly begins to feel haunted in her own home. When she discovers that the person is calling from the past, Mary realizes that she will have to kill her in order to survive but how do you kill someone living in the past and what will happen if she fails. The Caller is scheduled to be released some time in 2010. Soon afterwards Stephen will be returning to Los Angeles to begin shooting Season 3 of True Blood in early December.

SOURCES:

elnuevodia.com

IMDb.com

(Photo Credit: Sophia Quach / PR Photos via Exposay.com)

VIDEO: Stephen Moyer Interviewed By HBO Hungary

Stephen Moyer who plays the handsome 173 year old vampire Bill Compton on Alan Ball’s HBO TV vampire series True Blood conducted an interview with HBO Hungary who will be launching Season 2 this week. Stephen is always so much fun to watch and listen to in interviews!

SOURCE: HBO Hungary

Stephen Moyer Being Eco-Friendly

Stephen Moyer not only plays the handsome vampire Bill Compton on Alan Ball’s hit HBO TV vampire series True Blood, but he is also a friend to the environment.  Recently Stephen told The New Zealand Herald that since he has become a father he has been more aware of environmental issues.  His views about the need to protect the environment are not recent or the result of filming his environmental disaster film “Ice” but something he has been aware of for quite some time.

“I’ve been aware of it for quite a long time. Once you’ve got children you start thinking about what they’re going to live with, and their children once you’ve gone, and so I suppose, if anything, it’s just cemented my views in looking after everything.”

So what does Stephen do on his part in protecting the environment?  He is a firm believer of recycling.  He know it doesn’t sound very exciting and people think of it as something minor but it is a very important act that helps the environment.  A point that needs to get across to more people in order to get people involved.

“Yeah, I’m pretty obsessive about it actually and I have been for quite a while in a very boring way. I think what we need to do is be more exciting about our recycling because I think everyone thinks of it as a chore instead of something that is possibly saving the world.”

I am reminded of the episode in season two on True Blood when Bill explains to Jessica the importance of recycling in the household and how Stephen seems to have this in common with his character Bill.  I found it interesting to see how some things tie into one another.

SOURCE:  ecorazzi.com

(Photo credit:  HBO Inc.)

Stephen Moyer Chats With The New Zealand Herald

Stephen Moyer has been in New Zealand filming his latest film “Ice” before he returns back to Los Angeles to begin shooting Season 3 of True Blood in early December.  Jacqueline Smith from The New Zealand Herald had the chance to catch up with Stephen in the “bowels of the Auckland museum,” which was part of the set for “Ice,” and had a little chat with him about his time in New Zealand.

Stephen was asked what he thought about New Zealand to which he stated that he found the country to be absolutely beautiful and wished to come back again to have a better look around next time.  However, the aspect of moving there and living there with Anna would not be possible because of the demands of work to be in America six months out of the year and his kids being in London.  Though, Stephen did mention that there’s a possibility that at some point they could have a holiday home there.

Stephen makes an interesting statement in the interview about his time in Piha.  As some of you may know Cindy from Piha, New Zealand sent to us her wonderful fan encounter with Stephen, which she shared with all of us.  During the interview Stephen makes a reference to her shop, which once we informed Cindy about it she was quite happy to hear!  It seems Cindy’s shop made quite on impression on Stephen:

“I’ve been over to Piha, and loved it, loved it. I walked up that central rock and dug some sand and took some photos. I had a wicked sandwich over there which I was very impressed by because I didn’t think I was going to find anything.  It’s so beautiful – I just want to go everywhere and look at stuff.”

Stephen is also an avid photographer as he has always made little photo diaries of all the places he has been to.

“Oh my God, I started when I was 15. And I have traveled a bit – Thailand, all over Malaysia, India, Australia – so I have quite a few. They’re not going to be of any interest to anyone else because I’m sure it’s all dull navel-gazing but I love doing it.”

Stephen explained that New Zealand feels very much like home in the fact that the landscape and greenery is very similar to where her grew up in Brentwood.

“It’s quite interesting because it reminds me of home a lot. I’m from North of London, from Brentwood in Essex. A very green, villagey kind of place and New Zealand feels very much like that. Where I’m from I would have to drive a bit further to get to water, and if I wanted to get to mountains I would have to get to Scotland but I do find New Zealand is very similar in color at least and weather. It’s fab, I love it.”

Stephen stated that in his latest film he plays the Minister of Environment Simon Peterson, who is in charge of the polar sub-committee that is monitoring the effects of global warming on the Arctic Circle. By 2020 global warming has accelerated at an enormous pace, more then anyone imaged and it maybe too late to turn the clock back.  As Stephen states that in the movie 2020 is no different from how life is today except that we survived the movie 2012 and as he puts it “I think everyone’s going to be very warm, and we’ll have nice radioactive tans if we make it that long.”

SOURCE:  nzherald.co.nz

(Photo credit:  AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

VIDEO: Stephen Moyer Talks to PRIME about True Blood

Stephen Moyer’s  video interview with New Zealand’s PRIME network began with a discussion about how True Blood is one of the most intelligent and clever shows on TV right now. Stephen agreed saying that even if he was not a part of the show it is definitely something he himself would have gotten into. He claims a lot of the show’s success is due to the fantastic writing of Alan Ball and how he has such a talent for creating amazing hooks that get the viewer coming back for more.

The interview continues with a discussion of the complex relationships depicted in the series and the structure of the vampire society. Stephen explains that the way the vampires behave and the way one vampire will not disrespect another vampire brings a very old timey feel to the vampire culture. The humans on the other hand are the ones who are frail and are dealing with insecurities and addictions. Stephen thinks these differences between the two cultures is what makes the show so clever.

PRIME then asked Stephen what it is that he likes about his character, Bill Compton. Stephen goes on to talk about Bill’s background and how he feels that Bill is just trying to be a good person. He has felt great loss and to some extent has been able to recover from that but, he still carries it around with him which gives him this melancholy sense about him. Stephen thinks it is also important to note that even though Bill is doing his best to be a good person, the ultimate truth is that he is still a vampire. Bill tries not to kill the innocent but more over chooses those that are bad. Stephen even coined a little phrase for this, “crimes against Sookie“, since most people who try to cross or hurt Sookie won’t be around for long.

This led PRIME to ask Stephen about Bill’s relationship with Sookie. Stephen thinks the reason Bill is so attracted to Sookie is because she enables him to feel something that he thought was long dead to him, the ability to love. Stephen goes on to talk about some of Bill’s supernatural qualities and how he was very disappointed that Bill was not given the ability to levitate in the show as the character does in the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Stephen was then asked why he felt the show was so successful, not only in the United States, but all over the world. Stephen answered by saying that he feels Alan Ball has created a world that is just really fun. Stephen also said that the characters bring something to the show and how Alan keeps bringing in new characters and the story just continues to twist and turn. Stephen also talked about how he foresees Eric becoming Bill’s nemesis and vying for the love of Sookie. We will have to wait and see!

SOURCE: PRIME

A Fan Encounter With Stephen Moyer In New Zealand

A wonderful True Blood fan by the name of Cindy was so kind and generous to share with us, and with all True Blood fans, her encounter with Stephen Moyer, who portrays vampire Bill Compton on Alan Ball’s hit HBO TV series True Blood, in New Zealand.  As many of you know, Stephen is in New Zealand filming the action mini-series “Ice” based on the James Follett book and directed by Nick Copus.  As Cindy begins her story she states that she is a huge fan of True Blood and as fate would have it she would have her encounter with Stephen in of all places, a store in Piha on the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand. I think the best way to present the story to to have Cindy tell it in her own words.

I work at the Piha store on the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand just one day a week and lucky me, that was the day Stephen came in. I didn’t actually get to serve him because I couldn’t I was making a coffee for another customer.  However, I saw him right away and couldn’t believe it! What the heck is he doing here in Piha of all places ??????! Well, by nature I’m quite cool and collected so I didn’t say a word! Honest.  He asked if there were any washrooms and I blurted out where they were and he kind of looked at me like, “she’s on to me….?” I’m not sure but I must have given it away that I knew who he was.

He left to use the bathroom whilst his panini toasted so I knew he had to come back. As soon as he left I lost my cool exterior and screamed throughout the shop. But why of all days, NO ONE WORKING WITH ME THAT DAY WATCHED TRUE BLOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!  He came back in and I just couldn’t say anything I was star struck completely!  Well Piha is a small community so I jumped on the phone and called one of my friends who actually got me into True Blood and told her to get down here, as he was sitting outside of the shop eating and writing, with me peering like a crazy woman through the side window.

Thank goodness my dear friend Lani, who is the gorgeous woman in the  photo with us, brought her camera and forced me to go outside and talk with him.  Finally I did. I just said “excuse me, I’m really sorry to interrupt your writing but would you mind if I had my photo with you?”

Of course he said yes and smiled very sincerely. I felt like such a groupie and I really didn’t want to disturb him, or make him feel like I just wanted a photo and didn’t appreciate it. I held my hand out and introduced myself, he shook my hand and said his name and that was the magic bit for me. I asked him what he was doing out here in Piha and he informed me about filming in Kare kare, and thought he would have a break and have a look around.

I wanted to mention how that was so interesting that he was filming there when that was where Anna filmed her first film The Piano, but I wasn’t thinking very clearly!

We have a surfboard in the store that all the celebs that make their way to Piha, and there is a lot because its so lovely, that they sign the surfboard, so he even signed that with “bite me.” Nice !

Well, I said thank you very much, he actually came back in the shop with me to buy something and that was that. I thanked him again and tried to keep it together and just gave him a big smile. He was lovely and went back outside to write some more before leaving.

That’s it! I spent the rest of the day just amazed at how lucky I was to meet someone who I appreciate as an actor. True Blood is truly great and the Bill character is certainly fascinating.

What a wonderful encounter and we are very deeply, grateful and honored that Cindy was willing to share her story with us and with all the True Blood fans.

Once again Cindy thank you so very much for taking the time to share your experience with us! We all enjoy it immensely!

(Photo credit: Cindy)

Stephen Moyer to Star in The Caller (2010)

Stephen Moyer will be starring in a new movie entitled “The Caller”. It is a thriller being filmed in Puerto Rico and will also star Luis Guzman. The movie is about a troubled divorcee, Mary Kee, who begins to receive mysterious phone calls from an unknown caller. She quickly begins to feel haunted in her own home. When she discovers that the person is calling from the past, Mary realizes that she will have to kill her in order to survive but how do you kill someone living in the past and what will happen if she fails. The Caller is in pre-production right now and is scheduled to be released some time in 2010. As we get more information on this juicy tidbit we will be sure to let the fans know!

SOURCE:   IMDb.com

Photo Credits:  HBO Inc.

VIDEO: True Blood’s Stephen, Alex and Ryan Are On The Sexiest Men List

True Blood’s Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgard and Ryan Kwanten have been included in this year’s People’s Magazine “100 Sexy Men In 1 Minute Sexiest Man Alive Video.”  The video shows Alex at the 20 second mark, Ryan at the 39 second mark and Stephen at the 1 minute mark.  Good to see our True Blood men represented but they left out a few of our other good looking men from True Blood such as Sam, Nelsan, Todd, Jim and Michael.

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