True Blood News at The Nest

The beautiful, Carrie Preston

Carrie Preston is one cool chick. She acts and directs, tweets in her spare time, and is unrecognizable from role to role. She changes characters the way a chameleon changes colors, with dazzling results. We got the chance recently to ask Carrie a few questions in a True Blood News exclusive interview.

TB-News: How does all your years in theater help prepare you for filming for TV and the big screen? Can you talk about your upcoming stage-performance with your husband?

CP: For me, the theater training I got is the foundation for all of the other kinds of acting that I’ve been asked to tackle. When you are on stage, you simultaneously use your mind, your body, your voice, your focus, your collaboration with others, and most of all your stamina. Of course these are required when doing camera work, too. But it’s much more acute on stage. With the technique I learned doing plays, I feel more able to sustain all that is required of me in the fragmented world of camera work. Michael and I are doing a benefit for Charleston Stage in Charleston, SC on July 31st. We are not doing a “performance” per se, instead we are doing a benefit reading of “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney, which entails reading/acting the play while sitting at music stands. This particular play is meant to be performed this way, it’s a good choice for the event.

Carrie as Betty, in What's Wrong With Virginia

TB-News: You worked on two films during the hiatus, A Bag of Hammers and What’s Wrong with Virginia. In both, you also play a Southern woman. Do you credit your Southern roots for playing these roles so well, and do you use real-life models for these characters?

CP: I always feel like I grew up in a place that is so particular and so full of rich history, customs and character. I have travelled all over the world, and there’s no place like the south. I feel a responsibility to give the southern women I play a depth and believability that isn’t always present in Hollywood’s portrayal of Southern women. With that said, I do understand that I am responsible for a lot of the humor of the show, so I must honor that at the same time. I don’t use specific women as reference, it’s more like a patchwork of many different women I grew up with.

TB-News: You have a production company, Daisy 3 Pictures. Do you have any projects in the works? Is it difficult to go from being an actor to  writing, directing and producing? What is more rewarding for you?

CP: Daisy 3 Pictures has produced two features and a short film. Now we are teaming up with Locomotive (Lucy Barzun Donnelly and Joshua Astrachan) to produce a screenplay written by actress Kellie Overbey, and I am hoping to be directing it soon in New York. It’s a comedy called “That’s What She Said”, which I like to call “an east village Sex and the City.” It’s the woman’s answer to all the “bromance” movies that have been ubiquitous these days. Being an actor really helps me communicate with the actors that I am directing. Also, being an actor, I get to experience and learn from many different directors.  I end up using more of my skills when directing and producing than when I’m just an actor. I love it all.

Fans got a sneak peek of Andy Mackenzie in the number three teaser released by HBO. Mackenzie has a long list of credits under his belt from CSI to My Name is Earl and although it may look as if he can only play a Creepy Biker Dude, his acting ability is versatile. Just check out his demo reel and you will see why we quickly became Mackenzie fans.

We caught up with Andy while he was filming Burn Notice in sunny South Florida to ask him about his experience on True Blood and how he got the part of “Creepy Biker Dude.” Andy was nice enough to take a break from shooting guns from a Harley to share his experience on the set of True Blood, his vast knowledge of the industry, his band 33Degree and what’s up next in his career.

Andy Mackenzie: Oh, the “Creepy Biker.”  I actually have three different character names.  Starts with “Creepy Biker,” then “Wolf,” then shifts into “Biker” while I’m fighting with Eric.  You’ve seen some of that scene in one of the behind-the-scenes teasers.

The casting was a lot of fun.  It’s always crazy not knowing how it’s going to go and what the casting assistant is going to do when there’s action involved.  Not to mention, the room could’ve comfortably seated six but walked into eight, plus me. Read the material, did it pretty much how I wanted to do it; Alan simply replied “Fantastic.”  I left proud and pleased.

I did shoot two eps, “Beautifully Broken” (302) and “It Hurts Me Too” (303).  When I booked the role, I knew I would be showing 99 percent of my skin and I had about six weeks to hit the gym extra hard.  So, that was my life for those weeks.  Who knows if it will show?  The first ep was quick for me, not much for me to do.  Second ep was cool.  Alex and I spent some time chit chatting and reminiscing about some mutual Swedes and Finns.  We may get us all together sometime.  Between the chit chats was definitely different for me.  Stunts have been a big part of the job anyway but naked stunts are something else.  No place for pads.  “Closed set?”  Nah. I’m not shy.  Maybe Alex, since he had to …

Maybe when I started to get hooked on True Blood during first season, Sam Merlotte was not one of my fave characters. In every fiction we find similar topics: the good looking girl, the gallant hero, the sexy villain, and the predictable good guy that never gets the girl. Then, in Sam Merlotte’s case add an archetype of goodness and candour starting to act like suspect number one for the town serial killer. And you think, “Wow, here we go again. Who are they trying to kid? I can tell from many miles away that this is the sick serial killer of Bon Temps.”

And just when you start to realize that this time, the writers have really done a number on you, and nothing is like it seems, it is then when Sam Merlotte really starts to shine. Because most of us are Sam, fighting for a dream that never comes true and, yeah, hiding away from others, in more ways than one, our true nature.

Sam Merlotte’s trip through season 2 makes him an essential character in the show. After seeing him run for his life throughout the 12 episodes, to stand stoically in courageous situations that would sink most of us in misery, suffer Daphne’s  betrayal and watch him saving his town  like a true hero in the thrilling finale, you can’t help but feeling a bit Team Sam and start to wonder why he never gets the girl. Recently dear Nesters, we had the chance to chat with Sam Trammell. Come into the bar, have a drink and sit down with us.

Getty Images/Fotoglif

TB-News: You were born in New Orleans and grew up in Charleston, West Virginia. What accent do you actually use on True Blood? We have heard your interviews and you seem to have lost any signs of the South.

ST: I have lost my accent, I moved around so much as a kid. Before the show started, I made a few trips south to Louisiana and recorded people’s voices, just talking. That’s what I use.

TB-News: At what point did you realize you wanted to be an actor?

ST: I realized my second semester, senior year of college. I had never acted before then at all. A friend suggested I audition for a play. I did, was cast, and then did two more plays before the end of the year. At that point I decided to move to New York for better or for worse. You look back and go “that was kind of nuts”.

TB-News: We’ve read that you spent some time in France, at the Paris University. In what way did this time influence your life? What is your takeaway from living there?

ST: Well, I still cross my sevens and speak passable French after a few glasses of wine. It was an amazing year. I went specifically to study semiology and french philosophy and actually had the opportunity to take courses with Jacques Derrida and Julia Kristeva who are pretty much semiotic rock stars. I was lucky to be there and it was ultimately a pretty romantic year . . . walking the streets of Paris, smoking Gauloise, having little cups of coffee, pretending to be French, taking myself way too seriously.

C.C. Sheffield ~ Missy in Season 3

A couple weeks ago, casting was announced that C.C. Sheffield was selected to play the part of Missy in Season 3, episode one – “Pack of Wolves.” We had a chance to catch up with CC and here she is, on the set.

TB-N: How does it feel to be a part of True Blood?

CCS: I feel very excited I’m huge fan of Alan Ball, and all his work. So I was honored as an actress to work on a show that has top notch quality writing, and acting. Oh and hot hot guys.

CC and Ryan ~ On the set

Here’s a video of C.C. Sheffield’s “Escape Me” from Tiësto’s album “Kaleidoscope.”

Along with loving mostly everything about True Blood (especially Bellefleurs), us ladies at The Nest are unashamed Bill devotees. So it was with some trepidation that we sat down with our silver pens to think of some super fantastic questions to ask Mariana Klaveno, aka Lorena, the founding member of Team Bill and downright scary vampire wench from HELL. Realising that the question ‘why are you such a bitch?’ was rather unfair, since Mariana is in fact a) an innocent actress and b) actually very nice, we managed to think of a few zingers, and were delighted with the answers. I think this is my favourite interview we’ve ever done, and ooh look, an exclusive from the lady herself:

“Lorena is definitely coming back and I have a feeling she’s pissed off!”

Ms Klaveno- not scary at all, honest.

Awesome, I’m totally looking forward to it. Read and enjoy this juicy interview y’all, and leave Mariana a comment to tell her what a bloody good job she’s been doing with her mad villain acting skills!

TB-N: You grew up in rural Washington. Did you live on a farm and do you get to go home often these days?

MK: I did live on a farm. I’ve known some people to exaggerate that statement a bit but I can honestly state it as a fact. I didn’t live near one or visit one a few times; I lived on our family’s wheat & barley farm until I left for college at eighteen.

I don’t get home as often as I’d like, but I try to visit at least twice a year. My parents usually make a few trips to Los Angeles every year as well, so I get to see them more often than I do the farm.

TB-N: Did you dream of being an actress when you were a kid or was it something you kind of got into gradually?

MK: I absolutely dreamed of it as a kid and I really have no practical reason as to why. No one in my family is even remotely involved in acting. They are all immensely talented in their own careers and interests, my parents included, but I am the only performer in the bunch.  I was actually quite secretive about it. Growing up where I did, I didn’t know anyone who went on to pursue acting professionally. Our school didn’t even have a drama class. It seemed like such an unrealistic thing that aside from my close friends, I was too terrified to voice to anyone how serious my interest was until I was a senior in high school. Luckily, I’ve received nothing but constant support over the years from everyone back home.

TB-N: When did your acting career start to take off and what was it like working on so many different TV shows?

MK: I guess I started working more steadily after my guest star on the short-lived FOX show called Standoff. It was a very flashy kind of part—not as flashy as Lorena—but I did get some attention from it and I think it helped lead to a few television movies and other guest star parts.  On a side note, my boyfriend on Standoff was played by Jim Parrack. He is such a great guy and I love that we wound up working on the same show again. As far as working on different TV shows, I look at it as part of my training. No class can simulate the experience of working on a set. You really have to learn as you go. I feel like I’m still doing that. I was given wonderful examples in my first few jobs of how and how not to conduct yourself on a set and I try to always remember those lessons.

TB-N: Were you always interested in vampires and the supernatural or are you more into different genres?

MK: I would say yes and yes. I do enjoy vampire mythology.  I read the latest annotated version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula last winter and I was fascinated by it. It’s kind of a long and heavy read but I recommend it for those interested in context and history. I was also a very loyal Buffy fan. I thought it was such a clever and well-executed show. However, I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite genre. I love too many genres to ever list a favorite. I always get frustrated when people ask me what my favorite movie is. I have too many favorites.

TB-N: Tell us about your audition for True Blood. What made you decide to try out for the show? Was the show already being shown when you auditioned?

Lorena in persuasive mode

MK: The show hadn’t started airing yet, but I was aware of it and knew that it was Alan Ball’s new show. That was reason enough for me. I was extremely nervous during the audition process because I instinctively knew it was going to be an amazing part.  I worked on the audition with a friend of mine and he encouraged me to make some bold choices. I also wanted to look as innocent as possible. Some of the other girls at the audition were dressed in black with dark red lipstick, but I thought it would be more effective if you didn’t see the villain coming.  After the second audition though, I was convinced that I didn’t get it. The actress who went in right after me kept getting laughs.  I’m not really sure how to make that first scene funny, but she had the entire room cracking up. So I left thinking, “Oh well.  Would’ve been fun.” Fortunately, I got the good news a few hours later. That was a great day.

TB-N: When you shot the flashback sequences for Season 1 did you know you would be back as a more significant character in Season 2?

MK: I knew there was a good chance I’d be coming back but I had no idea it would be so significant in Season 2. Since Lorena doesn’t appear until the third book I thought I might have to wait until Season 3. Needless to say, I was thrilled with the storyline in Season 2. The flashback scenes are incredibly fun to do. I’m hoping we get to do more of them.

TB-N: Sadistic, selfish, vengeful…does your character Lorena have any redeeming qualities?

MK: Stylish, witty, loyal, cultured…stylish.

TB-N: Lorena is one of those characters we love to hate. Do you enjoy the role of villain?

MK: I do enjoy playing the villain. As much as my dad would prefer me to play a good character, I seem to only get cast as the bad ones. I can’t say that I know why, exactly.  They’re much more fun I think.  I hope that doesn’t make me seem evil in real life. (I promise I’m not!) I like to think of it as “playing my shadow.” I get to explore my opposite self in an artistic and satisfying way. That way she doesn’t come out in a fit of road rage.

Boone Narr

For over 3 decades Boone’s Animals for Hollywood, Inc has been making us smile with their animal actors in movies, TV shows and commercials. They have worked with many actors such as  Johnny Depp, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, the True Blood cast, Madonna and Vin Diesel, to name a few.

Boone’s Animals for Hollywood, Inc. is internationally known. They have filmed all over the United States with their animals and have worked in: Canada, Czech Republic, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, India, New Zealand, Israel, New Guinea, Germany, Korea, Italy, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Bahamas, and Brazil.

They have  a long list of credits, beautiful animals and fun loving trainers. Below, is a tiny peek into Boone Narr’s animal training life and his love for animals. He and his staff do have really cool jobs, don’t they?

Tina, Sookie's Cat

TB-N: From the monkey and dog in Pirates of the Caribbean, to the rats in Willard, for three decades you have worked with celebrity animals familiar to us all. Can you tell us how you originally got into this profession?

I went to work cleaning and caring for animals at a company that trained animals, then I became interested in training them. Years later I opened my own company. That’s how a summer job can become a lifelong passion.

TB-N: Which species would you say is the hardest to train, the easiest to train, and what was the most difficult animal you’ve ever trained?

The hardest animal to train is humans.  Animals never cease to amaze you and the one you are working with, if you have a good relationship, is the easiest to train at the time. This is always the hardest question to answer. I have really enjoyed all the animals I’ve trained.

The Beagle as young Sam

TB-N: Have you ever had an animal that just didn’t work out for you or any other trainer?

We are interested in an animal having a good time doing their job and we prepare them before they go to camera. There have been some animals just not cut out for this work and we have found them loving homes.

Rutina Wesley at Paley, this year

When we first met Tara Thornton, she’s reading “The Shock Doctrine” by Naomi Klein while working at the Super-Sav-A-Bunch. The book describes the parallels between the birth of a manipulated free market created via violent destruction and shock therapy. It’s the theory that this free market can be created after a disaster simply because the citizens are too busy with recovery to notice.

What we did not know when we met her, was that Tara Thornton was about to experience her own sort of shock doctrine, for while she was busy trying to figure out what special demon inhabited her soul, something more sinister was about to take control of her entire being.

Charlaine Harris may have created the character of Tara, but Alan Ball molded her into an entirely different creature. She’s strong, smart and witty, but also highly strung and opinionated. Rutina Wesley has brought this character to life on True Blood with vigor and multifaceted grace. We had a chance to ask Rutina a few questions about herself,  her views on Tara and her career.

TB-N: Growing up in Las Vegas with a professional tap dancing father (Ivery Wheeler), and a showgirl mother (Cassandra Wesley), did you always know that you were destined for a career in showbiz?

Rutina in "How She Move"

RW: I came out of the womb dancing. My parents said I’ve always had stars in my eyes. I was in a local production of “Finian’s Rainbow” at 7 years old and being on stage just felt right. I knew that’s where I wanted to be.

TB-N: Your experience has already included stage (“The Vertical Hour,” “In Darfur”), screen (“How She Move”) & television (“True Blood”); what changes did you make (if any) in your acting style to mold your character for each genre?

RW: I basically think film and TV are similar as far as acting goes…you act “less” because the camera is right there you don’t have to reach the person in the last row of the balcony.  On camera, you do the scene as if the audience is sitting right next to you.  Also, on stage, it’s live, so if you make a mistake you have to figure out how to fix it right there. Whereas on camera you get more chances to fix something. There’s good and bad things about that. Being on stage keeps you on your toes.

Rutina Wesley as Tara Thornton

TB-N: The role of Tara was cast using the scene where Tara loses her job at the Super Sav-A-Bunch. Alan Ball mentioned that you got the role of Tara because you were the only actress who auditioned that revealed a vulnerable side. Can you tell us how you prepared for the test?

RW: When I first got the sides for the role I immediately saw through to her heart.  I saw this person who was like a little girl or a wounded animal. There’s something beautiful about that vulnerability that we show when we’re wounded.  You can see it in someone’s eyes. Every human being is complex and has layers and when I was preparing for this role, I wanted to show as many layers as possible and make sure that the audience saw the little girl inside – scared, insecure, and needing love.

TB-N: You beautifully described Tara as being someone with a little flower inside that needed to be taken care and nurtured. In the second season, it seems that Maryann took advantage of that. Quite frankly, we are worried that Tara will never trust anyone again. What do you think Tara’s natural reactions would be moving forward after all this mayhem?

RW: In my opinion, Tara’s natural reaction will be complete shock. I think that she’s going to need her time to grieve. How much time that is, we don’t know… Maryanne was a mother figure to her and Eggs was the love of her life as far as she could see…To have those two people ripped away from her so suddenly and simultaneously is going to be hard for her, but she’s strong.  I think she’ll be able to get through it.

TB-N: We love how Tara seems to have the perfect insult for every occasion. Are you as mouthy and profane in real life or are you more of a lady?

RW: I am more of a lady in real life – not as mouthy, but I have my days.

TB-N: Do you enjoy being given the freedom to swear at and mock everybody in Bon Temps? Anyone in the real world that you think deserves a good dressing down?

RW: Yes, I do enjoy that freedom. It’s fun playing the little spitfire that Tara is. You know, I’m sure that there are a lot of people that could use a good talking to but I can’t think of any off the top of my head. My grandmother taught me to kill them with kindness – I’m supposed to be a lady and not do those kind of things.

TB-N: Tara and Sam had great chemistry and we loved them together in Season 1. What was it like working with Sam Trammell in those sexy scenes and is there any hope they’ll get back together someday?

RW: Sam is great. He’s the ultimate professional. I felt very safe. Of course there’s a hope they’ll get back together. I think they were starting to get somewhere but Tara was too scared to admit it and it was moving too fast for her.

TB-N: Do you see Tara getting effectively closer to Jason in season 3? Jason having killed Eggs seems the perfect setup for another romantic drama.

RW: Anything can happen. It’s True Blood, it “hurts so good.”  So, yes, it does seem like it would be a perfect set up but who knows?  Ever since Jason got into the V, I feel like she got turned off by him a bit. As far as Rutina goes, I have no idea what they’re going to do but it will be interesting to see what happens.

Deborah Ann Woll

When Deborah climbed into her character Jessica’s skin and tumbled out from the trunk of a car we didn’t know what was coming. As she stared up at Bill with her angelic face and pleading eyes at the tribunal, we had no idea she would be a spark that ignited the screen on fire.

With her fiery red hair and blazing blue eyes, Deborah is a force to be reckoned with. After crawling out of the dirt, spending time with Eric and going through the True Blood taste test, she has become one of our favorites. She has left us with many great lines and one hell of a cliffhanger going into season three.

Vitals: Deborah Ann Woll was born on February 7th, 1985. Her first role was in “Life” as Nancy and that lead to several guest spots in “ER,” “My name is Earl” and “The Mentalist.” Deborah has experience playing the piano and  Latin and Swing dancing; she is also a certified lifeguard. Deborah didn’t always know she wanted to be a actress but she knew she wanted to be a performer. We are so lucky she made the choice to be an actress and shares her amazing talent with us. We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Deborah and now we love her even more, you’ll see why…

TB-N: What did you know in advance about the character of Jessica before you read for it?

Just the breakdown:  A conservative religious teenager who is chosen as a sacrifice for a vampire tribunal.  She begs for her life and when death seems inevitable she prays for forgiveness…something along those lines.

TB-N: We’ve read that the role of Jessica was initially going to be a recurring role with only two or three episodes. Do you know when the role was expanded to go through season two?

I heard about it just before we filmed the final episode of season one.  That’s when they told me that I had been offered a series regular position, which I wasn’t expecting at all.  Based on the last episode I thought they might use me for a few more because the story was unfinished, but I had no idea they wanted to expand the role more generously.

Deborah Ann Woll by Tyler Shields

TB-N: What surprised you the most about the popularity of Jessica’s character?

I was surprised at how open the fans were to see the character in a different light.  She was initially presented as a bit of a pain, but other perhaps more tragic sides of the role have been addressed in the second season. I was surprised that people seemed so willing to change their first impressions.

TB-N: Has your life been changed as a result of your popularity on True Blood?

My life has certainly changed because of True Blood and Jessica.  First of all, more roles have opened up to me, and I now have more opportunities to meet other artists.  It has also changed how I am perceived. I think before I may have been seen as a more wholesome type; and now edgier projects are opening up to me, which I am very pleased about.

TB-N: We’ve read in other interviews that the character Jessica is nothing like you in real life, but we do see the shyness in Jessica, which we hear is a part of your persona. Are there any other characteristics of Jessica that you share?

Jessica definitely has shyness to her, but I think the difference is she can’t be alone.  She needs stimulation to come from outside herself, which is the mark of an extrovert – and why she goes looking for trouble.  I am definitely an introvert. I prefer being alone or with a very few close friends.  I would never go to a bar by myself to pick up a strange boy.  She is far braver than I.

I would say that Jessica and I are romantics.  For both of us, the most important thing in the world is to love someone and be loved in return. Everything we do hinges on that.  At heart, Jessica is just trying to do the right thing and find out who she wants to be – and that involves making mistakes. Unfortunately, a mistake as a vampire could lead to murder, but to each their own. ; )  Of course, questioning and searching are marks of humanity that we all understand.  We just all go about it differently.

This is part two of interview. To read part one, click here.

Hello there, patient True Blood fans. Here is the second half of our interview with the fabulous Kristin Bauer. Diverse topics are covered, including hunting for a man, dickheads in giant SUVs, desert island movies and when our favourite show will be back on television. Oh, and how everyone wants more Pam in Season 3. Enjoy and leave a comment to say hiya to Kristin and we’d like to thank her again for taking the time to chat with us! Pam rules!

You studied Fine Arts in Boston, NYC and St. Louis. What made you decide to switch to acting?

The only reason really, initially, was just to eat. I’m kind of a blue-collar actress, I’m very practical about it. I act for food. As a painter, and a sketcher basically, you know I was pretty poor. I was working many jobs and had many roommates and was often eating ramen noodles. I moved to LA from the east coast because it was an easier life here. Apartments were cheaper and the sun was shining, on the east coast I didn’t have a car and I was always taking the bus in the rain. Life was harder. In Boston I was hauling my stuff blocks to the nearest Laundromat and the quarter machine never had quarters in it. And half the time you come back 30 minutes later and your laundry has been moved or it’s gone, or it’s soaking in water because the machine broke.

Kristin on her wedding day...aww!

Yeah, laundromats suck!

And I was always living in some terrible neighborhood because it was all we could afford. At least here you know I could be poor, but at least be in the sun. And so then I got, by complete accident, an acting job and I just said, “How much do you pay?” Because I was working three or four jobs and they paid me more in a week than I would get in a month working my other four jobs.

Wow, that’s amazing.

And it was probably was not very much pay, but to me it was a lot.

So you’re still painting in your spare time and you’ve done some commissioned portraits. What is your favorite medium to work in? Do you work with any galleries?

Well I love… you know most of my life I was drawing and then I started painting and I quickly found oil paint and I really love it. I love painting people, flowers, cars, and dogs, whatever. It was always my secret for years that I do this until few years ago I thought, “I’m going to tell people.” So I put up the web site. At the time it was just to introduce my painting. And then people started to ask, “How much would you charge?” So when I’m not working I’m always painting somebody, something or some place.

That sounds actually quite restful.

It’s incredibly rejuvenating. And right now, a friend of mine, my best friend for a very long time since high school. He’s doing a little art show, and he said, “Would you put a few pieces in?” And I said  “sure!” Well, now that’s two weeks away on September 26th and I have three paintings done. So, every moment I can I’m in there painting. It will be in LA (www.anthonysartandframes.biz).

As I’m generally a Team Bellefleur girl, I was very excited to get the chance to ask Chris Bauer, who plays Detective Andy Bellefleur on True Blood, a bunch of questions that us webmistresses came up with over the span of season 2. Chris was a great sport and answered our interrogatories about some of his favorite True Blood scenes, Andy Bellefleur’s antagonistic relationship with Jason Stackhouse (was is really all about the pussy?), the PIG and why we shouldn’t get to know him too well. I was particularly pleased that Chris has such a fondness for my hometown, Chicago.

TB-N: You spent some time with the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and also the Goodman Theatre. Can you tell us how long you were in Chicago, which productions were your favorites and if you have any plans to return to the stage?

Chris Bauer & Emily Mortimer in Atlantic Theater's Parlour Song

CB: I always have plans to return to the stage, and I always do. I never thought I’d appear on camera until I was 45. I figured I’d be lucky to be in plays. In fact I was cast in my first movie (Snow White: A Tale of Terror) after a casting director saw me in a show at Steppenwolf in Chicago. I consider Chicago audiences the best in America. They don’t discern by way of status. They will see a show at a storefront by a no-name theater group as avidly as they will whatever’s playing at the Goodman theater or Steppenwolf. Chicago is where I really learned how to act, how to live a creative life. All my ethics came from that place. And I moved there after I attended the Yale School of Drama. Thank God for Chicago, it was a place I could go to forget everything I’d learned at Yale. I’m grateful for my education but I didn’t form any good creative habits until I worked in Chicago. The aesthetic there is all about making your work as real and as human as possible. And I love that. During ‘A Clockwork Orange’ at Steppenwolf, the stage had a dirt floor and we used to pee on it! Maybe that was too real. But this isn’t a vain job for me; as is obvious to anyone who has seen my work. But I never go more than two years without doing a play. I’m a member of the Atlantic Theater in New York. It’s my favorite stage in the city. I work there whenever I can. And I got to do ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ on Broadway with Natasha Richardson (may God bless her forever), Amy Ryan, and John C. Reilly – insane talent in an immaculate play. I’m so lucky. I’ll never leave the theater behind. I’m that kind of geek.

Detective Andy Bellefleur

TB-N: Throughout your career, you have often portrayed police officers or detectives. Have you worked with anybody in law enforcement to prepare for any of these roles?

CB: I have a close friend who is a United States Marshal. I admire him very much. He has helped a lot of people and is a really devoted dad. He’s a lot like many people I know in law enforcement. There’s a former cop in my hometown who I spend a lot of time with. He’s always got a story or two. And I was on ‘Third Watch’ on NBC for five years. We were up to our ears in cops, fire fighters, first responders, etc. 99.99999 percent of each of those people have been compulsively generous and brave. I’ve taken bits and pieces from each of them like a thief and filed them away in my imagination. It all comes into play when a character is born. It’s always been an honor to play those types, but man, I could never live that life… too chickenshit.