Natalie Hall plays Amber Mills on True Blood, Sarah Newlins vampire sister. She talks about her role and the show with Starrymag.
Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?
A) Recently, I finished doing “True Blood.” Then, I just did a little arc on “Royal Pains.” I’m also dabbling in other little things and looking for the next thing as an actor.
Q) We’ll be seeing you on “True Blood” as Amber Crabtree. How was she originally described to you?
A) She was described as Sarah Newlin’s sister and she is the opposite from her sister. Amber, obviously, is the bad girl of the family. She got turned when she was younger into a vampire. She has a boyfriend who is a vampire and she is sort of the bad version of her sister. I think in the script you kind of see she is actually really sweet and probably more normal than her sister.
Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?
A) “True Blood” has such an amazing cast and such talented actors. Obviously, HBO is a great network to be working for. I think, as an actor, you always want to find things that challenge you and interest you. When I read about this role, my agent sent me the information and I was really excited by it. I wasn’t necessarily thinking I was going to get it, but I thought it was such a cool, interesting role and the character had a lot of layers. As an actor, you want to find roles that really, really challenge you and I felt like this role had a lot of stuff happening. The show, itself, is really interesting and it is kind of fun. It was dark and it has kind of got some campy moments. Really, the actors are so talented and so are the cast, crew and the creator. All those people are so talented. It’s a show that has been around for quite a while and has such a great fanbase. So, of course, I wanted to be a part of it.
Q) With that in mind, what did you find challenging then about the role?
A) It’s interesting because before that I was on “Star Crossed,” which is a CW show and on it you move really quickly. You film the show in eight days and with this show you film in eighteen days. You really only shoot two scenes a day where I have been used to such fast paced show. It was interesting. I said to Alexander [Skarsgard] and Kristen [Bauer van Straten] (who I worked with mostly) that it was really fun because you get to do your scene, take and covers (closeups) so many times. When you do a show so quickly in eight days, you sort of become like a machine. You have to sort of make your choices and make them strong. With “True Blood,” it is kind of filmed more like a movie. You kind of get to find different ways. So, it was liberating to be able to try different ways when you are filming for twenty hours on set. It was nice to have the liberty to make different choices and try different things, instead of just sticking to what you did in your first coverage.
Q) Was there anything you added to the role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?
A) They sort of said the role was going to be gothic. She was going to be so opposite from her sister, but I think with my reading they sort of changed up the role a bit. I’m not quite sure fully, but based off of what the director said they sort of based on my reading changed up the character a bit to fit it to me. I thought that was really cool because usually as a reoccurring role they want you to fit this mold. So, I thought it was really interesting they sort of changed up the character just because of the way I read it.
Q) The cast has become so close after filming together for so many years already. Did the chemistry come naturally when you began working with the cast or did you take some time to bond?
A) It’s interesting with the show because it is such a big cast that everyone sort of lives in their own different world. I didn’t work with Anna Paquin, Nelsan Ellis or some of the other characters. I worked with Alexander, Kristen and Anna Camp. I can’t tell you how nice they were, so down to earth and so professional. They were so lovely to work with. Alexander was great and they were very, very kind. I can’t tell you how easy they were to work with and how lovely. Kristen was so cool and so chill. I think she is so awesome. It was was probably one of the most open, kind sets I have ever been on.
Q) Was there anyone you didn’t get to film with that you hoped to have scenes with?
A) Anna Paquin would have been great to film with because she is so talented and she is the lead of the show. Honestly, all the actors are so great on the show that I would have been happy working with any of them. I am really thankful that it was Alexander, Kristen and Anna Camp. I think they are all such talents and they take it very seriously. You can tell they love their jobs. They enjoy it. I’m really thankful that I got to work with them.
Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming “True Blood?”
A) Working with Anna Camp was fun because she is so interesting. That’s really a great memory just as an actor. I’m younger than her so just watching her work and the choices she makes was really inspiring. And she is just so funny. That was just a fun memory. Also, the long hours of being on set and the director, Howie [Deutch], was just so cool and I feel like he was just so wonderful to work with. He’s probably the best director I’ve ever worked with.
Read the complete interview at Starrymag.
