All posts by Jenny Loritiz

Cast, Characters, Interviews, Supporting Cast, Supporting Characters

Lindsay Pulsipher on True Blood

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Jason Stackhouse may have a way with the ladies, but he doesn’t have much luck with love. Though things may change for Jason with the introduction of Crystal Norris to True Blood.

FEARnet.com interviewed Lindsay Pulsipher, the newest face on the third season of True Blood, on her character Crystal Norris, her love for horror movies, and being part of an HBO hit.

Lindsay‘s character comes from a religious compound in the backwoods of Louisiana. While she’s had a sheltered life, she still had to grow up rather quickly. While the character is being introduced in the third season, Crystal Norris actually shows up in the fourth installment of Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels.

Though a fan of the show, when Lindsay accepted the part of Crystal she decided not to read the novels right away . She wanted to experience the character through Alan Ball‘s eyes, and then create her own perception of Crystal. Recently though, she has started reading the books; she hasn’t gotten to book four yet but is enjoying the world Charlaine has created.

Not only does she enjoy the world of True Blood, as a fan of the show Lindsay found Lafayette to be her favorite character. Being of fan of True Blood isn’t a stretch for Lindsay. She notes,

“I’m a huge B-horror fan. I love all the horror films from the 70’s, so that definitely got me into something I’ve always loved. The whole world of vampires is kind of new to me. I didn’t think it was ever particularly important or interesting, but I can see why people love it and it’s definitely an interesting subject matter, for sure.”

Speaking of horror films, Lindsay notes that her favorite horror flick is hands down the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” For her, it wasn’t about the fear factor of the movie, but the beauty of the grainy film.

While there might not be any scream out loud moments in True Blood, there is an undeniable beauty in the show, starting with the development of each character. As for Lindsay’s character Crystal, her development is as intense and complicated as the rest of the characters in Bon Temps. Crystal comes from a compound that doubles as a meth lab, and longs to see what else is out there. Meeting Jason becomes a physical manifestation of her desires to leave the compound. The season focuses on Crystal and Jason developing a romantic relationship and whether or not they can/want to make their relationship work.

When asked what makes Crystal so complimentary to Jason, Lindsay offers,

“I feel like for the first time [Jason‘s] kind of maybe swept off his feet; and he just kind of is looking at Crystal as this new way of life. It’s new for him. He’s not really sure how to handle true love, I don’t think, and I think that, for him, Crystal is maybe the real deal. She could be the one.”

As for her thoughts on Ryan Kwanten, the actor who plays Jason, Lindsay admires how spontaneous he can be when he is acting. He knows his character so well that he is able to improv and live through Jason. Jason‘s character is a beautiful balance of incredible writing and incredible acting on Ryan‘s part. Lindsay finds herself laughing out loud because he can be very funny on set.

What’s not so funny is Lindsay’s fear of blood through a needle, which will make her hyperventilate. Good things vampires only use fangs! It seems though Lindsay has nothing to fear when it comes to her career.

Before shooting True Blood, Lindsay did a couple of feature films. Lindsay notes one in particular:

“Do Not Disturb. It’s a Mali Elfman film. It’s sort of a vignette of short films that they edited into a feature, and that should also be doing the festival circuit later this year. I didn’t have a lot of character development in the story, but it’s kind of a sci-fi theme, and it’s really funny. The whole idea is really great, and my segment is definitely the weirdest of the five. [Laughs.] It’s kind of a sci-fi throwback to ‘60s sci-fi stuff… So I’ve got a couple things in the works and a couple things about to do the festivals.”

It seems like Lindsay is off and running with her career and fans of True Blood have been given a rare opportunity to see an actress grow into her spotlight.

SOURCE: FEARnet.com

(Photo Credit: ew.com)

Alcide Herveaux, Cast, Characters, Interviews, Joe Manganiello, News

Joe Manganiello, Newest Star on True Blood

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For every actor trying to break into stardom they must begin with a guest spot here and there, a recurring role, and then finally that one role that opens the golden doors of fame.

For Joe Manganiello, playing the werewolf Alcide in the HBO series True Blood may prove to be the role that will make him a star.

The Mt. Lebanon native started his journey as a graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School, then a 2000 graduate of Carnegie Melon University, before snagging the role of Flash Thompson in the Spider-man movies as well as recurring roles on How I Met Your Mother and One Tree Hill. Now he has been given the opportunity to play Alcide, which has come at the best time in popular culture given that werewolves are what’s hot thanks to Taylor Lautner and the Twilight series.

In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Joe talked about how, unlike other shows or movies, True Blood focuses on the deeper levels and characters of the supernatural. Joe notes,

“It’s a lot richer, more character-driven. What’s interesting about this character to me is it really gets into the backstory. It gets into what it must have been like to grow up with this. He was a kid who was born with this thing that manifests itself around puberty, and you get an idea that he had to live as a recluse and hide and not let people know what he really is.”

To better understand his character, Joe connected Alcide’s experiences to that of his own father. Joe’s father was left-handed during a time when schools were programming their children to be right-handed. For Joe it was a perfect parallel because as he puts it,

“This guy was born with this amazing ability but has to live in a society forcing him to not show that or be something else and try to fit in.”

It seems that Joe will fit into the True Blood world very nicely as he is being thrown into a love square right away. Alcide is a bodyguard for Sookie Stackhouse, while she searches for her vampire lover Bill Compton. Alcide is hired by Eric Northman, who is very interested in Sookie for more than one reason. It seems though, both vampires might have to contend with this werewolf as there is chemistry between Alcide and Sookie.

Why wouldn’t Sookie have an attraction to? As Joe sees it, Alcide isn’t like the rough and tumble werewolves the fans have been introduced to in True Blood. Instead, he’s tried very hard to live within human society, which may be something Sookie will appreciate.

However, as much as Alcide is a part of the human world, he is still very much a werewolf and Joe wanted to portray that physically in his character. Through five months of hard physical training and by sporting a beard Joe has achieved a physical Alcide. Joe notes,

“I wanted him to be built like an animal would…I wanted the audience to look and see a physically strong creature.”

His body will be on display very much on the show given his supernatural ability to change from human to animal. Being naked after his transformations means that Joe has become part of the ‘brotherhood of the sock’. Depending on the scene, Joe will have to wear a variety of different coverings that give the illusion of being naked.

Acting nude isn’t what Joe imagined as his future career. After a football injury, Joe began to take his amateur hobby for film-making more seriously and focused his attention on acting. His volleyball and football coaches had thought this decision was a stupid move on Joe’s part, but when he scored a role in the Mt Lebanon production of Oklahoma, they were proven wrong.

It’s been a difficult road for Joe; he didn’t get accepted into Carnegie Melon’s acting program his senior year of high school,l but Joe didn’t let defeat hinder him. Instead he attended Pittsburgh University for a year and then reapplied, ultimately getting accepted.

Now it seems he will be on True Blood for quite a while, as long as the  producers don’t decide to change up the trajectory of Alcide’s character. An optimistic Joe notes that the the character is a prominent figure in the 10th Charlaine Harris novel, which is the basis for the show.

With such a role comes the rising of fame. Recently Joe has been invited to attend a Steelers game this season, as well as a possible role in November’s Celebrate the Season Parade. The Steelers aren’t the only ones proud of the young actor. Joe’s parents are letting all of their friends know about their son’s achievements.

As soon as a few episodes of True Blood begin airing this season, Joe’s dad will go down to Primanti’s and pitch the idea to get his son’s face painted on their wall, which would be like winning an Oscar in Joe’s eyes.

This Spring Joe did film a pilot for CBS set in Pittsburgh, but the network ultimately passed. The show revolved around a sports dad with a five month old infant. Joe used this opportunity to use a  Pittsburghese accent and to showcase his own love for sports.

Though the pilot was a no go, Joe still has the opportunity to shine brightly in True Blood. Thankfully, there are going to be a lot of full moons these summer Sunday nights, so we’ll be seeing a lot of our sexy new werewolf!

Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc.)

Cast, Characters, Interviews, News, Season 3 News, Supporting Cast, Supporting Characters

Denis O’Hare on Being a Vampire King

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Who would have thought that Mississippi was ruled by a 2,800 year old vampire king? In the HBO series True Blood, Russell Edgington is that vampire king and he’s looking to rule more than just Mississippi.

The king is played by Denis O’Hare, a Tony award winner for his role in Take Me Out; he is also known for his roles in Milk, as well as Brothers and Sisters. O’Hare sat on Bill Compton’s porch in between shooting to talk to iF Magazine.

O’Hare reveals he’s had some practice at portraying a vampire. When he was eight, O’Hare was a blood-sucker for Halloween, though he was also a werewolf at nine as well as Frankenstein at ten. As for playing a king, he portrayed the famous Scottish king, Macbeth. However, this is the first time he is playing a Mississippian.

During the interview, O’Hare kept his accent for the show, as he feels his own accent is boring. This led to a discussion about home, where O’Hare revealed he was born in Missouri, and raised in Detroit, Michigan before spending twelve years in Chicago and finally residing in New York. O’Hare notes,

” I’m from nowhere. I’m from everywhere.”

Many of the characters in True Blood seem to be from nowhere and from everywhere, which seems to help O’Hare in his portrayal as Russell Edgington. However, O’Hare hasn’t done much genre work as he has spent most of his career on stage and, in the last few years, in film. He does note that Changeling was a period piece and his new film, Eagles of the North, with Channing Tatum is a swords and sandal picture. He also did the horror movie Quarantine, where he was eaten by a dog in an elevator, but True Blood is O’Hare’s first taste of the fantasy genre.

Though he hasn’t been in this kind of genre piece and had no concept of how he’d portray a vampire, he was a fan of True Blood prior to being cast as the vampire king. For O’Hare playing a supernatural is a great experience. He muses,

“You’re always trying to explore the limits of your powers. ‘Can I do this, can I do that, can I fly, can I read minds, can I tell the future, can I read smoke?’ And this guy is particularly fun, because he may have anything, really. You can kind of be whatever you want to be… He’s king because he’s powerful. He’s king because he took it. And this is a guy who is 2,800 years old, who is more powerful than any of these other vampires, so he can do things physically that nobody else can do. I don’t think I have special powers, but my powers are more concentrated, so I’m just incredibly fast.”

For O’Hare, Russell Edgington can build and destroy. There is a depth to his character that makes him more real to the audience. Aside from creating a dynamic character, O’Hare believes the show is more than a plot driven monster fest; rather the show forces the viewers to ponder philosophical and ethical questions. For example, in a society where gay marriage is banned in certain parts of the country, True Blood showcases a vampire king who is gay and has been in a relationship with his partner for seven hundred years. There is love and a home between Russell Edgington and Talbot.  Edgington’s interest in the Queen of Louisiana is simply a political alliance.

In the books, the Queen marries the King of Arkansas instead of Mississippi. O’Hare feels that while Alan Ball has followed very closely to certain details of Charlaine Harris’ novels, Ball follows his own gut feelings. From a small and not so powerful character in the novels, Russell Edgington has become much more stronger…a vampire buying and selling power.

The power of this vampire king can be reflected in his mansion. O’Hare points out,

“They’ve made a plantation house for me, which is based on a house in Natchez, Mississippi, called Lionwood Plantation… You know, it’s funny, because when we go there… all of the crew are kind of going, ‘My liege,’ ‘Oh, the king is here,’ ‘Welcome home,’ and everyone’s joking, but after awhile, it does begin to have an effect. It helps you in a good way – it makes you feel like you have the power that’s attributed to you. So that’s actually fun, I actually enjoy that.”

With a mansion and a kingdom, also comes fangs. O’Hare notes that in order to have his fangs suddenly pop out, he must hide them in different areas during shooting. He’s hidden them in cigar boxes, behind a chair, clenched in his hand or simply given to him by someone off set. On performing with his fangs O’Hare notes,

“They add a little boost to everything, because you know that you look fearsome. They tell what you’re feeling in a strange way, they’re a way of telegraphing, I am now angry, lustful, hungry, whatever.”

Fans of True Blood are going to see a lot more of O’Hare this season. Whatever he’s feeling-angry, lustful, regal-fans are ready ready to sink their teeth into this dynamic character.

SOURCE: iFMagazine

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc.)

Cast, Characters, Interviews, News, Season 3 News, Supporting Cast, Supporting Characters

Utah Actress Lindsay Pulsipher on True Blood

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Not only do Utah girls have big dreams, but they know how to make it happen! After seeing the movie “Annie” at age 8, Utah native Lindsay Pulsipher decided to become an actress.

20 years later, Lindsay has finally made it to Hollywood from her home town of Cottonwood Heights. The only thing is, there isn’t much singing when there are blood-thirsty vampires all around you. See, Lindsay didn’t simply make it to Hollywood, but also to the set of the HBO series True Blood, where she will be a regular cast member for at least nine episodes.

Though the third season began on June 13th, Lindsay made her debut in the second episode as the mysterious Crystal Norris, who will be the new love interest for Jason Stackhouse. As Lindsay views it,

“The writers are really focusing on the relationship between Crystal and Jason…up to this point, he has never settled down, and I think she really knocks him off his feet. They have this magical relationship, and it’s brand new for both of them. It’s kind of a powerful, explosive relationship.”

With a powerful and explosive relationship comes explicit scenes. The show has been known for its sexuality and violence. With that said, the producers have been very understanding with Lindsay, allowing her to use a body double. Lindsay notes,

“I kind of knew that the show is very sexually driven, especially Jason’s character…they did tell me that they would never ask me to do something I wasn’t comfortable with. But I trust them and I knew they wouldn’t ask me. Right off the bat I felt comfortable with that.”

With a comfortable actress, comes a comfortable and organic performance. Audiences have already had a glimpse of Lindsay and now they’re looking for more of that Utah fire in Bon Temps.

Credit: The Salt Lake Tribune

(Photo Credit: IMDb.com)

Bill Compton, Cast, Characters, Eric Northman, Interviews, News, Season 3 News, Supporting Cast, Supporting Characters

Theo Alexander on Talbot and Russell

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After months of waiting, True Blood fans have finally found out the mastermind behind Bill Compton’s abduction: Russell Edgington, the vampire king of Mississippi. However, it’s Russell’s partner of 700 years that steals the spotlight in the second episode of the third season.

Talbot is a vampire that would make Martha Stewart proud; he’s a gracious host, has an eye for decor, and knows how to give an elegant but intimate dinner party. In an interview with PopWrap, the actor that plays Talbot, Theo Alexander gives his take on the vampire.

In order to get the part, Theo had to first convince the casting director that what they needed was a Greek actor, not a British one. Theo, wearing a kimono, confidently went into casting as Talbot and proceeded to change everyone’s mind, including Alan Ball’s.

With everyone convinced that Theo could vividly portray Talbot, the next obstacle was to create a realistic bond between Talbot and Russell. Theo and Denis O’Hare, who plays Russell, decided to work on their 700 year history during pre-production. As Theo sees it:

“We met, we talked, we went to dinner, we had to create a 700-year history. It wasn’t easy but in order to be in love with someone on screen you have to really love them in real life. And Denis is very easy to fall in love with. He’s a great guy and an amazing actor – I already admired him, so it wasn’t that hard.”

With all this hard work, the actors were able to create a unique and wonderful history between Talbot and Russell. Both men met in Byzantine where Talbot was royalty. They left together but Talbot wasn’t turned until he was wounded in a battle they were fighting as mercenaries. The wounded Talbot would have died, but Russell (under Talbot’s request) turned his lover.

As the audience will see, the history and the character of Talbot was tailored very much for Theo. The Greek culture, the zest for life, the element of tasting and enjoying food, and the precious heirlooms Talbot carefully chooses for his home with Russell is very much in parallel with the way Theo views his own world.

However, with such strong personalities from both Talbot and Russell, fighting between them is bound to happen. For Theo, fighting between two lovers happens because when you love someone you feel completely and, therefore, fight. Theo views it as:

“Russell is also my maker, so it’s a double whammy. He’s like my father and my husband. So there is this double animosity, he can quiet me with one word. But I think every relationship… if you don’t fight, there is no relationship. And that’s what fuels good sex too!”

Speaking of sex, when asked about the rumors that Talbot and Eric may have a possible love scene, which would mean infidelity on Talbot’s part, Theo was very elusive, leaving fans to wonder if the rumors are true or if Talbot remains a faithful married man. However, he said if a scene like that were to happen, it would come about organically and with ease. The show’s writing is excellent and everything that happens, happens for a reason. Every sex scene has a purpose and pushes the story forward.

With all the sex happening on True Blood, one would wonder if the actors are concerned about it. Theo believes that many of the European actors on the show have been trained to understand that things like sex will happen in the natural progression of the show. For him, every sex scene or a scene with a touchy subject,

“…Pushes you forward as a human being as well. Everything that scares you in life, if you do it, makes you a better person. A more whole person. If I have a scene with a man and it scares me, you do it — that pushes you one step ahead as an artist or human being because you did something you were scared of. We know these things can happen – nervousness is there – but you’ve got to go beyond that.”

Going beyond the surface is exactly what Theo intends to do. Though Alan Ball has mentioned that Russell and Talbot emerge as the villains of the season, Theo wants to avoid the surface definition of that word. For Theo, Talbot and Russell are two vampires in the midst of survival, which is a theme for all of the characters in True Blood. If everyone is trying to survive that means that the third season of True Blood will be unpredictable. So call off all the bets and have another serving of blood sorbet!

Credit: NY Post

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc.)

Cast, Characters, Interviews, News, Rutina Wesley, Season 3 News, Tara Thornton

Rutina Wesley Dishes About True Blood

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Rutina Wesley might be surprised at being recognized as a star, but fans of True Blood sure aren’t. The talented actress has grabbed the attention of viewers by portraying the character Tara Thornton as a tough, sexy, “takes nothing from nobody” kind of woman. With this kind of talent,  Rutina Wesley is fast becoming a household name and it’s partially to do with the great example Rutina had at her own home growing up.

Tara Thornton’s mother may be unstable, but Rutina’s mother was sure-footed as a Las Vegas showgirl and tap dancer, which is what led Rutina to feel at home in show business. It’s in Las Vegas where Rutina studied at the Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts and from there she studied at Julliard. All her studying paid off with an acting debut in David Hare’s Broadway play The Vertical Hour also featuring Julianne Moore and David Nighy. In 2007, Rutina took the lead role in her feature film debut How She Moved, which showcased her dancing talent. Soon after, she grabbed a role on HBO’s True Blood, which has become a huge success. Recently, Rutina had an interview with Gil Roberston to discuss the show, vampires, and her take on exciting television.

When questioned on True Blood’s popularity, Rutina believes it’s how reality and fantasy are merged, making anything possible. With the possibility of anything happening at any given moment, Rutina is certain drama and comedy will naturally develop. So it’s more than plausible to see an orgy in the woods in Season 2, while seeing the way the human identity develops after the fact in Season 3.

After what Tara has been through in the first two seasons, it’s not surprising that she’ll be going on an incredible journey to figure out who she is and where she belongs. Whatever journey Tara goes on, she’ll face it head on as we’ve seen her do in the past. For Rutina, Tara is

“Above all, a survivor – so you’ll get to see her continue to fight for survival and find her way. She’s a little unstable right…got quite a journey ahead of her and hopefully she’ll realize that she has value and can love herself.”

There are viewers that can see Tara’s character as simply a stereotypical angry black woman but Rutina feels Tara is far from that and the rest of the African American stereotypes seen on television. Tara has layers upon layers of feelings and emotions, like all people. Not only does she speak her mind but she’s also vulnerable. As Rutina puts it

“I think of her as the truth on the show…she’s the human reacting to all these supernatural creatures as any human would react if this were real life and not television. And finally, she is an African American woman living in a small town.”

Rutina’s favorite scenes are the ones where Tara confronts racial stereotypes head on, making the other character feel a little dumb while  the audience at home applauds her frankness.

However, True Blood isn’t only about breaking stereotypes. Let’s face it: this is a show about vampires and the supernatural. This gives way to the question of why are vampires so popular?  Rutina says it’s simple. People enjoy escaping into fantasy, especially a fantasy world created by Alan Ball. Drama is created when the unknown is introduced, so humans interacting with the supernatural makes for organic and complex drama.

With complex drama comes hard work and Rutina is simply working on finishing Season 3 for now. She says,

“This season has been so demanding, I can’t think of anything beyond what I’m filming the next day!”

She may not be thinking about what will happen the next day, but fans at home and in show business are already thinking up ways for Rutina to light up film and television screens all over the world.

Credit: BlackTV247News

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc.)

Music, News

Jace Everett Talks About His New Album

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Want something to be a hit or a trend? Get a vampire to endorse it. This is exactly the kind of marketing that made Jace Everett’s song “Bad Things” such a hit. Back in 2006, “Bad Things” hadn’t even been considered as a single music producers wanted to push because it wasn’t considered radio-friendly. However, even with the more contemporary country song “That’s the Kind of Love I’m In” on the radio, Everett’s career seemed like it was at a stalemate. That is until Alan Ball found “Bad Things” and introduced it to a little vampire show with a big bite: True Blood. Everett insists:

“It’s embarrassingly simple…Alan Ball is an iTunes junkie. He discovered the song, and I won the lottery.”

Though it’s more than that. The growl in Everett’s voice matched up perfectly with the opening images of True Blood, which suggested sexuality and religious fervor all into one. The song itself is lyrically and audibly heavy with Everett’s experiences and the dues he’s had to pay as a musician. Over the years Everett has had a number of awful jobs from digging ditches to cleaning bricks. Through it all, music was a constant for him, especially in church.

Nowadays, Everett is creating music that he is creatively behind and like “Bad Things” all of his songs are  full of dark brooding songs that match his molasses like voice. With the help of his band-mates and producers Dan Cohen and Chuck Prophet, Everett has been able to create an album that is too roots rock and dangerous to be radio-friendly. His first album, self-titled, was the opposite and was an album his music label pushed, rather than what was creatively inspiring for Everett. With “Red Revelations,” however, Everett has created an album he is proud of.

Every song in this new album is about taking the normal and throwing it on its head. Cliches are rearranged. Characters that seem to be passive, like in the song “Possession,” have different things on their mind. For Everett, the songs are about the characters. As he puts it:

“I like to think this album features a collection of screwed-up and untrustworthy guys…I think they’re the most riveting characters.”

Right now, Everett is concentrating on touring. He hopes that fans who love “Bad Things” will also fall in  love with the entire album “Red Revelations.” With True Blood burning up our screens, Everett will be on our minds as well as all the bad things we can do.

SOURCE: Chron

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc.)

Crew, Music, News

Jace Everett’s Four-Legged Music Partner

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Recently People Pets caught up with Jace Everett in his home/musicstudio with his Schnauzer-Welsh terrier mix Teddy, who Jace rescued from a hoarder. Jace is known for singing the hit theme song “Bad Things” for HBO‘s series True Blood. However, did you know that Teddy is also musically inclined? Jace reveals:

“Every time we do a demo you can usually hear his collar being shaken and his toenails clicking on the hardwood floors.”

Jace’s dog seems to have taken an interest in music and is always attracted to a guitar being played. These two friends have been collaborating musically for over two years now.

Though Teddy loves to listen to Jace’s tunes, he doesn’t go on the road for tours, which can be hard on them both. Recently Jace has been traveling non-stop to promote his new album “Red Revelations,” which means he’s been away from his home and his dog. No need to worry though, because Jace’s son has been keeping an eye out for Teddy. The three of them regularly get in touch through Skype, though it tends to bring out the scaredy cat out of Teddy. As Jace puts it,

“He’s basically a big old coward…he startles really easily.”

Teddy gets so startled that even a Chinese lantern swaying can spook him out. Not to fear, Jace was there to save the day and show Teddy there’s nothing to be afraid of. With Jace around, it’s good to know this dog won’t have to worry about bad things happening to him.

SOURCE: peoplepets.com

(Photo Credit: HBO)

Cast, Interviews, News, Season 3 News, Supporting Cast

Deborah Ann Woll Shares her Insight into Jessica Hamby

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What do you get when you come across a teenage vampire? Lots of bloody trouble, of course! Deborah Ann Woll speaks candidly about her role as teen vampire Jessica Hamby on the HBO series True Blood. With the start of Season 3, Deborah’s character Jessica has mountains of emotional and very real issues ever present.

Season 2 left the viewers with a heart-broken and angry teenager who also happens to be a strong vampire with no real check on her actions. In the very first episode of Season 3, we see the consequences of this combination: a dead trucker. With Bill missing and Sookie frantic in her search for him, Jessica is left to face this dilemma on her own. Really though, hasn’t Jessica always been lonely? In an interview with Debra Yeo from Toronto Star Deborah notes,

“Jessica…is going through a lot. Nobody wants to help her or be with her. She has incredible guilt and self-hate.”

No one likes hanging out with a moody teenager, especially one who might suck you dry…literally, but Deborah seems to use that loneliness to her advantage:

“There is a weird part of being an actor that really enjoys a little bit of pain, maybe because it makes you feel alive.”

In addition to the emotional struggle Deborah gets to portray in Jessica, she also gets to roll around in corn syrup and gelatin. Without any constraints, it’s no surprise Jessica gets into some bloody situations, specifically in the first episode of Season 3; great for us and Jessica, but not so great for that truck driver!

In a time when television and movies are saturated with vampires, Deborah is humbled and honored to be a part of Alan Ball’s dynamic series, taking her role as a vampire seriously. Using her decade long experience in classical theatre, studying at both the University of Southern California and Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Deborah observes the animal kingdom in order to portray Jessica. She spent a lot of time studying videos of animals attacking each other in order to understand the primal feelings and physical movements both predator and prey make.

At 25, Deborah has been given the opportunity of a lifetime: being on a long term project under Alan Ball’s guidance. Knowing this, Jessica jokes,

“I read every single script looking out for wooden stakes right and left…I hope they’ll want me to stick around.”

If the fans have their say, we’ll see Jessica grow from insecure to mature with a lot of fangy grins in between.

Source: Toronto Star

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc. )

Character Analysis, Editorial, News, Sookie Stackhouse, Supporting Characters

True Blood’s Soldier of Bon Temps Terry Bellefleur

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“Uh huh. Remind me never to get stuck in a fox hole with you…coward,” is the clear and strong reply Terry Bellefleur gives to Sam Merlotte’s, played by Sam Trammell, decision to run from Bon Temps in episode 3, season 2 titled, “Scratches”. Terry Bellefleur is played by actor Todd Lowe, known for his role as Zack Van Gerbig in the Gilmore Girls. dark-terry

Alan Ball has developed and nurtured many characters and plot ideas from Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series in order to create an atmosphere that is current and addresses what is happening in the world in the present moment, while also adding the biggest conflict of the show: a coexisting world of vampires and humans. We have seen Alan Ball develop minor characters from the book, such as Tara, played by Rutina Wesley, and Lafayette, played by Nelson Ellis; for the show, Ball has given these characters conflicts and situations that they must overcome, allowing the world of True Blood to be richer and more complex than simply the idea of people for or against vampires. The conflicts these characters experience are based on human emotions. And while many of their conflicts have nothing to do with vampires, their struggles will be the lens with which they view vampires and the supernatural.

Terry Bellefleur is an excellent example of a supporting character’s experiences enriching the world of True Blood. In the show, he is an Iraqi war veteran who has come home from the war with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). In Harris’ series Terry is a veteran of Vietnam, but I feel that changing the war Terry served in gives the viewer a feeling of the present. Everyday veterans of the Iraqi and Afghanistan war come home and must re-integrate themselves into everyday life. How do they stop being a soldier and start being a civilian? It’s a hard transition and it’s even harder because they carry all of these memories of the war with them…forever. Terry is no exception. As we see in his character, Terry must learn how to be a civilian again…a civilian amongst the supernatural. However, he is still reminded of Iraq and of being a soldier. Remember one of his first compliments to Arlene, a Merlotte’s waitress played by Carrie Preston, is making a connection to her red hair and a bomb exploding.

However, Terry’s time as a soldier has given him a strong personality; he speaks his mind and uses the skills he has learned as a soldier to stand his ground against injustice. He has become a soldier for the discriminated in Bon Temps. One of the best examples of this is when Terry stands up for Lafayette against Andy’s brutal verbal attack. Andy, played by Chris Bauer, overreacts in his search for answers over the recently discovered dead body outside Merlotte’s in the second season. After firmly sending Andy off with his own verbal jab, Terry sits with Layette and comforts him. Terry proves to be strong and understanding, which has won viewers over. From the moment Terry’s character was introduced, we, as viewers, have seen the vulnerability and strength our troops come home with. We respect Terry; we want to look out for him. I can’t count how many times I’ve jumped out of my chair to applaud something Terry has said. I wonder if Alan Ball knew that fans would fall in love with Terry the way that they have.

Right now Terry, like most of the people in Bon Temps, is under the influences of the Maenad Maryann, played by Michelle Forbes, which has caused many to let go of their inhibitions and give in to extreme pleasure and anger. However, each person under Maryann’s influences acts differently. Terry has been able to express his interest in Arlene with more confidence, but he has also closed up from her because he isn’t sure of what he has done when he blacks out. In the last three episodes of the season, we have to wonder what will happen to Terry and his already fragile mind. What will another war, this time with the supernatural, do to him?

The decision to develop Terry as Iraqi war veteran has given the Iraqi veterans air time on a popular show. How many people watch True Blood every Sunday night? How many people are being reminded of the newest veterans our country has? In a world where television has forgotten veterans, True Blood has pushed the issue forward. Now that these men and women have come home, how can we help them? How can we make the transition easier for them? Because, as Terry has proven to us, they have so much knowledge to give us. Terry expresses to Sookie in Episode 12 of Season 1 titled, “You’ll Be the Death of Me”,

“Nobody ever listens to me, but they should.”

Well, Terry, maybe the people from Bon Temps aren’t listening to you, but you’ve got fans upon fans listening.

Source: imdb.com

(Photo credit: TrueBloodGuide.com, HBO  Inc)