Rutina Wesley : Parade

After just two seasons, True Blood has drawn millions of viewers and made stars of its colorful cast of human and not-quite-human characters. And now the HBO hit is back, with brand-new episodes premiering June 13. 

Rutina Wesley plays Tara Thornton, the quick-tempered, defensive best friend of the show’s heroine, Sookie Stackhouse. The actress talked to Parade.com about Tara’s trademark tough exterior, the surprises that lay in store for fans and what she thinks about the headline-making romance between co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer. 

Does Tara feel left out of the supernatural powers club? 

"Absolutely not. She loves being human. I think she's like, WTF? What is going on? I think Tara is the truth, I think she's the truth factor in True Blood. She sees everything like it is, she tells it like it is. And I enjoy playing a human being thrust into this world. It's great. It creates a lot of drama, because it's like, How do the humans feel about this? If vampires and werewolves were walking around today, there would be chaos. People would be losing their minds." 

 

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." 

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." 

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." 

And she's not the only one with a challenging role. 

"Everybody has something great to work on this year. Everyone is doing such great work, and there are so many storylines that people are really going to have to keep their eyes open to keep up. There's a lot going on. The thing about [Tara] is that she does sort of get to play with everyone. Her journey takes her through a lot of the characters, characters that you've never seen her play with before." 

 

True Blood is sex, violence and more... 

"Last season was a little crazy, you know, with the orgies and stuff -- but it sort of made sense. We had to go there because of the world that Maryann had created. And what I loved about it as an actor was the freedom that we showed that people can have. When you're cast under a spell, your inhibitions just go out the window; you're just completely free to do whatever you choose to do. I think, as human beings, we all want a little bit of that. We all would love to prance around naked if we could, without any judgment. I just love that we actually go there and delve into that because it's human nature. We're sexual beings." 

Does it ever go too far? 

"I never think it's too far because it's True Blood. I mean, anything could happen. When I get it, I may be like,Okay, here we go. How am I going to do this? But it's also the story. I wouldn't do anything that I felt uncomfortable with, and I wouldn't do anything that I didn't think made sense. The writers and Alan Ball are really great with making sure that we're comfortable with whatever we do. It's not like, 'You're doing this or you're out.' I love the camaraderie that we have. We're like a big family, and we all look out for each other and take care of each other. And that makes for a safe environment." 

 

So it's safe to say there's more sex and violence to come in Season 3? 

"Oh, of course. You're gonna get some sex, you're gonna get some violence. I would say that this season is very action-packed. There are a lot of action scenes, a lot stunts." 

 

Why millions are tuning in to True Blood. 

"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." 

And the fans are all over the world. 

"Last year I went on vacation, and 20 seconds after stepping out of our hotel there was a fan there going, 'Oh, my god. Oh, my god. It's the girl from True Blood.' I had flown across an ocean, and not 20 seconds after checking into our hotel there's somebody asking, 'Excuse me, can I take your picture?' That was so amazing to me, to be in another country and to have a fan base like that. I just would never have thought it would have become so big and that I would be a part of it." 

Rutina would like to set the record straight: She is NOT her character. 

"I am not like [Tara]. People think I'm her. I get, 'Oh, my god. You're so much prettier in person.' I'm playing a character; I have to go there. Tara is very dark. I have my days, of course. I'm a woman. But I don't run around cussing people out. I am a fierce spirit. I'm just as incredibly vulnerable as Tara is, which is why I can relate to her. Which is why, when I auditioned, I went for her vulnerability rather than her anger. I don't think she's the angry black woman stereotype, I think she has so many levels to her. I haven't seen an African-American character on TV like her yet, and that's why I just feel incredibly lucky to have been chosen to play her."