In last week’s episode Tara Thornton’s (Rutina Wesley) world tilted drastically once again. Not only is she now questioning whether she likes Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) as more than just her maker. But said maker also just got arrested because she stepped in after Tara offed the temporary sheriff of Area 5. So will Tara be able to save her? Rutina talks to TV Guide’s Natalie Abrams about this and more in the following interview.
Tara became a vampire unexpectedly after a serious injury left her nearly dead at the end of season 4. And while it took her time to adjust, Rutina says the character has had to embrace it and Pam as her maker:
“She’s become the thing that she hates the most and the ultimately she’s had to embrace it. Her relationship with Pam takes a huge precedence, because she never really had a good mother, and I think Pam has become that tough-love mother for her without throwing bibles and bottles at her. [Laughs] It’s nice to see the two of them sort of have a relationship, even though Pam is still hard on her. But as we saw in the last episode, I think Tara may feel like she has something for her, but she doesn’t quite know what it is. Tara has become more stable. She’s definitely realized her strength that she has, and I also think she appreciates vampires more because she is one now and she understands Bill (Stephen Moyer), Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), and Pam a little bit more.”
Becoming a vampire also meant a fresh start for Wesley as an actress which meant doing her own research. She initially chose a possum for traits to exhibit Tara’s new behavior and even went as far as to change how the character walked and spoke. Tara also changed her associations this year, staying far away from Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) who initially begged Pam to turn their dying friend and cousin. But Rutina hints that the season 5 finale may bring all of the characters together and eventually Tara too will get swept up into saving Sookie’s life someday. As for her maker Pam, Wesley says that Tara feels guilt for Pam doing what she did and will do everything she can to help her:
“I do think she feels a lot of guilt, but I also think she [thinks], “Wow, she really cares about me.” Ultimately, Tara’s very loyal to those who are loyal to her. She’s going to try to do everything she can to help Pam. We all will come together in that finale and have to be dealing with the Authority. It’s a very cool ending. It’s definitely a different cliff-hanger than we’ve had before. It’s going to be very, very interesting to see how Tara gets involved with the Authority and Sookie and everyone else.”
But does Tara like Pam as more than a maker? Rutina reveals that Tara is very confused at this point. Being a vampire is very new for her and since she’s had mostly Pam’s blood, she can’t help but feel something for her:
“I do think that there is some confusion. She’s embarrassed by it. She’s had [mostly Pam's] blood, so usually when you have a vampire’s blood, there’s those crazy sex dreams. Romance is the furthest thing from Tara’s mind, but she may not be able to stop it. When she saw Pam being carted off, she’s questioning in her head, “What is going on? What am I feeling for this woman that’s taking care of me?” It’s very weird for Tara, because she hated Pam last season, and now all of a sudden she’s feeling strange emotions. I think that the finale will answer all of those questions.”
The change in role has also allowed Rutina to work with more of the cast this year including Kristin, Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby), and even Denis O’Hare (Russell Edgington). She says Deborah in particular has been gracious to her throughout this whole process and Kristin has also been kind and generous. They have a great chemistry together and Wesley says fans have really responded to it and the storyline in a positive way as an actor.
Another significant question ended the interview. How exactly did Rutina feel about becoming a vampire and playing a different kind of anger. The thing that cinched it for her is something creator Alan Ball said to her about having the ability to push someone across the room if they say something mean about her. This kind of anger is something that Tara has to learn to control But the power she has is alluring and the fact that she is going to live forever intrigues her.
Source: TV Guide.com- “True Blood‘s Rutina Wesley on Tara and Pam’s… Love?”
Image Credit: HBO, Inc.
