She can’t give away too much information on her True Blood character, Crystal Norris, but Lindsay Pulsipher told The TV Chick that Crystal will “definitely bring some surprises and a little bit of trouble” and chaos to Bon Temps.
Lindsay learned about her character from the writers. She was fascinated by the complexity and mystery of the character. Crystalhas a lot of layers and issues that she’s trying to cope with, as will be revealed as the season comes to an end.
When asked if Crystal is a non-human, Lindsay laughed as she tried not to reveal any spoilers.
“There’s some instincts that Crystal might have that might be a bit foreign to normal folk (laughs). In the books, she definitely has some supernatural powers. And I think that she has the instincts which myself, as a normal person, might not have and it was really fun to explore — I’m getting into dangerous territory (laughs).”
Moving on to Ryan Kwanten and his Jason Stackhouse character, Lindsay said that Ryan is a big practical joker. Being a great actor and really knowing his character, Lindsay finds his pranks and Jason-isms funny and spontaneous.
So what is drawing Crystal to Jason – his charismatic personality? Lindsay says that seeing him approaching her truck without a shirt definitely made Crystal notice.
“But I think on a deeper level, she’s been locked up on the compound, and I think that she might see a little bit of an escape for her, and a way for her to maybe put her past life behind her, and she kind of looks at him and thinks ‘Could he be the one to help me do this?'”
Lindsay is no different from her cast-mates in her praise for the friendly, fun and high-quality working environment of True Blood.
“…it just makes the whole experience that much more pleasant and enjoyable. Everybody on the show are such talented actors, that it really maintains this level of commitment and quality to their work, that I think is just so important. I think that people watching the show get that and understand that.”
Early on, Alan Ball provided amazing insight into Crystal’s past. Lindsay said he was instrumental in helping her create the character. She is impressed with Alan’s careful eye for detail and specific directions to keep the show on the path he and the writers want it to go.
As for the most challenging aspect of playing Crystal, Lindsay admitted that it’s maintaining the integrity of the character. The different struggles in her life, trying to “create a sense of empathy” and keeping within the complex layers keeps the role challenging.
There’s more to come of this “little troublemaker”. Keep watching True Blood Sunday nights on HBO.
One of the mysterious new figures of True Blood Season 3 has been Jason‘s love interest, Crystal Norris. Rumor has it that she and her relatives will be causing quite a bit of mayhem in Bon Temps in the remaining episodes. In an interview with Celebrity Extra Online, actress Lindsay Pulsipher talks about her character and how it felt coming onto such a prominent show. Just don’t expect her to divulge whether she’ll be sticking around for Season 4—Lindsay abides by Alan Ball‘s strict ‘No Spoiler’ policy!
Her initial reaction to scoring the part of Crystal was excitement, which turned into nervousness when she considered how popular True Blood is, how passionate the fans are, and what the expectations would be:
“Panic sets in and then you think, ‘Oh man, can I pull this off and make people excited about this role?’ So I hope that I’ve pulled through.”
Lindsay loves playing Crystal because she’s so complicated and interesting:
“[She] is just a really strong and spirited character. And I think that it’s every actor’s dream to kind of play a role that has a little meat to it. And there’s a lot for me to play with, with Crystal. She’s multilayered and she’s complex, and she’s got a lot of issues in her life right now. And she’s a little bit manic and it’s fun to be able to explore all those avenues.”
Plus, it helps that the atmosphere on the True Blood set is so friendly. Everyone loves coming to work everyday. They all enjoy being together, yet they’re also very dedicated to doing their jobs well and creating a great show. Lindsay said all those factors make it such a pleasant work environment.
She has done some great work with Ryan Kwanten in the last few episodes, so it will be fun to see how her storyline expands in the rest of the season to include other characters, too.
Lindsay also has an upcoming film calledThe Oregonian that she’s very excited about. She describes it as “kind of an art horror film,” in which her character wakes up after a car accident and tries to discover whether she’s alive, dead, or in purgatory somewhere. Sadly, before we know it, Season 3 will be over, and we will all be suffering withdrawal pains, so it’s nice to watch other projects from the True Blood actors so can cope with the long absence before we see their characters again! Unless they’re dead… in which case, it’s still nice to see the work they go on to do.
One of the first recurring roles that Lindsay Pulsipher played was as Heather on the show, “Touched by an Angel” and now she’s playing Crystal, a character that’s been touched by anything and everything but an Angel. We’re fascinated by the unlikely concept of someone able to tame Jason Stackhouse, but with Lindsay lending her wistful, angelic face to the role of Crystal Norris , she may just manage to capture Jason‘s heart. She sure caught and held our attention! Lindsay was great to talk to, very fun and energetic and we at TrueBloodNet.com really appreciate her taking the time for us! Oh.. and you’ll just love her new little friend, Mars. What a cutie and who can resist that face!
TBN: You mentioned in previous Interviews that you were inspired by your mother to get into acting? Can you elaborate on that? What was your very first performance?
Lindsay: Well my first experience in acting was at a small community theater in Salt Lake City, Utah, called Hale Center Theater. It was such an exciting time for me as a kid. I loved the creativity of acting, and the freedom to be whomever I wanted. I was definitely encouraged by my mom to pursue any artistic dreams I had.
TBN: Was your mother an actor as well or was she just supportive of your becoming one?
Lindsay: My mother acted in plays, but she decided to have six kids instead of pursuing a career in acting. One of my first inspirations was seeing my mom performing “You Can’t Take it with You.” I remember seeing her all dressed up in her stage makeup, and thought “Wow! I don’t even know that woman; she looks so different from my mom.” It just opened up this door, this creative door, for me. I really got inspired by her performance.
TBN: So your first performance was?
Lindsay: My first professional television performance was on “Touched by an Angel.” They actually filmed the show in Utah so local actors were very fortunate to get some television experience before deciding they wanted to pursue LA or New York or Chicago. We had that opportunity, and we were all very grateful for it.
TBN: And did you go on to study acting?
Lindsay: I did. I studied and took classes in Utah. And later I moved to Los Angeles where I’ve been doing mostly private coaching and scene study classes out here.
TBN: You also starred in “The Beast” along with Patrick Swayze. Can you give us a little more insight to your character? A little more detail about the show?
Lindsay: Rose, my character on “The Beast” was the complete opposite of Crystal. Rose was extremely refined, strong woman who knew what she wanted out of life, with her head on straight. Crystal, is completely opposite of that. It was really fun to play such different characters in the same year. And Patrick Swayze was an amazing person to work with. He will always be remembered by me as an inspiration, knowing what he was going through every day, coming to the set and working so hard was very inspiring.
TBN: Oh yes, how amazing that he managed to do so well under the circumstances. And referring to Crystal, congratulations on getting the role of Crystal Norris on “True Blood.” Could you share with us how you got the role? How did your audition go? How did you know about the role?
Lindsay: I have an agent and manager here in Los Angeles that are really great on getting me in on really good projects. When this came up I have to say I was just really, really excited. I had two auditions, both of them were with Alan Ball, and the second one Ryan Kwanten read with me. A few hours later I got a call from my manager telling me I had booked it. I don’t know if I’ve been happier about booking a role.
TBN: How did you prepare for the role? Did you read any of the books in creating the character?
Lindsay: I think I wanted to see Crystal more through the eyes of the “True Blood” writers first, before i read the books. Once I got a sense of where they were going with her I thought, “Okay, I’m ready to read Charlene Harris’s character and take it from both sides”. It’s been an incredible journey and the character is, oh, she is just so fun to play. She has so many layers going on and just amazingly written.
TBN: Crystal plays a huge role in the story line of Jason Stackhouse. How would you describe her and her interactions with Jason?
Lindsay: Crystal is revealed slowly in the third season. Jason sees her during a drug bust at Hot Shot which is where she lives. He’s out there and he catches a glimpse of her running through the trees and they have this special, electric moment where they first see each other and then she takes off running. Later she and Jason run into each other again in Bon Temps and they have this really funny exchange, a very classic Jason moment. And their relationship develops from there. Ryan does such a good job of playing Jason. This season is really about their relationship and how it grows. As we all know, Jason loves the ladies, and he has had quite a few of them. I think Crystal is somebody different and special for him and they have a really magical relationship that develops, and takes shape this season.
TBN: Being the new girl on the set, what are your experiences on the show? Is it an easy crew to fit in with?
Lindsay: Actually a couple of the new actors and I were talking about that today. It’s amazing how you can tell walking onto the “True Blood” set that everybody there absolutely loves their job. Everyone is very close and friendly with each other, there are no egos on set. It’s just a warm, familial environment. It’s such a pleasant surprise because sometimes you walk on set and you’re the new girl and it’s not always that way, so to walk in and have everybody be so welcoming and truly happy to have you has been a great experience.
Lindsey Pulsipher True Blood Crystal Norris with Ryan Kwanten Jason Stackhouse
TBN: Have you acted with any of the other cast besides Jason?
Lindsay: Crystal does meet up with some of the other people in Bon Temps through out the season. She creates some chaos in the town, but for the most part, it’s been with Ryan.
TBN: So far, what’s been the most rewarding and the most challenging aspect of working on “True Blood?”
Lindsay: Crystal has been challenging to play because she’s a complex character. If you read the books, you know that she has a lot going on and that she’s a strong spirit. In the show she also has a lot that she’s dealing with. She comes from a very sheltered, back woods home, where they cook meth. She’s been home educated and hasn’t really been out in the real world too much and doesn’t have a lot of real-life experience. She’s had to grow up fast living the way that she does out in Hot Shot. So it’s been a challenge to stay true to all of the struggles that she is going through and play them all truthfully. A challenge is very good for me. I tend to thrive when I’m challenged so it’s really rewarding in that way too.
TBN: You know “True Blood” is such a phenomenal success. Are you prepared for the “True Blood” fans?
Lindsay: When people ask me this, I don’t know what to say because it just seems a little surreal. It hasn’t really affected me yet. I haven’t seen any of the fan reaction to Crystal yet, since she’s just being introduced. I think it’s always going to be exciting when you have such a huge fan base; it makes it more magical. I don’t know how to address it yet, but I’ll cross that bridge when i get to it!
TBN: Are there any questions you would like to ask the fans?
Lindsay: My friend Matt has this question he likes to ask, and I think it’s a question that would fit in well with the “True Blood” fans. “If you had to be bitten by a Vampire, a Werewolf, or a Zombie, which would you choose and why?”
My answer to the question was, “A Zombie, since they travel in groups, I would never have to be alone. ”
TBN: Has “True Blood” reshaped how you think of good and evil?
Lindsay: I think “True Blood” is constantly bending the rules of “good and evil” who can be trusted, and who can’t. Who’s the enemy, and who’s the hero? I think that’s one of the most fascinating aspects of the show.
TBN: If Crystal died, what would you like on her head stone?
Linsday: ::laughs:: That’s a great question. I guess something along the lines of “God knows she tried.”
TBN: During “True Blood’s” hiatus, do you have anything else coming up?
Lindsay: I’m in the works for a couple of different things. We have a nice shooting schedule on “True Blood.” Six months on and six months off. But I love staying busy, so work is always a good thing.
TBN: Do you have any charities or causes that are important to you?
Lindsay: Yes, absolutely. I support this wonderful organization called Stand up to Cancer. Patrick Swazye was actually really involved with them before he passed. I also lost my father to cancer, which was an extraordinarily hard thing to deal with. I fully support furthering the research, and finding a cure for cancer. They are a big one that I support. Standup2cancer.org
Another one I fully support is a dog rescue based out of Los Angeles called The Mutt Movement. I actually just rescued a little dog from them a few months ago and she’s changed my life. Themuttmovement.com
TBN: Awww. What’s her name?
Lindsay: Her name is Mars … like the planet.
TBN: And what type of dog is she?
Lindsay: She is a hairless Chihuahua mix. She’s really cute, she’s bald underneath with a little peach fuzz and she has a coat that goes from her head to her tail but it’s only on top, like she has a mohawk!
TBN: Do you Twitter and would you like your fans to know what your Twitter name is?
Lindsay: You know, I actually don’t Twitter and I don’t have a Facebook. Although we did discover that there’s a couple Facebook pages dedicated to Lindsay Pulsipher, and Crystal Norris that I didn’t create.
TBN: Do you ever read about yourself on the fan sites about “True Blood” or “The Beast?”
Lindsay: You know, I generally try and stay away from that stuff. It hasn’t happened very often, but of course it’s going happen – you read something negative about yourself that might or might not be true and it starts to affect you. So I try not to read anything that’s going to conjure up comments. I do try and research and go on the websites or the magazines that I’m going to do interviews with and get an idea of what the vibe is and what it’s all about. I looked at your site before I talked to you.
TBN: Oh, to make sure we weren’t serial killers or something? ::laughs::
Lindsay: ::laughs:: Oh no, not even that, but just to see what your style was and gage it and yeah, I do that stuff but I try not to read about myself.
I have a couple of films that I recently completed. One is called “The Oregonian” Directed by Calvin Lee Reeder. It’s a sort of esoteric, art–horror film. It’s the journey of a young woman who gets into a car accident and doesn’t really know if she’s alive or dead. It’s a really, really cool, out-there film. It will be doing the festival circuit later this year.
The other one is called “Do not Disturb.” I shot it with Eric Balfour. Directed by Petro Papahadjopoulos. It’s a series of short film vignettes that they have edited together into a feature and all of the short films have a similar thread that binds them together. It will also be out later this year.
TBN: Are you in just one of the short films?
Lindsay: Yes, It’s called “Rocket Man” and it’s kind of this throwback to the 60’s sci-fi films.
TBN: Just going back to Crystal, your character. How did you develop her personality? Did Alan Ball state how he wanted her presented or did you develop her character or was it a collaboration?
Lindsay: Actually a little of both. The writers do such an amazing job of creating these characters that they make your job easy because they’re so well written and so easy to work with. There’s definitely things that I did on my own, like the physicality Crystal would have. Those things I came up with on my own. For the most part she was just written so well in such a specific way that I stay true to that and I think the final product is going to be pretty cool.
TBN.com: How many episodes will we be seeing Crystal in?
Lindsay: Crystal will be seen in nine episodes this season.
TBN: So she is a major player!
Lindsay: Like I said, she is introduced slowly which is fun. She is revealed mysteriously and by mid season she starts to heat up.
TBN: Was it planned all along that she would be in a lot of episodes?
Lindsay: I think there were varying numbers. I think when I first auditioned it was for six episodes. And I ended up being in nine.
TBN: So they must have liked how the character is going …
Lindsay: Yeah, I hope so!
Having had a chance to be introduced to Crystal in “True Blood” now, we here at TrueBloodNet.com can certainly understand why HBO committed to more Crystal! She’s fun, mysterious, beautiful and has Jason going six ways from Sunday! The onscreen chemistry really works well and we’re excited to see where the relationship goes in the future. It seems to us that Jason has always loved women without liking them. With Crystal, there’s a lot to like.. although who knows what lurks behind that bright surface! Finding out is half the fun! Thanks again to Lindsay and HBO for a the opportunity to interview the woman within Crystal Norris.
(Photo Credit: First Photo: JSquared Photography, Mars: Lindsay Pulsipher, All Others: John P. Johnson/ HBO )
Lindsay Pulsipher had a big task ahead of her when she stepped into the role of Crystal Norris on HBO‘s True Blood. As fans of the book know, Crystal becomes an important character but it is unclear how close to the books Alan Ball will stay. Lindsay was a big fan of the show before taking on the role of Crystal but she did not read the books until after filming started. Since Alan does not necessarily stick to how the characters are written in Charlaine Harris’ books, she wanted to be sure she had a strong sense within herself of who Crystal was before she read the books.
We have only seen a few small parts with Crystal in it so far but it is clear that she has a difficult life and that she is sheltered and unhappy. Crystal may be a redneck but Lindsay wanted to make sure that she did not come across as stupid. She told the New York Post:
“Although she is a redneck from the sticks, she’s a real person. The life that she was raised with is kind of devastating. I think it can only breed life experience. She’s got a lot of knowledge that other people don’t. And I really wanted to make sure I brought a sense of empathy to her so the audience doesn’t just see Crystal as this crazy redneck bitch from the sticks. I hope that fans really like her.”
One of the benefits of portraying Crystal is working with Ryan Kwanten although Lindsay admitted that being Jason Stackhouse‘s current girlfriend made her nervous. As we have seen, Jason‘s girlfriends do not tend to last very long on True Blood. We first saw Crystal briefly, crying in the woods during a drug raid on the compound where she lives, however our first real taste of her came during a scene where Ryan chased her in a cop car and attempted to get her name and phone number, all without wearing a shirt. The scene was a hit with fans and when the NY Post asked Lindsay if she knew it was going to be such a hit she replied:
“I loved that scene. It was such a funny, classic Jason Stackhouse meeting [laughs]. I was happy that the fans really loved it. It’s great, really funny.”
Jason is not used to having to chase a woman so he is even more drawn to Crystal because she is making it difficult for him. After this week’s episode we now know that Crystal is engaged but we are still left with many questions about who she is. Lindsay reveals that we have just begun to get to know Crystal saying:
“She has some secrets and brings some surprises for sure. We are just getting to the tip of the iceberg with Crystal in season three. She brings a lot of color.”
From what we have seen so far we are definitely looking forward to seeing what the deal is with Crystal and the Norris family. Season 3 is shaping up to be the best one yet. According to Lindsay it’s just going to keep getting better.
“Oh my gosh, as a fan, I totally geek out thinking about how exciting this season is. It’s so fun and so exciting – I describe it like a Thanksgiving dinner. It’s so full, it’s so rich, there’s so much going on that I think fans are going to be so pleased with this season.”
On last night’s True Blood, we FINALLY got to see a little more of Lindsay Pulsipher’s character Crystal. Given, we still didn’t learn much about her… but it was very apparent she and Ryan Kwanten have chemistry. And there may be more to come.
Zap2it spoke with Lindsay about her experience on the A&E show, The Beast as well as what it’s like working with Ryan Kwanten.
Lindsay‘s mother, an actress herself, supported Lindsay‘s desire to act. She got a role on The Beast, which was an experience in fandom, thanks to the show’s star, Patrick Swayze.
“I have to say that was really eye-opening for me. When we had to go out for cast dinners or a party or when you are out shooting, there was so much attention around [Swayze]. People were so enamored. How could you not? He was such a lovable person and he had a huge fan base.”
Now on True Blood, Lindsay‘s character has only been seen in glimpses at the alleged meth lab, until last night. But despite her upped screen time, Crystal still remains a mystery.
“She was home-schooled and she never really left the compound. I was actually misquoted as saying it was a Christian compound, which it’s not. It’s not a religious kind of thing. It’s just some red necks who live out in the woods cooking meth.”
Okay, that’s some info… but we all know there’s got to be more to Crystal. And whatever that “more” is, it’s got Jason Stackhouse all worked up.
“She brings complications for Jason‘s character for sure. I feel like for the first time maybe he sees something in Crystal that he hasn’t had in the other girls that he has been with. He’s kind of swept off his feet a little bit and he might think, ‘Oh, she could possibly be the one.'”
Considering “Jason Stackhouse” was trending big time on Twitter last night, fans might be liking what they see between the two. But don’t think it was easy. Lindsay learned early on with Ryan, she had to expect the unexpected.
“[Ryan is] an extremely giving actor and even in the audition he was right there and very available and present… I have realized that he is an extremely spontaneous actor and he’ll throw in a little ad-lib. That totally works for the scene and he was doing that in the audition, you know, he was kind of ad-libbing and improving a little bit, keeping me on my toes. And it works because I think that I was able to play off that. And it worked because I got the part.”
Oh, I wonder how many Truebies would want to trade places with Lindsay, maybe just for one shoot.
True Blood’s third season has been shaken up by the presence of fascinating new characters added to the mix of our familiar favorites. Five of these newcomers to the cast are featured in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly. They talk about their characters and some of the things they faced on the job.
Denis O’Hare, the veteran thespian behind Russell Edgington, discussed the difficulties of portraying a vampire–having to ingest large amounts of the sugary syrup used for blood, and trying to pronounce S’s when wearing the sharp speaking fangs. Neither Denis nor any of the other actors hinted at their longevity on True Blood, but the article does say that the King’s “never-ending appetite for political play is his downfall.” According to Denis,
“My trajectory is a tragic one. At one point I end up with rotten teeth.”
Russell’s companion, Talbot, is portrayed by Greek actor Theo Alexander. The character was initially envisioned to be British, but Theo wanted a chance for the part:
“When I read it, I said, ‘He’s very sensual, he’s very Dionysian, he’s very Socratic.’ He reminded me of Greek royalty. I wore my kimono [to the audition] because he’s wearing his robe in the first scene.”
Theo and Denis enjoyed spending time together before the filming to come up with some backstory for their characters’ 700-year relationship. Talbot’s not just there to be a pretty face with the snarky comebacks–executive producer Alan Ball hinted that his actions as the season continues would have “pretty far-reaching consequences for a lot of people.”
In league with Russell and Talbot is Franklin Mott, played by James Frain. He says it was a mark of his inexperience playing a vampire that he struggled to remove his fangs when everyone else could just pop them right out. According to James, Franklin truly does have feelings for Tara, but “his idea of love proves he’s a psychopath” in that his view is so skewed and narcissistic.
Moving on to the werewolf of the group, Joe Manganiello entered the show as Alcide Herveaux, protector of Sookie as she ventured to Jackson, MS. In the article, EW actually acknowledges a fan site for being the first to nominate Joe for the role–that’s the power of popular demand, folks! On the subject of the nudity that’s expected to play a werewolf (or any supernatural creature, or any human, really!) on True Blood, Joe mentioned that there are a few options for actors to cover–or not cover–themselves:
“A sock, a thong, and the ‘manty’ or man panty. You can go sans sock, [but] I come from a good Pittsburgh upbringing that raised me to wear a sock.”
Finally, we’re introduced to Lindsay Pulsipher, who is still a great mystery to viewers because we’ve only glimpsed her twice thus far in the season. Her character, Crystal Norris, grabs the attention of womanizer Jason Stackhouse. Lindsay says she’s different from other girls Jason has been with:
“She’s not so eager to jump into bed with him. She’s unaware of how courtship works.”
It seems that her storyline is going to be revealed slower than others, but Alan said that the people of Bon Temps will face danger directly related to Crystal. (How’s that for cryptic…)
Of course, there are a few other newbies in Season 3,but this was a great feature on these characters/actors and definitely gets us interested for what’s in store for them!
Four episodes in, and we still don’t know much about her. But that will change. Lindsay Pulsipher is that mysterious blond running around in the meth lab we’ve only seen glimpses of. She gave an interview to daemonstv.com, answering questions about her character, Crystal Norris, and what we can expect throughout the rest of the True Blood season.
It all began with an audition. Two auditions, really.
“I had two auditions, both with Alan Ball in the room. The second one Ryan Kwanten auditioned with me and a few hours later I found out I got the part. It was a very fast process.”
Having the creator/show runner in the room didn’t really phase her, though. After all, she’s a fan of Alan Ball‘s previous work and of True Blood.
Then the all important question: Team Eric or Team Bill?
“I think it would be interesting to see a Sookie/Eric relationship happen, mix it up. I think it’d be fun and interesting for the audience for sure.”
Sorry, Bill.
Lindsay then gives a little insight into her character since as of yet we don’t know a whole lot.
“… she’s kind of grown up on that compound and lived a very sheltered life. She hasn’t really lived outside of that drug world and when she sees Jason there in the woods I think something is sparked in her that she’s never really experienced before. That’s a life and possibly a relationship outside of her compound. This season you’ll definitely see a meeting between Jason and Crystal and a relationship blossom and explode.”
While she won’t reveal where she falls on the supernatural/human scale (although I think this has been revealed elsewhere if you’re interested), she does reveal there will be some intimate scenes between Crystal and Jason. And she had no real issue filming those sexy scenes.
“… there’s so much going on outside of the actual work. You go into your professional mode and you don’t think too much outside of the work. Usually it’s not a big deal because it’s all about the work and it’s just another scene. I think you have to look at it through your character’s eyes as opposed to your own.”
Lindsay confirms her character gets to interact with a few other folks in Bon Temps, though not everyone she would have liked. Unfortunately, she doesn’t name names. However, she does let it slip that she may have the opportunity next season… while simultaneously NOT saying whether or not she’ll be back for season 4.
Her favorite episode she shot?
“The season finale is going to be incredible. We just wrapped. It’s going to be incredible, so exciting and there’s so much going on. There’s a lot of typical cliffhangers and it’s just really, really exciting.”
But let’s not rush to the finale. We have so much to enjoy before we get there. Lindsay will appear in nine episodes in season 3. And she enjoyed working on the True Blood set.
“It’s one of the most friendly and welcoming sets that I’ve ever worked on. Everybody is buddies and everyone is friends. There’s a lot of goofing off and joking around. It’s very easy to be on set. The crew and the cast get along just great and are constantly interacting with each other. There are no egos at all. It’s just a real fun set.”
Considering her character hasn’t really appeared much yet, Lindsay hasn’t really experienced the crazy fandom that comes along with True Blood. Surely that will change once audiences get to learn about Crystal.
Lindsay will not be attending Comic-Con with the True Blood crew, but she’ll expect it’ll be a good time for everybody.
Lindsay‘s been on A&E’s The Beast and now on True Blood, so she’s got some TV experience. But is there a difference?
“I feel our generation is so blessed because we have such great television available now… I feel like every cable network are all producing such amazing TV and such great shows. I feel blessed to have been a part of two really amazing shows and I feel like our generation just gets to experience some of the best TV in history.”
What do you think? Do we have some of the best shows ever? Or is True Blood really it right now?
Lindsay Pulsipher has always dreamed of being on the big stage, and even though she in on the TV and not on Broadway, I don’t think she is complaining. True Blood viewers saw a mysterious glimpse of her on last episode where she is going to play Crystal Norris. Jason and Crystal are going to become very close and have a special relationship.
“The writers are really focusing on the relationship between Crystal and Jason,” she said from Los Angeles. “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.”
While True Blood is known for it’s eye brow raising scenes, Lindsay says that she is not worried about it because she has talked to the show and they have agreed to allow her to step out of the scene when she is uncomfortable with the nudity. She said that she has a very trusting relationship with the producers.
Lindsay started acting school shortly after graduating from her high school, it was then she was picked up for a stint in “Touched by an Angel.” Later, she starred in “The Beast” which included the recently deceased Patrick Swayze. Lindsey thought that Patrick was an amazing actor.
So what does Lindsay think about her new opportunity on True Blood?
“Right now, my opportunities are really great, and I hope ‘True Blood’ makes it more available for me,” she added. “I think this show has an amazing fan base. I’m hoping this will lead to other things.”
Welcome aboard, Lindsay, we can’t wait to see Jason and Crystal in their “explosive” relationship.
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 CrystalNorris, 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.
Season 3 of True Blood has been so shrouded in secrecy that very little information about plot development, new characters, and story line have been discussed. Luckily for True Blood fans, new character addition Lindsay Pulsipher, who plays Crystal Norris, sat down with IESB for an interview about this upcoming season.
Crystal Norris is a new character that will be introduced in Season 3 as Jason Stackhouse’s, played by Ryan Kwanten, love interest. Crystal is considered a “crazy” and “complex” character who is both fun and challenging for Lindsay to play. Raised in a secluded meth cooking compound, Crystal led a reclusive and sheltered life until meeting Jason. While running errands in Bon Temps, Crystal becomes intrigued by Jason and for the first time in her life, she wants to know someone away from the compound. During their time together, Jason thinks that Crystal could be “the one” and begins to show her how great life can be outside of her terrible backwoods compound.
Crystal though, has a lot going on in her life and probably won’t be the “most well-received character.” For Lindsay, playing Crystal creates a mixture between highlighting Crystal’s crazy personality, but also creating empathy from the viewers by highlighting what a struggle life outside the compound is. As far was what Season 3 goes, the story line for Crystal will be focusing on her relationship with Jason and her struggle to adapt to living off the compound. For fans of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, a few changes will be evident when introducing Crystal: described as dark-haired and olive-skinned in the books, on film Crystal has light blond hair and light skin.
For Lindsay, playing Crystal on True Blood Season 3 has been a wild experience. Lindsay may be familiar to some fans- she played opposite of Patrick Swayze on the A&E series The Beast. After only two auditions in front of Alan Ball, Lindsay landed the role of Crystal. Throughout the filming of Season 3, Lindsay has learned more and more about Crystal as each new script becomes available.
Throughout the season now, I’m getting to know more and more about her. [Alan Ball is] really good at keeping us on our toes and keeping us guessing. Each script can be completely different and something new is brought in. They don’t really tell us beforehand. They don’t sit us down and say, “This is what’s going to happen with your character.” With each script, we just figure it out.
Lindsay hasn’t had the chance to work with some of our other favorite cast members, as Season 3 has three to four strong story lines occurring at the same time. Lindsay has spent the majority of her screen time with Ryan:
So far, most of my scenes have been with Ryan and a couple of new characters that haven’t been on the show yet. Ryan is such an amazing actor. He’s so good at what he does and he knows his character so well. It’s just really fun to watch him work because he’s very spontaneous and he knows exactly what Jason would do in each situation. I’ve learned a lot from watching him with his character.
Lindsay notes that Season 3 will be “richer” and more humorous than Season 1 and 2. From character development to the introduction of the were-animals, Lindsay notes that Season 3 will include much more character development:
Everybody is coming into their own. All the actors know their characters really well, at this point, and it’s just been really fun to watch. I think that everybody is going to love it and the fans are going to be really happy. All of the new characters are extremely colorful. It’s amazing. I can’t wait for everyone to see it!
Crystal will definitely be an interesting and complicated character to follow this season. True Blood premieres on HBO this Sunday, June 13th!
Everyone keeps trying to get more details about True Blood‘s Season3. Although series creator, executive producer and writer Alan Ball has given us some teasers, Sci Fi Wire took a different approach and spoke with Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton), LindsayPulsipher (Crystal Norris) and Denis O’Hare (Russell Edgington) to learn more about their characters.
Rutina revealed that she has really developed Tara to the point she knows how her character thinks, feels and will react. Tara wants to put her life in order and become a woman who enjoys what life has to offer. However, another struggle is in store for her as she becomes involved with a mysterious vampire named Franklin Mott (James Frain). Rutina would not say whether the relationship will be with or without Tara‘s consent.
Talking about Tara, Rutina used words like vulnerable, fierce and defensive. Although Tara‘s defensiveness has been very annoying to a good many people in Bon Temps, Rutina proclaimed that “those defenses are earned”.
Denis O’Hare was in Budapest making a movie when his agent called asking if he wanted to be the Vampire King of Mississippi. Denis was already a fan of True Blood, so he kind of knew what he was getting into.
Referring to Alan Ball as “one of our great creative minds in TV and film”, Denis said the new characters of Season 3 have been very well integrated with the original characters. The originals are still vitally important and continue to develop, so the weaving into the storyline of the new characters is “a really deft marriage’.
Of his character, Russell, Denis said he’s the oldest vampire and is probably an ancient Celt, coming out of present day Romania. Along with his boyfriend of 700 years, Talbot (played by Theo Alexander), he lives in a Jackson, MS mansion.
“Russell‘s very charming. He’s incredibly instinctual. He survived millennia of different vampire fads, and he is ruthless without being rude. He’s never rude.”
Crystal‘s story is less revealing. As in Charlaine Harris‘ books, Crystal is from Hotshot, a town on the wrong side of the tracks. But that’s pretty much where the similarity ends. as far as we know. She does fall for JasonStackhouse (Ryan Kwanten) and sees him as her ticket to a better lifestyle.
According to Lindsay, Crystal and Jason “have an amazing kind of a magical connection”. But Crystal has a secret and Lindsay won’t say more about it. And speaking of Jason, Lindsay was asked about sex scenes.
“I haven’t done nudity before, and it hasn’t come up yet, but the people that run the show … I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. I’m not too worried about it,” she said.
All eyes will be glued to TV sets as Season 3 unfolds on HBO this Sunday, June 13.
Lindsay Pulsipher has been revealed, and not as a Werepanther, if that’s what you were thinking! After True BloodSeason 3 premieres on Sunday, Lindsay Pulsipher may forever be known as Crystal Norris, Jason Stackhouse‘s newest love interest, but not one of the panther variety. Although Charlaine Harris made Crystal a Werepanther in the Sookie Stackhouse book series, Lindsay has revealed that Alan Ball will not in the TV series. So while Crystal‘s real nature remains a mystery, Lindsay‘s is an open book (well, almost). Here are some facts about Lindsay you may not know:
She appeared on Patrick Swayze‘s TV series, The Beast, CSI: NY, House, The Eleventh Hour,NCIS (which a couple of other True Blood stars have also guested on), and Touched by an Angel.
She was raised as a member of the Latter Day Saints and has five siblings, although she eventually left LDS.
She has a love of vintage – clothing, movie posters, and antiques – perhaps as a result of receiving many hand-me-downs as a child!
She enjoys Audrey Hepburn movies.
She loves TV including Breaking Bad and Big Love (no irony there!).
Lindsay‘s nickname is Looper.
There you have it – Lindsay Pulsipher, one of the newest members of the True Blood cast. Tune in Sunday night to see what Season 3 reveals about her character, Crystal Norris.
Lindsay Pulsipher, who has been cast as Crystal Norrison Alan Ball’s hit HBO TV vampire series True Blood will be doing a live interview with Artists on Demand Radio today, Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 5:00pm EST. Join them in the chatroom as they will be discussing season 3 of True Blood premiering Sunday, June 13, 2010 on HBO.
So tune in and call to ask questions during the live broadcast and/or join the discussion with other excited True Blood fans in the chatroom regarding the return of the show.
We don’t yet know how they meet, but True Blood‘s Jason Stackhouse will have a new girlfriend in Season 3. Crystal‘s role was cast to LindsayPulsipher. But unlike in Charlaine Harris‘ books, which HBO‘s TV series is based upon, Crystal is not a werepanther, just a regular gal.
In an interview with PopEater, Lindsay said she was a fan of the hit show before she went to audition for the part and is really excited to have been chosen. Asked if having love scenes with Ryan Kwanten (Jason) has been difficult, Lindsay gave a mocking laugh and said “it’s terrible”. Right.
But she wouldn’t be pressured into giving her opinion about who is the sexiest guy on the show.
“Oh man, why you gotta ask me that? Why you gotta put me on the spot like that? They’re all … equally sexy.”
Lindsay grew up as one of six children in Utah. She said her mom is her biggest supporter and encouraged her to follow her dream. While each of the kids had endless chores to do, there was much love and nurturing in her family. “I never had an abundance of things. I had a lot of hand-me-downs, but I was always happy and well taken care of.”
Lindsay also mentioned that we will be seeing her in nine episodes in season 3 and that we may be seeing her in following seasons as she has signed a contract for several season but as Lindsay states “it’s up to HBO and the powers that be.” So now, as Crystal, let’s hope that Lindsay finds a happy relationship with Jason and won’t follow in the footsteps of his other love interests.
True Blood‘s Lindsay Pulsipher gives fans some insight into Crystal Norris, Jason Stackhouse‘s Season 3 love interest, in an interview posted on iesb.net.
The actress, who starred alongside the late Patrick Swayze in A&E‘s “The Beast,” describes what it is like to be the new girl in Bon Temps.
“Coming into True Blood, especially now, when it’s a really established show with a huge fan base and with the caliber of people that are running the show, it’s definitely different. I’d be lying, if I said I wasn’t a little intimidated to come into the show.”
She said her first day on the show was “a little bit like starting your first day of high school,” but her nervousness dissipated upon meeting the cast and crew, who she described as nice, welcoming, friendly and professional.
Lindsay remained enigmatic when describing her character’s story line and first encounter with Jason:
“She’s a mysterious girl. She does encounter Jason Stackhouse, in a funny way, and they have this amazing connection, and it goes from there.”
She was more forthcoming with praise for her co-star, Ryan Kwanten:
“Ryan auditioned with me and he’s an amazing actor. He’s extremely giving, spontaneous and innovative, and he’s super-humble and almost shy. I’m blown away by how great he is.”
Lindsay played secret agent Rose Lawrence on “The Beast,” a character she described as strong and self-aware. The character was a departure for Lindsay, who said she has “always played the girl in distress or a really emotional character that was going through a lot.” She said it was fun to play Rose, a girl who “was very put-together and knew what she wanted in life.”
Lindsay said she also enjoyed working with Patrick Swayze.
“He was so inspiring, coming to set, knowing what he was going through, physically and with his health. It just inspired me to do the best that I could do. He couldn’t have been any more amazing. He just really gave everything.”
Fans can view episodes of “The Beast” on Crackle, the online video network for Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Lindsay also plays opposite “24” alum Eric Balfour in “Do Not Disturb,” a series of short films about incidents that happen in the same hotel room over time. Her segment, “Rocketman” was directed by Petro Papahadjopoulos and has a sci-fi element to it, she said.
Daemon’sTV.com recently sat down with Lindsay Pulsipher for an interview to discuss her new role as Crystal Norris on Alan Ball‘s hit HBO TV series True Blood. As we all know Lindsay will be portraying Crystal Norris who is described in casting calls as a young girl in her 20s who is barefoot wearing a sundress and shares an electric connection with Jason before disappearing into the trees. We know that her character is to become Jason‘s new love interest.
Lindsay discussed with Daemon’sTV.com her most recent work on the show, “The Beast“and talked about her character, Rose Lawrence. She also explained her introduction to the True Blood team and shooting her first scenes on the set and some of her upcoming projects.
The Beast has recently become available on Crackle.com and Lindsay was asked how she felt about that and responded by saying that she was very excited and how much she wanted everyone to see it. When asked about her work on The Beast, Lindsay talked about how great it was to work on the show. She stated that she had the opportunity to work with some amazing people. She had a lot of fun playing the character, Rose, whose role in the series actually changed after the pilot episode, when the show was picked up to become a series. Lindsay also discussed how it became hard when Patrick Swayze, who played one of the lead characters on the show, became ill.
When asked about her favorite episode of The Beast, Lindsay claims it is the pilot episode. She said the episode reminded her of a feature film in the way it was shot and the cinematography. For her it raised the bar for the rest of the series. Lindsay also explained that her best experience on the show was getting to work on scenes near the end of the series with Patrick Swayze. Lindsay said it was a surreal moment for her, getting the chance to work with someone who she had admired for so long.
The conversation then moved on to True Blood. Lindsay stated that she has already begun shooting scenes for the highly anticipated season 3. Lindsay was able to tell us a little bit about her character, Crystal Norris.
“I can tell you a little bit of what I know. I still don’t know. Like I said, with TV you kind of get thrown all these curveballs. But she’s this mysterious girl that Jason Stackhouse sees. He sees her in the forest. You know how he is with the ladies. He’s quite the ladies man. He sees her through the trees and his interest is piqued and then she runs away. They meet up again later in Bon Temps. They have this really amazing connection and then it goes from there.”
Lindsay also compared working on True Blood to working on The Beast and admits that every project is different and that she has not spent that much time yet on True Blood. At the time of this interview she had only shot one episode. She admits she was a little intimidated walking onto the set of True Blood but thanks to the cast and crew she fell into place almost instantly. Lindsay also admits that it is different when you are on a show from the beginning, as she was on The Beast, and when you walk into a show that has already had a couple of seasons and you are the new girl.
Lindsay then explained about how she prepared for her roles on The Beast and True Blood.
“Well, I’m a very visual person. When I’m reading a script or if I’m preparing for a scene I really like to create the story in a visual sense. I take myself out of the character completely and almost watch the character as a spectator, if that makes sense. I’m observing the character as a third person. So I don’t make it too personal so that she’s her own person. I read it like I do a novel. When you read a book you create this image in your head of what these people are doing and the story in your head is more of a visual thing. I guess that I do that with scripts, too. I almost look at it as a spectator as opposed to being right in it. I know that sounds cheesy but then I feel like I can then learn from watching it if that makes sense.”
Lindsay went on to discuss some of her upcoming projects that have just finished and a couple of feature films. One is a series of short films called, “Do Not Disturb”, by Mali Elfman and Maureen Flanigan. Lindsay says that it is like a “sci-fi” vignette. Another film that Lindsay just wrapped up is called, “The Oregonian”, which was directed by Calvin Reeder. Lindsay says this film is also kind of an art film and a bit on the bizarre side. Lindsay is also in pre-production on a film called, “The Story of Bonnie and Clyde”.
Lindsay admits that she doesn’t watch a lot of TV but if she could go back and be on a show that aired in the past it would be the “The Wire”. Well True Blood fans are excited and anxious to see her and what sort of action is going to occur between her character and Jason in season 3! It looks like the makings of a phenomenal season with a phenomenal cast!
She can’t give away too much information on her True Blood character, Crystal Norris, but Lindsay Pulsipher told The TV Chick that Crystal will “definitely bring some surprises and a little bit of trouble” and chaos to Bon Temps.
