Arts :: Television
HBO’s ’True Blood’ stars spill the truth by Nicole Mortimer
Contributing WriterWednesday Sep 9, 2009 Two of the stars of HBO’s hit series True Blood, Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette Reynolds) and Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton), were at the Kings bowling alley and restaurant on Dalton St. Saturday night. By 10 pm the line was already out the door and down the block with fans dying for a peek at the stars. Bay Windows was there to ask them a few questions.
BW: Nelsan Ellis’ character Lafayette is gay, even though Ellis isn’t. True Blood has garnered a huge queer following. How do you guys feel about that?
Rutina Wesley: I think the fact is this audience is what is keeping us on the air...at the end of the day they’re moved by out stories.
BW: What’s it like working with Alan Ball, the director/creator of the Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning series Six Feet Under?
RW: Working with Alan Ball is an actor’s dream. He knows how to communication and not make you run into the corner crying. [He’s] an actor’s dream. I feel lucky to be part of the show.
NE: A god among men. He’s a terrific boss, terrific writer, terrific director, he’s great.
BW: What is the most challenging part of playing your characters?
RW: Her range of emotions. It’s like a Hamlet for me-I get to go through and go there deeply. After the season ends, it takes a couple of months to get Tara out of my body.
NE: [Lafayette] has no structure. No family issues...he’s the only character who is independent of everyone. It’s hard having nothing to go on. And kissing a man.
BW: What is your favorite part about your character?
RW: I get to play a black woman on TV who is not stereotypical, and it allows me to create my own Tara that is very different from the books.
NE: [Lafayette’s] strength and his willingness to be who he is despite what society says. And he does it with pizzazz. His defiance I love.
BW: What do you think of the movie ’Twilight’?
RW: I think ’Twilight’ is for the teens and True Blood is for the adults. It’s raw.
NE: I like ’Twilight.’ It’s a little PG for me but it opens it up to people like my kid who couldn’t watch True Blood.
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