Kristin Bauer van Straten gave eonline.com some little tidbits about working on Season 5 of True Blood and working with co-star (and vamp daddy) Alexander Skarsgård.
“Every year I think, ‘We’ve kinda done it.’ Every year I think ‘Wow, that was better than last year. These story lines and these scenes and the cast…I don’t think they could get any better.’ ”
So says Kristin Bauer—who plays scene stealing vamp-extraordinaire Pam on True Blood—when we asked what’s to come for the fangtastic HBO show. “And that’s how I feel about [season] five,” K.B. told us from the set.
So what sort of outrageous things will Pam say this season? And what’s it like for the gal to work with Alexander Skarsgård now that he’s a big, huge movie star?
First off, the gushing: “Every script I get I go, ‘Oh my god, that’s better than I thought it would be.’ And wardrobe fittings, ‘Oh my god, that’s better than I could have imagined,’ ” Bauer practically hyperventilated.
But scoop-wise, Bauer stayed tight-lipped on the secrets of season five: “I have a pretty good inkling about [what's to come]. And I can’t tell you anything.” Though she did tease that we should not only expect more totally over-the-top outfits from Pam, but also more R-rated one-liners.
“We thought last year’s gash in the sundress might be that point and apparently that wasn’t!” Kristen told us when asked the writers ever give her something to say that’s just too much.
“It feels like it’s just in kind. We’re just continuing with all the goodness we’ve had before,” Kristin continued about the naughtiness to come. “I don’t know if you can get much worse than gash in a sundress, but we can certainly stay in the ballpark.”
And as for her onscreen maker, Mr. A.Skars—ya know, now that he’s living on the big screen in flicks like Straw Dogs and Battleship—well, Kristen says he’s par for the course as well:
“He’s the same guy…We’re buddies,” she laughed when we wondered whether he’d changed since the beginning of True Blood. “But watch I’ll go watch the movies and then get starstruck all of a sudden.”
Trust us, we already have been. And starstruck is not a bad thing to be when it comes to Skars, not at all.
Kristin Bauer van Straten talks to the Improper Bostonian about True Blood, crushes, her art and acting. Born and raised in Racine, Wis., she attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston until 1993, when she decided to pursue a career in acting.
Weirdest fan encounter?
She was wearing a cape, and she gave me a journal that she’d been keeping. It took me, a few friends and some cocktails to figure out what she was trying to say, and I think it had something to do with her being my maker as a vampire. She also grabbed my ass. [Laughs.] Pretty memorable.
Do you really get to see Alexander Skarsgård naked?
Yes! It’s a nice perk.
Who’s the sexiest man on True Blood?
It’s almost impossible for me to say at this point, because I’m so close to all these people. We’re in year five of our relationships. But I do have to say that one of the set crushes for a lot of the girls is Chris Bauer [who plays Andy Bellefleur]. This is the sexiest cast. Whatever your type, he’s there. But Chris Bauer is sort of the on-set heartthrob. Cute, sweet, cool. He’s the guy you’d marry.
Your idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon?
I love when it’s raining, wearing PJs, a big Sunday breakfast at home, in my slippers, no makeup. That’s heaven.
Another delightful little interview with Kristin Bauer van Straten was published today, this time by City Link. Kristin talks about being Pam, her favorite True Blood characters and what it’s like for her now that she’s acquired fame.
How has your life changed since True Blood went on the air?
Well, I now have to shower and wear some makeup to go to Starbucks. I have to borrow a little from Pam — be a tad more vain, as I could never say, “no” to a fan wanting a photo because I’m not wearing mascara. And I get asked my thoughts on things and I have lots to say about rights and free will, especially regarding animals, as they are truly innocent and voiceless. It is also possible playing Pam has opened the door to my being seen as a “fierce bitch,” I think is the term and I’m all for that typecasting.
How do you prepare to play Pam and what do you enjoy most about the role? What’s the most challenging part?
I try to be my most dry and sarcastic self. Then, I get in those clothes, sit in hair and makeup for two to five hours, and walk on to those gorgeous sets with these amazing actors, and 80 percent of the work has been created around me. All of that teamwork cannot be underestimated in how important it is to be able to believe I am an immortally bored vampire.
Were you familiar with the True Blood books before taking the role?
I was not. This entire world has been a delightful surprise.
What has been your most-memorable scene on the show so far?
Every year, there are many “most-memorable scenes” in my mind. Even the ones that I feel may be less memorable for Pam, I find out later from fans, that the fabulous dialogue they wrote made an impact. I can tell you I was very curious to see how the face-rotting scenes looked, like the fight scene I had with Rutina [Wesley]. We worked two long nights on that, and I was really hoping I was very edgy. And I hear I was.
Since you played Jerry’s girlfriend with “man hands” on Seinfeld, what were your thoughts on that role and do fans still recognize you for that?
They do. Seinfeld fans are also a great, loyal group. It was such an amazing show. I have played such a variety of parts, I feel more like a character actor in many ways and value that about the parts I have gotten. I did a lot of comedy, many in sitcom format, and it is another world from True Blood and also so much joy.
On True Blood, who has been your favorite character or character(s) to interact with?
I am very partial to my maker, Eric [played by Alexander Skarsgård]. But I also have gotten to threaten Lafayette, flirt with Sookie, scowl at Bill, try to kill Tara a few times, ignore Ginger’s screams, check out Jason and give horrible advice to Jessica.
What is it like working with Alexander Skarsgård?
Fang f-ing tastic.
HBO has put out a really cool and gross and informative video on how they got the very glamorous Pam Swynford de Beaufort to look like her skin was rotting away. The True Blood Special FX Producer Dan Rebert takes us inside all of the behind-the-scenes with Kristin Bauer van Straten.
Kristin Bauer van Straten spoke with HuffPost and gushed a bit about Pam’s relationship with Eric, her vulnerability and crying a lot. She even mentioned the Bellefleurs (yay!). We already knew it, but she confirms that Chris Bauer Is One Sexy Mofo and explains how everybody loves him on set.
On her Maker:
“He really is the one rock in her life — the one person she really loves and would do anything for. She would die for Eric. That’s it for her. He’s her maker. He really is her best friend, her daddy, and they just have such a complicated relationship. And she loves being his lieutenant. She doesn’t want to be first-in-command, so when he’s not there to be her rock, she doesn’t like it. That will definitely come into play when we go into Pam and Eric’s pasts next season.”
"He's got some sort of x-factor"
On the True Blood cast & Bellefleurs:
“It’s like lightening striking. I’ve been on a lot of sets, and this doesn’t happen everyday. We have such a big family. Seventy percent of the show, I’m not in, so I like to see everyone’s storylines. I don’t know anything about the werewolf world or Sam’s world. Every week, I’m just fascinated.
One of my favorite moments all season was that great scene in episode 10 between Chris Bauer and Todd Lowe, the Bellefleurs. I couldn’t wait to see that.
Chris [Bauer] is definitely one of the main girl-crushes on set — we all love him. He’s got some sort of x-factor [laughs].”
She may have a crush on Chris Bauer — and let’s face it, who doesn’t? — but she does have some trouble getting one cast-member’s name right.
“I’m watching the show and reading the scripts every week, and after what seems like years, I have a scene with Ryan [Kwanten], and halfway through the day, Anna [Paquin] says to me, ‘Do you realize you’re calling him Jason?’ And Ryan is so sweet, that he never even said a word. He was just responding to Jason all day.”
Kristin Bauer van Straten spoke with Metro recently about Pam, acting advice and the Hollywood casting couch:
What’s so great about vampires?
They’re the ultimate escape. They don’t have to worry about illness, ageing or death and they always have money.
Isn’t Pam having a challenging time in the series right now?
A little challenging but we see the true nature of people when they are really tested. She’s a fighter and we are starting to see her humanity. I love that about her. I’ve started to really fall in love with Pam.
What do you say to people who want to be actors?
I always think: ‘Run!’ but I say: ‘Is there anything else you love to do?’ If they say: ‘Biology and I’d love to be a vet’, I advise them to do that. Most people don’t really want to audition for 15 years and go through all the ups and downs. They want to be on True Blood and go to red carpet events.
Did a casting couch ever present itself?
I looked for that route but never found it. Where the heck was that route? People would say: ‘Oh that girl slept her way to the top’ and I’d ask: ‘Who, how, where?’ I was having sex with people, just the wrong people apparently, because that was never an opportunity for me. I can’t say I wouldn’t have welcomed it although I don’t think it always pays off. I met one girl who slept with Steven Seagal but she only got to be a corpse in the movie.
Interview caught up with Kristin Bauer van Straten on the phone from her home base of Los Angeles and discussed lots of interesting stuff like fashion, make-up, the books, comic-con, fan sites, and even how True Blood has made its way into the White House… read on!
On Kristin’s Knowledge of Charlaine Harris novels
“I had no knowledge of them. One of my main techniques for acting is I try to know almost nothing beyond the words that I have to say, because that’s my zone of control. I have a couple of really good friends who know all the producers, what they’ve done, and who’s going to be in the room. I can’t survive mentally if I know that. I just have to do my part and let the universe take it from there. I did know HBO, Alan Ball, and vampires. That was more than I needed to know to be very excited about if I could ever do this role. So then I got the dialogue and got kind of a concept of her, and just went in and winged it. And then they hired me.”
On Celebrity fans (including Obama!)
“I have exchanged some love with some other shows. The Battlestar Galactica people, I went over and said, “I have to tell you guys—” And they said, “Oh my God, I’m so glad you came over! I’m in love with your show and just wanted to tell you!” And we had Chevy Chase’s wife come running over at Comic-Con and go, “I had to tell you, I’m just in love with your show!” And then we hear through people…I believe Stephen [Moyer] and Anna [Paquin] went to the White House and Obama had come into the Oval Office one day and said, “Is anyone watching this show True Blood?” I guess he had watched it the night before.”
JOHNS: That’s a pretty great image, to think about True Blood in the White House.
“Isn’t it? He comes in on Wednesday morning before dealing with whatever crisis…the stock market crashes. “First of all…what the hell is with Pam’s face?”
JOHNS: [laughs] You know, that’s his first priority in the morning.
Yeah. “So Joe Biden, I’m a little worried about Pam.”
Another delightful little interview with Kristin Bauer van Straten was published today, this time by 
Kristin Bauer van Straten spoke with Metro recently about Pam, acting advice and the Hollywood casting couch:
