True Blood News at The Nest

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?

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.

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.

TB-N: We love Andy Bellefleur, and as the season moved forward he got more complicated and funnier. You have portrayed a lot of dramatic roles in your career, but we’ve seen you pull off comedy and dark humor flawlessly. What is your dream role? Do you prefer drama to comedy?

CB: First of all. THANK YOU. I’m so happy to hear that you or anyone loves Andy Bellefleur ‘cuz I love him so much. And sometimes he’s an ass! But he has to be. That’s the way he is. He’s so desperate for acceptance and so sure he isn’t going to get it that he beats everybody to the punch and puts out a really hostile vibe. It’s the classic dysfunctional contradiction of a person behaving in direct opposition to what they really want. He wants affection, respect, a feeling of belonging, love, fellowship. But his insecurity is so severe, as is his lonliness, and his antiquated perception of his families’ elite status in Bon Temps really gets in his way. But I’m so damn happy to play a character you can smile and laugh with/at. I’ve played some hardcore types before, but I just love Andy. He’s funny but he’s never trying to be! Anyway, I don’t know if I could put my dream role into words, but Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Chris Cooper, they’ve played all the characters and types of characters that I’m attracted to. But I’m such a baby; I’ve been doing this a long time but wouldn’t dare say I know what I’m doing yet. The great thing about a creative life is if you focus on the task at hand (scene you’re working on, character you’re playing, etc.), and avoid looking down the road, your path is comfortably revealed one step at a time, and you can be sure you’re heading in the right direction. When you try to determine that path without tending your creative obligations, you get lost.

TB-N: What would you say is the biggest challenge in portraying Andy Bellefleur? You have stated that the character of Andy fits you like a glove. Can you elaborate on why that is? What traits do Andy Bellefleur and Chris Bauer share?

CB: I want that love, that affection, that acceptance, status, fellowship, respect. If my ego made all the decisions, a) I’d be a shitty actor and b) I’d never risk alienating an audience by building a character that can repulse you, make you mad, turn you off. You know, we read our critics, we know what people glibly say about our work. And that’s ok. It’s a great life being an actor and my gratitude that I get to make a living at it is immeasurable. But a part of me will always want people to like me! (Sorry so human). Frankly the biggest challenge in playing Andy is maintaining his viability as a multi-dimensional character with a limited amount of scenes to do so. ‘True Blood’ is a major grab bag of characters and I love how many of us there are. But we have limited time to make our mark so it’s a real ballet to etch a portrait that sticks and that you can believe is real without throwing off the scale of the other character’s needs.

TB-N: What was your favorite scene to film in season one? In season two?

CB: Right off the top of my head, my favorite scene of season one was with me and Terry fishing out on the bayou and Sam goes streaking by, nude in the woods. Chris Offut wrote that script who is a genious author. Sam Trammel’s an old friend so I got a kick out of the fact that he had to run naked through these snake filled hills in Louisiana. And it just felt so authentic. I love that my job takes me to places like that. Sometimes those places are

emotional, sometimes geographical. Season two: toss up between Jason and Andy carbing up in Jason’s truck when they are about to attempt a rescue of the town. That scene captures everything fun about doing ‘True Blood’. It was written by Alan who is superb and insightful. Tonally, it was funny, but dead serious. And Ryan Kwanten is a live wire scene partner. And the other one is square dancing with a crazy Bud Dearborne. Bill Sanderson has been a great teacher to me and I love working with him. He is a solid man.

TB-N: Do you have any memorable moments on the set from this past year that you found funny or poignant that you could share with us?

CB: Everyone has exhausted this image but you really can’t over-express how surreal it is when you’re surrounded by 40 naked extras in the middle of an ice cold night. My hat is so off to them. They were truly game. Man, they went for it and were a big part of the atmosphere this year. But that many nudies on a cold night is an eye opener, or closer, depending. And some of the party sequences at Maryann’s were shot not far from where I used to play as a kid. And one night we were working there and our trailers were set up in a parking lot near a mall that my mother used to take us to 30 years ago. And I looked out from my trailer and saw the church I went to as a very little kid. In that moment I really felt how far my life had taken me. I’m just so fortunate to be able to work at what I love.

TB-N: The scenes that Andy has with the pig this year were hilarious and fan favorites. What was your initial reaction when you read the script and found your character was going to be obsessed by a pig?

CB: Bring it on! I knew all would be well. My brother Mikey’s nickname was ‘pig’ in high school. He’s got a tattoo of big pink pig on his arm. I loved playing my little scene with the pig, which was actually enormous. Like five hundred pounds big. And the pig was a diva. for real. Had to be fed every take, and kicked down the door of the doll house when the carrot took too long. But I’m a fan. That whole thing might’ve gotten an extra mile or two because I figured out how to make ‘pig’ a four syllable word. Anyway, thank you. Glad you like those scenes. I’ll keep company with a pig any day.

TB-N: This season Andy has gone from stumbling drunk to possible savior of the town. Although Andy is drunk, he’s the smartest of the bunch now.

CB: How difficult is it to play a drunk who is actually the only guy in town that makes any sense? Making no sense is not difficult at all for me. The drunk part is harder. I haven’t been that guy in real life for awhile, but I rehearsed it plenty when I could. It was such a pleasure to dis-assemble that way.

TB-N: Andy had issues with Jason Stackhouse in season one but this season Jason and Andy have done some bonding. Can you tell us why you think Andy had problems with Jason? Was it jealousy? Was it really about the pussy or something more?

CB: JEALOUSY! Consumed with jealousy. Early on, Jason represented everything that was wrong with the world. Reward without hard work – injustice. In a word, Andy might use: bullshit. And it WAS about the pussy. Cuz Andy didn’t get enough. (And I refuse to say none). Andy is really sensitive so he knows what people are thinking of him, and he remembers every little rejection he suffered since he was 12. Jason dissed him at one point long ago, Andy never forgot. However, they’re onto a new path now. And I think by the end of season two, Andy has genuine respect and affection for Jason Stackhouse, and may be disarmed enough to seek his advice. He certainly could counsel Andy in the ‘women’ department.The bottom line is love working with Ryan and doing a scene with him is like recovering a fumble. You just dive on the ball and fight for it. The more the better.

TB-N: Can you tell us how long your contract is with HBO/True Blood?

CB: I’ll be there next season for sure.

TB-N: Everyone feels like they know Andy, but we don’t know that much about Chris Bauer.

CB: On purpose. Maybe I should do more press. I’m certainly flattered you asked me these questions. But there’s a fine line where if you know too much about the actor, it interferes with your experience of the character. Maybe that’s old-school and boring, but for me it’s true. I feel like nobody really knows who I am but that’s how the job’s supposed to be. So I hope I’m not too brief with the ensuing answers…

TB-N: Not a problem at all, here goes, rapid-fire like…

TB-N: Who (or what) do you look to for inspiration in everyday life?

CB: To their annoyance I’m sure, my wife and children.

TB-N: When Chris Bauer isn’t busy acting, where would we most likely find him? What would he be doing for fun?

CB: I don’t think anyone would ever find me. I live off the beaten path kinda.

TB-N: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

CB: The concept of ‘favorites’ is torture for me: but I’m going to go with ‘Caddyshack’.

TB-N: What is your favorite TV show of all time?

CB: Da Ali G show literally pulls me out of my chair.

TB-N: Who would you most like to work with that you haven’t yet? Why?

CB: A playwright named Martin Mcdonough. He won’t cast me.

TB-N: If we may be so bold, what was the last thing that pissed you off?

CB: Bullying

TB-N: And lastly, if you weren’t an actor, what would be your profession of choice?

CB: I have no ‘fall back’ career or skill. This is it.

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A giant thank you goes out to Chris Bauer for participating in the interview and for being such a cool guy. We look forward to seeing Chris Bauer in more productions on stage and screen. Since it’s True Blood off season, this interviewer has  started watching ‘The Wire’ and is just about to embark on season two, in which Chris Bauer stars. Can’t wait to meet Frank Sobotka!

Posted in Chris Bauer, Exclusive Interviews