It was a great build. It builds up over the seasons, as opposed to breaking down or kind of fizzling out — it was the opposite. I feel like I had a great climb, and where it ended up was perfect… She has really grown more than a lot of the characters — to have her at the beginning be so terrified of vampires and at the end actually starting a relationship with one, that’s a remarkable thing.
Preston has also confirmed that this relationship will solidify and grow throughout the final few episodes of True Blood. Which is nice to see after all the broken relationships and heartbreak that has befallen her, starting with having a murderous ex-husband and ending just last season with the loss of Terry Bellefleur (Todd Lowe).
Arlene has not grown into a vampire appreciating member of society, but many characters on the hit show now look to Arlene for advice, the most recent being Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell). Now that she runs and owns Bellefleur’s (formerly called Merlotte’s), it seems Arlene has settled into a nice groove in her life, even if she confessed to Sam that she is only pretending to be happy in the hope that eventually will actually be happy. And, speaking of Merlotte’s, playing a drunk Arlene has been among Carrie’s fondest memories of being Arlene:
I’m pretty partial to drunk Arlene. Even from day one — in the pilot, she’s in the back of the bar, saying something like “It’s that vampire.” Then you jump ahead to when she sees Bill (Stephen Moyer) walking in daylight, that line “Y’all, I’m wasted,” and then in just episode five when she sees Keith and says, “I have to go make tinkle because I am a human.” She’s pretty funny.
You can read Carrie’s full interview with The Hollywood Reporter by clicking here.
What’s your favorite Arlene moment? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: The Hollywood Reporter - ‘True Blood’s’ Carrie Preston on Arlene’s Love Interest: ‘She’s Got Somebody to Lean On’ (Q&A)
(Photo Credit: HBO Inc.)
