In honor of True Bloodfinal season, Flare.com chatted with the cast about their craziest scenes, strangest sightings and other memorable moments from Bon Temps. Warning: spoilers ahead for those not caught up to the current season!
Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse)
The biggest challenge I encountered playing Jason was… “On my very first day, I found myself precariously between a young lady’s legs.” My favorite True Blood character other than my own is… “Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur), because I like seeing him angry.” What is one of your favorite behind-the-scenes moment? “I’ve been one of the pioneers of practical jokes on set. One of my favourites was putting our camera guy’s Smart car in an elevator.” If you could be any of the fantastical creatures from the series—vampire, faerie, shapeshifter, werewolf, goddess, maenad, witch—which one would it be? “None, to be honest. I’m quite happy being human!”
Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette Reynolds)
What was the audition process like? “On my fourth audition, I decided to base the character off of my mother and do everything that my instinct told me to do.” What was your favorite scene to shoot? “Beating up the rednecks in the AIDS burger scene because I found Lafayette’s strength.” What was the scariest thing you’ve shot? “The dungeon scene where Eric held me captive and killed the other prisoner.” What is the funniest thing you’ve seen on set? “Eric in a dress.” What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen on set? “Eric in a dress.” If you could be any of the fantastical creatures from the series—vampire, faerie, shapeshifter, werewolf, goddess, maenad, witch—which one would it be and why? “A vampire, because the sex seems amazing.”
Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton)
What was the audition process like? “I remember auditioning in NYC with Alan Ball and then flying out to L.A. for the final test audition. It took a couple of days, which seemed like years, before I found out the news. I was pulling out of a Starbucks parking lot when I received the phone call and I remember almost running into someone because I was in such shock.” What was your favorite scene to shoot? “Definitely destroying the Stackhouse kitchen as a vampire. I had so much fun filming it because it was no holds barred. I could let it all out take after take. It was very cathartic.” What was the scariest thing you’ve shot? “When I was buried alive. I had to think warm, fuzzy thoughts in order to keep from having a panic attack. I remember my heart was beating so fast and I kept thinking, Stay calm, you’re dead, play dead, don’t let them see you breathe. It took all my focus to not move an inch when the final shovel of dirt was thrown on my face. I think I might have actually inhaled some dirt that day…” What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen on set? “A replica of my body (for the scene where Eric pulls the bullet out of Tara’s belly).” Are you friends with any of your castmates? “Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette) and I are really close. We go out occasionally and let loose. Maybe cut a rug or two.”
Kristin Bauer van Straten (Pam De Beaufort)
What was the audition process like? “I read for a second time, then went to the Philippines to shoot a movie. A few weeks later, I got a text that I got True Blood, and I asked, which one was that? Then I heard it was the HBO/vampire/Alan Ball one, and I said, ‘Oh good! I wanted that one!!’” What was your favorite scene to shoot in the series? “Shooting the scene where Eric released me wasn’t my favourite, but it was one of the more memorable. It resonated with me personally and I’m not sure completely why—but I cried in the table read, the rehearsal, every take, even when the camera was on my back… I really felt that one. One scene I am glad I wasn’t in: that season two maenad stuff—outside all night in the cold with full black eye lenses in? I’m okay I missed that.” What is the funniest thing you’ve seen on set? “Alex [Skarsgard] and I have had many, many laughs. We spent two 16-hour days hanging on wires in harnesses for our fight scene in the Authority, hanging from the ceiling like puppets, just talking about our weekends and The Colbert Report between takes, being moved around by three groaning men each who held us up.”
Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur)
Are you friends with any of your castmates? “I will be loyal to these folks for a good long time.” What was the audition process like? “My audition consisted of a cup of coffee with Alan Ball in New York City. Also known as ‘a great afternoon.’” What was your favorite scene to shoot? “In the second season, there is a scene where Jason Stackhouse and Andy Bellefleur improvise the appearance of ‘the god who comes’ before a rapt audience of Bon Temps locals who had fallen under the spell of Maryann. The entire night felt like a metaphor for how free and fun-making the show was, and how hopelessly present our audience was at the time. Also, that’s the night I bonded with Ryan Kwanten, who is nothing less than human treasure.” What was your favorite scene that you weren’t in? Why? “For me, nothing compares to that first shot of Bill Compton across the bar—Stephen Moyer in full bring-it mode.” What will you miss most about being on the show? “I will miss shooting the s—t with these other regulars who are all gadflies of the highest order. Try to stay quiet in a room with any one of them. Not possible.”
Jim Parrack (Hoyt Fortenberry)
What was your favorite scene to shoot in the series? What was your favorite scene that you weren’t in? “The scene at Merlotte’s when Hoyt and Jessica meet. It was the first time that I felt the acting that I did on camera reflected the actor I wanted to be. And it was a perfectly written scene. It didn’t need any help from Deborah [Ann Woll] or I so we could really relax into it and trust it and play spontaneously. My favorite scene that I wasn’t in was when Sookie meets Bill—it was an exciting moment and all of us got the idea that something special may be underway.” What was the scariest scene you shot? “Riding Ryan Kwanten in a nightmare sequence was scary. It tested my ability to take seriously the task at hand because it was an absurd one.” What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen on set? “A big iron fire poker in the shape of a penis.” If you could be any of the fantastical creatures from the series—vampire, fairy, werewolf, goddess, maenad, witch—which would it be? “I would be a werewolf. I may already be one.”
Lauren Bowles (Holly Cleary)
What was your favorite scene to shoot? “Helping Maurella [Kristina Anapau] birth those faerie babies. I spent all day staring into Kristina’s lady parts while she was orgasmically giving birth. She had these lights rigged in her panties. It was surreal. I remember thinking, I cannot believe this is how I make my living.” What was your favorite scene that you weren’t in? Why? “The three-way with Sookie, Eric and Bill because….I mean….do I really need to explain why?” Who is your favorite True Blood character (other than your own) and why? “Lafayette: Best lines, best clothes, best lashes… isn’t he everyone’s favourite?” What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen on set? “Eric ripping out the heart of a coven member and using his aorta vein as a straw.” If you could be any of the fantastical creatures from the series—vampire, faerie, werewolf, goddess, maenad, witch, shapeshifter—which would it be and why? “Hands down, I would want to be a shapeshifter. Who wouldn’t want to be a bird and get to fly?”
To read the other cast members stories click the links below:
Amelia Rose Blaire (Willa Burrell, Eric Northman’s new progeny)
Bailey Noble (Adilyn Bellefleur, one of Andy Bellefleur’s faerie daughters with Maurella)
Kelly Overton (Rikki Naylor, Alcide Herveaux’s werewolf conquest)
Riley Smith (Keith, Arlene Fowler-Bellefleur’s new vampire love interest)
Nathan Parsons (James, Jessica Hamby’s vampire squeeze)
