True Blood News at The Nest

Rutina Wesley is surprised that she’s recognized by True Blood fans whenever she goes out into the world. She really shouldn’t be though, as Sookie’s best friend and cousin to the fabulous Lafayette, Rutina’s Tara (who was a much smaller role in the Southern Vampire Mysteries) is central to Sunday night.

What makes “True Blood” so popular?

Rutina Wesley: It’s reality meets fantasy. That means anything can happen at any time. And that creates the drama and the comedy, and, sometimes, the ridiculousness of it all. Sometimes it’s like, Really? Am I watching what I think I’m watching? Yes, you’re watching an orgy in the middle of the woods and people are really enjoying themselves. And people can’t help but just watch… I think it’s a lot of fun and people enjoy being taken out of reality and escaping to this fantasyland that Alan Ball has created. I think humans living and interacting with these supernatural beings makes for good drama…It’s reality meets fantasy and anything and everything is possible. There’s a freedom that I think we love because we don’t always get to be as free in real life…I know I enjoy getting to play it!

What can we expect from your character this season?

Wesley: Tara goes on an incredible journey this year. Alan Ball has said that this season is all about identity – finding who you are, maybe even WHAT you are, and how you fit into this world. Tara is, above all, a survivor – so you’ll get to see her continue to fight for survival and find her way. She’s a little unstable right now because of everything that happened to her at the end of Season 2, so she’s got quite a journey ahead of her and hopefully she’ll realize that she has value and can love herself.

Do you feel your character represents a departure for an African-American actor?

Wesley: I think it would be easy to see her as the ‘angry black woman’/best friend but she is so far from some of the African American stereotypes we’ve seen on television. Yes, she speaks her mind and is affirmative but she’s also very smart and underneath it all there is humanity and vulnerability. She’s a little girl who’s like everyone else and seeks love and validation, even if sometimes she looks for it in the wrong places. I think of her as the truth on the show…she’s the human reacting to all these supernatural creatures as any human would react if this were real life and not television. And finally, she is an African American woman living in a small town – some of my favorite scenes were the scenes in Season 1 where Tara would confront the racial stereotypes and not let bigotry go unnoticed.

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Videos from the red carpet of the season 3 premiere. They’re all worth the watch so take the time.

The cast of True Blood has started to trickle in for the third season premiere at the Arclight Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. We’ll be adding images as they come in!

Gallery for Season 3 Premiere

Pics coming in from all sources including: @ChelseaLaurenLA and our correspondant Jenna!

Rutina Wesley answered a few questions for Parade recently and I don’t know whether to say poor, poor Tara or bring it on – Rutina’s gonna own that screen. Her character should be fun to watch this year as she hooks up with the psychotic Franklin Mott while recovering from the loss of Eggs.

Unlucky-in-love Tara’s questionable romantic future.
“She does have this vampire love interest. I don’t know that I can say ‘love interest,’ maybe it’s more of a ‘dark interest.’ He’s very psychotic.”

Season 3 won’t be a cakewalk for Tara.
“Tara is a survivor. You’re going to see her struggle with trying to survive in this world, with all of the things that are going to happen to her. She has an incredible journey this season – incredible. I really, really enjoyed playing it. It has been as emotionally challenging if not more so than Season 2 or Season 1.

Working with real-life couple Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.
“They’re very private, and I respect that. And they’re very professional. They don’t come to set making out, they come to set to work. People picked up on the chemistry, but no one thought anything was going to come of it. I think it’s beautiful to see two actors like that who can work together and have a relationship outside of it that’s just as healthy. They really do adore each other. They really love each other. I’ve just enjoyed watching their relationship grow, and watching them work together is amazing. Their chemistry is unbelievable.”

Read the entire article.

The True Blood cast is featured in the June issue of Marie Claire. The magazine asked Rutina Wesley, Joe Manganiello and Sam Trammell what their desert island list would include for music, cinema and TV. This is what they picked. Click the image to enlarge.

Ahh, parties… cocktails, canapes, chit-chatting and glamour. Lots of glamour. The True Blood cast knows a lot about all that. If you don’t believe me, take a look at all the events they were caught this week.

Alice + olivia held an afternoon tea party to benefit the Children’s Defense Fund on May 23rd at their LA boutique. Rutina Wesley and Ashley Jones were among the guests. They had fun trying clothes and shoes just like every girl would do.

Rutina Wesley and Ashley Jones

Rutina Wesley at Alice + Olivia Tea Party

Natasha Alam (the explosive Fangtasia’s stripper and Eric’s personal go-go) and Ryan Kwanten attended the Launch of the “Prince of Persia” video game, presented by Ubisoft and Break Media at Sky Bar on May 25, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. Natasha was also seen the same day attending the presentation of A|X And ELLE “Disco Glam” at A|X Robertson Store.

Ryan Kwanten @ the Launch of the "Prince of Persia"

Natasha Alman multi-tasking at different events

Joe Manganiello and Theo Alexander attended E! Entertainment’s 20th Birthday Celebration at The London Hotel on May 24 in West Hollywood, California.

Theo Alexander arriving at E!'s party

Joe Manganiello at E!'s party

Nelsan Ellis & Mariana Klaveno

Nelsan Ellis and Mariana Klaveno helped to celebrate the W. Los Angeles Westwood’s  Birthday while also helping the American Cancer Society on Wednesday, 5/26/10.

The W & the American Cancer Society are working together to create a world with more birthdays! You can help them in different ways, just visit their website for more information.

James Frain poses at W Hotels' Symmetry Live

We can’t wait to see James Frain as the obscure vampire Franklin Mott!

On May 25, recording artist Janelle Monae gave an exclusive live performance presented on the rooftop of the W Hollywood; the show was part of the W Hotel’s Symmetry Live music series.

James attended the event held at W Hotels on May 25, 2010 in Hollywood, California.

Patrick Gallagher is Chow in True Blood

And yet another True Blood’s actor, Patrick Gallagher, was seen at the Twentieth Century Fox 75th Anniversary Party held at the Fox Studio Lot on May 27, 2010 in Century City, California.

Wow, that was a busy week! And get ready for the next weekend: True Blood’s premiere party!

Kathie Huddleston from Sci Fi Mag, is giving a first look at the August issue of the magazine in her blog. The magazine, that will be out in the news stands in June, is featuring interviews with Alan Ball, Rutina Wesley & Denis O’hare. Kathie publishes some questions with Denis, true Blood’s King of Mississipi that you can’t miss!

True Blood opening spread

KATHIE: I understand you are going to be a regular on the show.

DENIS: I am. I don’t know what that means in terms how long I’ll be around [laughs]. But you know what, I’m around this year. I’m a regular this year.

KATHIE: Have you read the book series?

DENIS O’HARE: I’ve read a bunch of them. I think I’ve read three of them. Is that a bunch? The thing is I don’t think we shoot very closely to the books.

Read more at the source

Ryan Kwanten and Rutina Wesley attended last night’s annual Breakthrough Awards ceremony at the Thompson Hotel in Beverly Hills.  Australians in Film organized the event and honored Ryan with a Breakthrough Award.

Ryan shared that his father had Skyped some tips about his acceptance speech: “Dad, who likes to think he is a pretty good public speaker, said: ‘Ryan, you have to tell them how proud you are to be an Australian, and you have to use the term no worries.’”

“And he said ‘Talk about sausage sizzles. Let them know in Australia we turn everything into sausage sizzles.’”

This American has no idea if he’s referring to actual sausage, like the meat product, or if it’s some kind of inside (and possibly perverted) Australian joke.  Either way, it sounds like Ryan’s dad would fit right into Bon Temps, especially since he wanted Ryan to include, “’Tell them how good your old man looks in a pair of Sluggos.’” (Apparently, that means Speedos.) Like father, like son.

Congratulations, Ryan

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True Blood’s Rutina Wesley and Sam Trammell didn’t just glam on the red carpet at Victoria’s Secret “What Is Sexy” party, they also did some dishing on season 3. No worries, the small sorta spoilers are nothing new to ya, but you should watch it anyways ‘cuz they’re just such pretty people.

Victoria’s Secret held a party for their revealing of the 5′th annual “What Is Sexy?” list last night on May 11′th. And guess who won “Sexiest TV Cast”? Obviously you don’t have to fry your brain coming up with the answer….that’s right, True Blood did!

Sam Trammell accepted the award in honour of our favourite TV show. Also showing up for the fun was Rutina Wesley, Carrie Preston and Joe Manganiello.

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