Allan Hyde: Rising True Blood Star

“That was a fantastic experience when tiny little me stood in front of the camera

and my two meter tall cast mate Alexander Skarsgard fell to

his knees in front of me. I felt the magic of

being an actor then.”

Allan Hyde, the twenty year old Danish actor, has made quite an impression on HBO’s True Blood fans. Allan plays the 2000 year old vampire Godric, Eric Northman’s (Alexander Skarsgard) maker in the hit HBO series. Although he appeared in only four episodes of True Blood’s second season, Allan Hyde’s Godric has become extremely popular with True Blood’s viewers.

He is a man of many talents. Besides his native Danish, he also speaks English, German and French. He has won the literary Robert Award for Best Short Story (2009) and amazingly, he also finds the time to play the guitar and sing. In Denmark, Allan Hyde has a string of appearances on both the Danish stage and screen. On stage, he has, for example, played Gavroche in Les Miserables but he is perhaps best known for his part in Denmark’s TV3’s 2900 Happiness. He has also provided the voice dubbing for Ron Weasley in the Danish release of the Harry Potter films. However in 2009, he was cast in the critically acclaimed HBO series True Blood as the 2000 year old Godric and the rest, as they say, is history.

In 2009, international acclaim came knocking on Allan Hyde’s door. Allan Ball happened to need a Scandinavian teenager for True Blood. Allan Hyde’s agent heard about it and convinced Hyde to send a tape to Alan Ball who was so impressed with it that there was no need for Hyde to undergo a formal audition. Hyde, at this point, was two months away from graduating from his high school in Zealand, Copenhagen, but he seized at the chance and moved to Los Angeles immediately. He explains his seemingly hasty decision,

“It was my dream. To be a professional (full-time) actor. To live off what I love. And it wasn’t the most important thing about high school to get a certificate with grades on. Most important were the knowledge and friends I’d already won through those three years.”

We are thankful for his decision because the character Godric has proved to be highly popular with viewers and with creator Alan Ball. Hyde’s performance of Godric has brought Hyde acclaim, catapulting him into the hearts of True Blood’s fans. In a recent interview, Allan Ball has also hinted at the possible return of Allan Hyde as Godric in flashbacks in Season 3.

Of his role as Godric in True Blood, Allan Hyde says,

“When I agreed to do it, I had no idea how big it (True Blood) was. I hadn’t heard about True Blood yet. And to be completely honest, I felt that a vampire series was a little boring. I only knew Buffy and that was a girl’s show.”

True Blood, set against a vivid Southern Gothic mise-en-scene, has captured viewers’ imagination with its gloriously gory, fiendish, darkly funny script. Populated with charismatic vampires, small town kooks and other assorted supernatural beings, True Blood is hardly filled with the usual vampire clichés which were the initial responses of critics and naysayers who subjected True Blood to lukewarm reviews.

Instead, proving his critics wrong, Allan Ball, Academy Award-winning writer, has sprinkled his magic dust over the HBO series and bewitched critics and viewers alike. According to HBO, True Blood’s Season 2 averaged 10.8 million viewers per episode, up 39% from last season, proving to be an even bigger hit than HBO’s The Sopranos. Indeed, True Blood’s biggest strength lies in its ability to appeal across a wide demographic spectrum.

As Allan Hyde further explains,

“I realized at once that this would be a unique and intelligent series. Vampires are an allegory for the darkside of humanity. Their race is prone to a mixture of homophobia and racism, and that’s what the series deals with in a brilliant way, I think. That’s why I fell for True Blood – instantly and completely.”

Allan Hyde’s portrayal of Godric, an immortal being who also happened to be older than Jesus, was pitch perfect. But at the same time, Hyde acknowledges that, as the youngest cast member, he felt the least experienced,

“I was utterly inexperienced and everything was overwhelming. To be the show’s alpha among the vampires on top of all this felt like immense pressure on me. The directors wanted me to be exactly like I was on the videotape they fell for. But they had never seen me ‘live’. That’s why I had a certain insecurity in the beginning. Would I really be able to deliver or was the tape just a lucky coincidence? [...] There I was, in a foreign country and was supposed to play a character who was as different to mine as may be. At the same time, everything took place in English which meant that I needed to repeat my lines many times before every take or I’d stumble over the words.”

But it is a testimony to the highly talented and mutually supportive ensemble cast of True Blood that Allan Hyde rapidly became comfortable in his role as Godric,

“[...] I felt I caught the character and people around me backed me with praise and recognition. That was a fantastic experience when tiny little me little me stood in front of the camera and my two meter tall cast mate Alexander Skarsgard fell to his knees in front of me. I felt the magic of being an actor then.”

Now that Season 2 of True Blood has finished its run in the US, Allan Hyde has been a very busy man. He has, for example, auditioned for a new Gus van Sant movie. Allan Hyde explains:

“It is as if all the big shots want to see what I am able to do now. I’m going to lots of auditions that aspiring actors who have lived in Hollywood for years don’t even get close to. There’s no doubt that I have to play my cards now. I have to try and get more parts as my name is hot over here because the clock is ticking in L.A. It’s all business.”

Meanwhile, a stage role awaits him in Denmark in 2010. However, when it comes to English language roles, Hyde feels that one of the hurdles he faces is the language. While he speaks the language fluently (he has a Danish mother and a British father), he feels that it’s difficult for him to hide both the British and Danish accents. He elaborates,

“That’s the biggest issue right now. I’m doing everything I can to change it. I practice all the time and work with a dialect coach on a daily basis. I almost got the accent now because at my last audition they didn’t even realize that I’m a foreigner.”

However, it is new found fame that Hyde admits take some getting used to. He admits:

“It needs some getting used to and one has to forget about Danish Jantelovn. Over here, people would be offended if you wouldn’t show your pride and appreciate the chance you got. To downplay your own results is a Danish thing and one you should avoid here [...] At home, it’s not like everybody and anybody is writing to me that I’m ‘suerpcute’ and ‘superhot’ and therefore I’m immensely flattered. But on the flipside, I have no idea what kind of people they are. I’m not looking for praise on the internet but sometimes it’s unavoidable. And my mom’s reading it too. She’s my biggest fan and she’s sending me links whenever she finds something funny about me online.”

Judging from the recent interview with Allan Ball, fans of Allan Hyde can no doubt look forward to his appearances in Season 3 of True Blood. As to further appearances in his subsequent Hollywood career, we wish Allan Hyde all best wishes for his future roles.

SOURCE: www.fri.dk via alexanderskarsgardfans.com

Photo credit: HBO Inc.

Fans Mingle with Stars and Give Blood During EyeCon’s True Blood Convention

During the EyeCon True Blood Convention in Orlando last weekend, Central Florida News Channel 13 caught up with the stars in attendance, including Todd Lowe (Terry Bellefleur), Ashley Jones (Daphne), Allan Hyde (Godric), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette Reynolds) and Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte).

No Season 3 secrets were shared with the newscast, though Ashley caught herself nearly giving away something that happens to Lafayette, saying, “He’s gonna get…a lot’s gonna happen to Lafayette.”  Todd also was careful about the next season, telling interviewers:

I’m incredibly tight-lipped. I can tell you I got the first two scripts just before I came here to Orlando and I poured through them veraciously. They’re great and I’m dying to tell someone.

Lucky fans who attended the convention had the chance to talk to their favorite actors with photo ops, panel discussions, a buffet banquet, and Masquerade Ball. A blood drive was held during the convention as well at Florida’s Blood Centers.

Click here to be taken to Channel New 13 for an exclusive video about the event.

SOURCE: Central Florida News 13

(Photo Credit: Central Florida News 13)

VIDEOS: Allan Hyde Q & A at the EyeCon True Blood Convention

The following are two videos taken by a True Blood fan named Belenski28 on YouTube at Allan Hyde’s (Godric) question and answer session during the EyeCon True Blood Convention being held this weekend, November 13 -15, 2009 in Orlando, Florida.  In the videos Allan discusses his experience shooting True Blood and his role of Godric.  Thank you so much Belenski28 for the videos so all those True Blood fans who could not attend can take in a little bit of the convention and Allan. Enjoy!

VIDEOS: Ashley Jones Q & A at the EyeCon True Blood Convention

The following is a series of videos taken by a True Blood fan named TammyDevil666 on YouTube at Ashley Jones‘ question and answer session during the EyeCon True Blood Convention being held this weekend, November 13 -15, 2009 in Orlando, Florida.  In the videos Ashley discusses her experience filming some of the various scenes. Thank you so much TammyDevil666 for the videos so all those True Blood fans who could not attend can take in a little bit of the convention. Enjoy!

VIDEOS: Todd Lowe Q & A at the EyeCon True Blood Convention

The following is a series of videos taken by a True Blood fan named TammyDevil666 on YouTube at Todd Lowe’s question and answer session during the EyeCon True Blood Convention being held this weekend, November 13 -15, 2009 in Orlando, Florida.  In the videos Todd discusses some of the spoilers that have come out regarding his character for season 3 so we will have to wait and see how that is going to play out. Thank you so much TammyDevil666 for the videos so all those True Blood fans who could not attend can take in a little bit of the convention. Enjoy!

VIDEOS: EyeCon’s True Blood Convention Blood Donor Drive

EyeCon’s True Blood Convention this weekend is full of fun-filled events for the fans but they haven’t forgotten to take the time to deal will a serious matter:  Blood.  The need for blood is always in demand across the nation and blood drives held provide the much needed blood supplies to tend to the thousands daily who are sick or injured.  The EyeCon True Blood Convention is holding a blood donor drive and both the True Blood cast and attendees are rolling up their sleeves to help out.  Each person who gives blood will get a True Blood t-shirt that says “Local Hero:  Tru-Blood Saves Lives.”

To see another clip of Todd giving blood and giving a public announcement click here.

Kristin Bauer on Pam’s Future Love Life

Who else thinks it’s time for everyone’s favorite snarky vampire, Pam, to get some loving? Kristin Bauer, the actress who plays her, definitely agrees! In an interview with SheWired, Kristin discusses Alan Ball’s recent comment that Pam has a “lesbian vibe,” as well as how much she loves her job and why she is so vocal about animal rights.

When Kristin was asked the question we all want to know the answer to–What’s going to happen in Season 3?–she insists that she is in the dark as much as the fans!

“The writers tell us nothing! When I see the rest of the cast I’ll go, ‘Hey, what do you know?’ Or they’ll come up to me and say, ‘Do you know anything?’ [The writers] are very smart because I think they realize we’re all fans as well and we’re all excited and we’d probably talk. All we can sort of guess is what happens in the books and what Alan gives us.”

Kristin wouldn’t be surprised if Alan gave Pam a female love interest. She thinks it makes sense with the writing for her character so far. Who would she choose to get together with?

“I’ve been asked that and in every interview I just say somebody different because there are so many hot women and hot men on the show. If it were multiple choice, Choice A would be Sookie; Choice B would be [Fangtasia waitress] Ginger (Tara Buck); Choice C would be Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll). I would go all the way down to the multiple choice Z where it says ‘everyone’ and pick that one! I could see Pam with anybody and everybody, which I guess is really her character.”

Kristin also thinks it’s possible that Pam might join in on any new intimate relationships that Eric has. Having recorded Pam’s commentary of Season 2 for the Blu-Ray DVD special features, Kristin recalls saying, “I don’t think Eric would share Sookie with me.” It seems like Pam has remained closer and more loyal to her maker than we even realized! Kristin is just really excited to see what happens. She has complete faith in her executive producer to make the best story:

“Oh my gosh! Watching the show? With Alan Ball? The sky is the limit with him in the most wonderful way because he never sacrifices the plot or the theme for sensationalism. I just have full trust that he’ll do something that will entertain us all.”

If Pam were to have a female lover, Kristin hopes that she would also get some attention from female fans:

“That sounds amazing! Especially because of the screaming throngs of women that I encounter are screaming for Alexander and at a certain point, I’m like, ‘What am I, chopped liver?’ (Laughs) How about a little love for me?! Alexander doesn’t get all the chicks!”

Kristin talks at length about how much fun she is having on True Blood. It is her first project as an actor where she feels such great energy and excitement from the fans. Her favorite things about Pam are her clothes and her attitude:

“She’s such a composite being–[Costume designer] Audrey Fisher and the writers and the directors. I just love seeing what Pam is going to be dressed in. That’s really half of the fun for me. And the hair and makeup team. When I come out of that trailer after getting dressed it’s so much fun […] I think they’ve created a real interesting being. I think it’s logical and natural her viewpoints, which may be as frightening as she may be. But I think if you left the human race and became immortal and lived history and lived outside the bounds of convention, that this is exactly who maybe even I would become.”

If True Blood follows the same pattern as Charlaine Harris’ books, Kristin will begin having a more prominent part to play in the show, hopefully in Season three so that we can get more hilarious one-liners from Pam.

As we know from Kristin’s participation in IFAW’s Tails for Whales campaign, she is a big animal lover, which comes from growing up on a farm in Wisconsin and being close to nature and animals all the time. She tells a story about when she became more active in protecting animal rights:

“One day in 1996, I was going to the gym and there was a little Rottweiler puppy in the street, so I picked him up and took him home and that was it. I went to the shelters to get another dog for him and just walking through a shelter, I thought, “Oh this is wrong.” Then I volunteered at a shelter and I would see 20 dogs be put to sleep every single day. And that’s just one shelter. Sweet, beautiful dogs, there’s just not enough room. So I started thinking about it more and more and I realized where these dogs come from that are in pet stores. I just don’t like the hidden injustice here where if you just scratch below the surface you see that this isn’t right. That is again the same issues that Alan Ball is trying to address in True Blood: there’s just meanness and in turn, sadness. I just can’t stand that in any regard, whether it is for any minority, the rights of a group or the life of an animal.”

Kristin is clearly a very caring person, and she deserves all the happiness she has gotten working on True Blood!

SOURCE: shewired.com

(Photo credit: Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos)

Carrie Preston and Lost’s Michael Emerson in “A Woman Killed With Kindness”

True Blood’s Carrie Preston (Arlene Fowler) and her husband Michael Emerson from ABC’s ‘Lost’ will star in the Thomas Haywood production of “A Woman Killed with Kindness” at The Theatre at St. Clement’s on December 28th. This domestic tragedy chronicles the fall of a pure wife, the fate of a young virgin, and dissects the nature of revenge.

The plot tells the story about a married couple, John Frankford and Mary Acton, whose marriage is ruined when Master Frankford invites an impoverished gentleman into his house as a companion and his wife falls for the interloper’s wiles. She is caught in her adulterous affair and, instead of being given a harsh or death sentence, is sent away to live a lonely but comfortable life. Full of remorse, she gives herself a harsher punishment and starves herself to death, but receives forgiveness from her husband in her dying moments.

The main plot is contrasted with a subplot about virtuous Susan Mountford, who is prostituted by her brother out to Sir Francis Acton (Anne’s brother), as Susan’s brother is deeply in debt to him.  Susan retains her virtue, and in the end, Sir Francis Acton falls in love with and marries Susan and discharges her brother’s debt.

The domestic tragedy play is considered to be Thomas Haywood’s masterpiece and was first performed in 1603 and published in 1607.  The play will be directed by Kay Matschullat.

Tickets are going quickly, seats may still be available for purchase at Ovationtix

Source: Schvoong, Wikipedia, Red Bull Theatre

(Photo credit: IMDb.com)

Kristin Bauer Interacts with Fans at LUSH Store

Fans recently had an amazing encounter with the lovely Kristin Bauer who plays Pam Ravenscroft on True Blood. Kristin showed up at a LUSH Store in Santa Monica this past Saturday. The fans report that Kristin was super nice, even to a flustered fan who almost missed the event due to extra heavy LA traffic. Kristin took pictures with her fans and signed their bottles of True Blood. Kristin also handed out autographed photos. The fans asked her about her fangs and if they were uncomfortable to wear. Kristin explained that they can be a bit annoying and that you have to get used to talking with them in because they can cause you to speak with a lisp. Kristin also talked about how excited she was to get started shooting season 3 next month. The fans expressed how disappointed they were that her character had such a little amount of air time last season and Kristin said that she was sure after hearing Alan Ball at the recent Paley event that Pam would see much more air time in season 3. Kristin also chatted with fans about her artwork. Kristin is a very accomplished and talented artist. You can view her work by visiting her website, KristinBauer.com. Fans were pleased with how approachable Kristin was and how accommodating she was. The event was held in support of a cause Kristin is very passionate about, along with her co-star Alexander Skarsgard, “Tails for Whales”. To learn more about this cause you can visit their website here.

SOURCE: AlexanderSkarsgardFans.com

Photo Credit:  B. Henderson via VS4AS.com

Kristin Bauer Talks Tails for Whales and True Blood with TV Junkie

True Blood’s Kristin Bauer (Vampire Pam) is a staunch supporter of the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s (IFAW) Tails for Whales photo campaign, and she recently appeared at LUSH Cosmetics in Santa Monica to sign autographs and take pictures with fans in an effort to build awareness for the cause. TV Junkie at laist.com spoke extensively with her about the campaign.

She says that she got involved because:

We’ve been hearing about “save the whales” ever since we were kids and now we hear a lot about polar bears so I had believed that this had been taken care of this but we can’t really cross anything off the to-do list in terms of saving.

Right now many people are struggling financially and what is great about this campaign is that it’s easy, it’s fun, and we’re not asking for money. We’re just asking for photos of people making the whale tail with their hands. The only other option is to sign another petition but this campaign puts faces and photos towards the cause which I think is a lot more compelling. I’m showing up at LUSH because they have been so generous by creating a lotion from which the proceeds go to IFAW.

With filming for Season 3 of True Blood starting next month, Kristin says she “can’t wait to get back to that. I’ve been playing humans this whole time, and it’s not nearly as much fun.”

Kristin says she just finished the commentary on the True Blood Season 2 Blu-ray DVD:

…35 pages of dialogue of her. She comments on all the aspects of the show, Eric, Sookie, etc. More dialogue than I’ve had in two seasons of the show. But even right now I don’t know if she and Eric were lovers or her real back history.

I had the concept that she was probably wealthy and that she was made a long time ago and she’s seen a lot of humanity come and go. She’s seen it all.

First it seems like she is incredibly bored and hard to impress and that she’s thoroughly embraced being a vampire, she is a superior life form. But when I think about that, she is very open, and that’s where the kinkiness comes in. I think she’s pan-sexual and she can look at Eric, and Sookie and she’s not discriminating, with an openness that she looks at this world and the human race from the viewpoint of an immortal.

However Pam might feel about animal rights, her human counterpart Kristin is determined to do what she can to help the cause.

The entire 25 minute interview is very much worth a listen. Kristin’s passion and sincerity are inspiring.

SOURCE: laist.com

(Photo credit: IFAW)

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