Anna Paquin chatted live with fans on The Envelop (LA Times) website yesterday. The event was hosted by Tom O’Neil. The fans fired their questions and Anna answered as many as she could and stayed online for almost 40 minutes. I filtered out all the questions that Anna answered, you can read the complete transcript of the chat here.
Tom O\’Neil: First question. When you, being an Oscar champ, first heard about the concept of “True Blood,” were you skeptical about doing a vampire show? Or did you think, “Hey, that looks like fun!”?
Anna Paquin: i pursued true blood so when i heard i got the part i was thrilled
[Comment From pammie]
Hello Anna, you have the BEST SCREAM!
Anna Paquin: i do scream a lot on the show lol
Tom O\’Neil: Wouldn’t it be ironic if you’re nominated against your “Piano” costar Holly Hunter (“Saving Grace”)????
Anna Paquin: that would be an amazing compliment be in her category
[Comment From Lee]
Hey anna, what are you listening to these days music stuff…
Anna Paquin: loving fleet foxes and fiona apple
Tom O\’Neil: Are you aware of the Curse of the Vampires at the Emmys? Even though EVERY TV critic in America fumed at the Emmys to nominate “Buffy” Sarah Michelle Gellar, she never got nommed, poor thing. Maybe Emmy voters are snobs?
Anna Paquin: i am not aware of any curse
Tom O\’Neil: You’ll break it, I have a good hunch
[Comment From Send]
Does Alan Ball have a large input to your character?
Anna Paquin: alan ball is pretty much god as far as our show is concerned so that would be a huge yes
[Comment From Juliet]
hi anna, my friend wants to know what the fake blood tastes like
Anna Paquin: fake blood tastes like congealed gooey jam that has been pureed
Tom O\’Neil: You’ve been in the Emmy game before – with “Wounded Knee.” Now you may get nominated twice, including a bid for “Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler.” But you may have to send some vampires after those “Grey Gardens” gals
Anna Paquin: i’m really just focused on finishing season two awards are not really on my mind
[Comment From Scott]
Anna Paquin, did it take any type of coaxing did it take for you to do the nude scenes? Is it something you were looking forward to doing?
Anna Paquin: i have no prob with the nudity
[Comment From ChloeOBrian]
What attracted you to play Sookie?
Anna Paquin: sookie gets to do so much cool shit. she is in action scenes, romance, drama all of it. its really like i get to play every possible “type” of female character on one show
[Comment From Stacy]
have u read any of the books? if you have which are your favorites?
Anna Paquin: i read the books while trying to get the part
[Comment From Leiana]
Do you film in New Orleans?
Anna Paquin: we have filmed in shreveport. we go to baton rouge next week
[Comment From Nique]
Don’t you want to Kiss Sheriff Eric.. He’s so Hot
Anna Paquin: sookie is not eric’s biggest fan!!!
[Comment From Nique]
Hi Anna, Are there any other films your working on?
Anna Paquin: right now my whole world is true blood
[Comment From Shadaliza - The Vault]
Are there any characteristics of Sookie’s that you wish that you had? Or you are glad that you don’t have?
Anna Paquin: glad i’m not a telepath, wish i was naturally tan and blonde
[Comment From Debbie Pezzillo]
Anna, do they clear the set when you do the sex scenes?
Anna Paquin: the funny part about sex scenes on tb is that there is usually some kind of special effect fang/blood gag at some point so it kind of odd when you are lying there all naked and someone has to run in and insert fangs or blood….. so kind a clear but we have a lot of essential crew
[Comment From Randall]
When are you going to tread the boards in NYC again? Us theatergoers would love to see you do another play.
Anna Paquin: i would love to do another play asap
[Comment From Crystal]
Anna, how do you feel that Trick ‘R Treat is finally seeing a release? And will you be doing any projects once Season 2 wraps? Like a film or perhaps another play?
Anna Paquin: trick r treat was such a blast to do. my mate mike dougherty who wrote and directed it is amazing and twisted and i’m glad people will get to see this film
[Comment From DeeDee]
You were terrific in “Walk on the Moon”… did you enjoy working with Diane Lane and Viggo Mortensen?
Anna Paquin: i didn’t have much to do with viggo but diane rocks!!!
[Comment From Heidi]
does sookie have any tattoos
Anna Paquin: no tats for sook but i have a couple
[Comment From Debbie Pezzillo]
Anna, do you still wear your Billsbabe Shirt?
Anna Paquin: bills babe shirt and i like to work out together
[Comment From Lee]
godbless her for the patience to endure our badgering. Still wondering what it was like working with the cast on Hurly Burly
Anna Paquin: hurly burly was amazing and intimidating and such a massive learning experience it was a master class in acting
[Comment From Heidi]
its HOT in Baton Rouge
Anna Paquin: well it was like mosquito soup this time last year in shreveport so i’m guessing we are in for more of the same in b.r.
[Comment From AAM]
Were you familiar with Alan Ball’s work on SIX FEET UNDER before pursuing your role on TRUE BLOOD, and in particular, his gift for multi-dimensional characterizations?
Anna Paquin: i have seen every episode of sfu at least three times. Alan is a dream to work with/for
[Comment From Andrew]
Anna, how involved is Alan Ball with the show? Is he there for every episode?
Anna Paquin: alan is involved on every level of every ep from start to finish
Tom O\’Neil: aren’t you just a LITTLE BIT creeped out by Alan’s fondness for TV shows about dead people???? haaaaaaaa
Anna Paquin: WHAT’S WRONG WITH DEAD PEOPLE!!!!????
[Comment From Katherine]
Will you and the cast be attending Comic Con 2009?
Anna Paquin: comic con true blood panel is july 25, we are ALL coming
[Comment From Ashley]
what is it like to work with your real life boyfriend
Anna Paquin: steve and i have a pretty ideal set up as far as personal/work life
[Comment From Alex]
Are you an Eric or a Bill fan?
Anna Paquin: BILL ALL THE WAY!!!
[Comment From Lou]
Anna, I’d love to know the name of your colourist. Your blonde is stunning!
Anna Paquin: TRACEY CUNINGHAM!!!!! THE GO TO LADY FOR BLONDE IN LOS ANGELES/PLANET EARTH. (i may have spelled that wrong)
[Comment From Heidi]
how do they make the fangs pop out
Anna Paquin: the fangs are on a plate that gets put into the mouth and then they do a cgi effect to have them pop
[Comment From Vytas]
How do you stay fit? Yoga? Pilates?
Anna Paquin: i work out A LOT!! yoga pilates boxing anything that involves moving
[Comment From marcie]
Do you have a myspace account or are they just posers?
nna Paquin: I DO NOT HAVE A MY SPACE ACCOUNT!!!!
[Comment From Casey]
do you feel a difference with tv and theatre?
Anna Paquin: acting is acting no matter the medium
[Comment From Jen]
Were you surprised when you won the golden globes? you deserved it
Anna Paquin: the gg shocked the hell out of me, i don’t ever expect stuff like that
Tom O\’Neil: Did you have an acceptance speech ready at Globes? Just in case?
Anna Paquin: no speech
[Comment From Carole]
How do you like living in Los Angeles these days? Or do you really only get to work when you are here?
Anna Paquin: i love my life in los angeles
[Comment From Debbie Pezzillo]
Wow, episode 2.03 was torcherous for you! What was all of the foam in your mouth?
Anna Paquin: alka seltzer
[Comment From Cynthia]
Hi, Anna, I so much enjoy your great performance on True Blood. Do you know if HBO has OK’ed a third season?
Anna Paquin: no official word on season three. so please keep watching and keep your fingers crossed (YES THAT IS A SHAMELESS PLUG)
[Comment From Jordan Catalano]
ooooh, good question: can vamps father children?
Anna Paquin: i’m not sure if they are able to do the baby thing
[Comment From Melvyn]
Anna, what young actress do you admire right now?
Anna Paquin: i really admire all the women on my show. i think rutina, deborah, mishka, and carrie are all extroadinary
[Comment From marcie]
good to know about the myspace! They had stephen proposing the other night. it was hilarious!
Anna Paquin: yeah i love reading things about my life that are FICTION. a while back someone posed as me on facebook and said i was in hospital. which was funny because i was on set at the time and have never been in hospital since i was born. thought it was a bit thoughtless because if that info trickled out to friends or family they would be worried… ya know?
[Comment From Jordan]
Hi Anna, Would you ever work with Spike Lee again? What was that experience like?
Anna Paquin: love spike lee, would love to work with him again
[Comment From MrReynolds]
Is the Globe in your bedroom closet with your Oscar?
Anna Paquin: the globe and oscar are on a counter top in our bedroom
[Comment From Lee]
You must have a nice car, that seems to make LA that much more tolerable
Anna Paquin: i don’t know how to drive. i don’t own a car. i do have a hello kitty beach cruiser
[Comment From Tiyen]
Hi Anna. Big fan here. Have you been back home to New Zealand lately? How are they taking your success? I’m sure they must be proud of you.
Anna Paquin: i get home to nz about once a year
[Comment From Danielle]
Do you sing? Would you ever consider doing a musical?
Anna Paquin: i can sing but haven’t since school choir
[Comment From Ashley]
hi anna! i love sookie. is ryan kwaten single? he is so attractive
Anna Paquin: you would have to ask ryan that!!! i am not a dating service!! or gossip column
[Comment From Insanity]
Speaking of vampire children, What does Sookie really think of Bill’s ‘daughter’?
Anna Paquin: sookie accepts jessica and tries to be a good “step parent”
[Comment From Debbie Pezzillo]
The writers are really doing a great job with Jessica this year
Anna Paquin: i think deborah is mesmerizing !!!!
[Comment From Alexxxxx]
do you have any idea what Daphne is? or at least a guess?
Anna Paquin: of course I KNOW WHAT DAPHNE IS. but i’m telling you !!!!!
[Comment From John]
Anna, did you finish at Columbia? If not, any desire to go back and finish?
Anna Paquin: nope i kinda dropped out
[Comment From Ashley]
I know you’re getting like 8 million questions right now-haha. I was wondering what its like acclimating to a southern character being British? Did you do any research?
Anna Paquin: i’m from new zealand!!!
[Comment From Jordan Catalano]
Do you have to deal with paparazzi now?
Anna Paquin: the paparazzi thing is a little odd. but it’s part of what you sign up for with the whole acting thing. i don’t do anything all that interesting so i still can’t understand why anyone wants to take my picture …..
[Comment From Kay]
You brother said you’ll be cameoing in his new movie which involves driving?
Anna Paquin: we shot it this morning!! in his garage “poor mans process”
[Comment From JackieTomlinson]
What roles have you tried out for but didn’t get?
Anna Paquin: i tried out for loads of roles i didn’t get!!! rejection is 90% of my job
Anna Paquin: ok so i have to go to a costume fitting. i have a special dress for a special scene in ep 12 that needs to be fitted….. so i gotta run
thank you guys so much!!!! all of us true blood folks love and appreciate all the support
it makes our job very exciting!!!!
Anna Paquin: BYE BYE
XOXOX
Like
HAHA! ‘I’m from New Zealand!!!’ Way to go girl. People always forget our little country. Thanks for transcribing this, I found her very likeable and quick witted. Team Bill, hell yes ;)
[Reply]
Excellent chat, thanks for posting Shad and I am glad you and our very own Billsbabe Debbie got to ask questions! I loved the part about her Globe and Oscar are in OUR bedroom… lucky lady!
[Reply]
She handled the barrage of questions very well. Thanks, Shad, for the transcription. Here’s another proud Team Bill member.
[Reply]
Shad thanks for breaking this down for us–I tried reading the entire transcript and it is a little overwhelming. I can’t imagine how Anna was able to keep up with it all but she did a wonderful job.
[Reply]
She is adorable and very sweet to open herself up to a live chat. That has the potential to be…crazy. And now I’m intrigued about this dress! Hmmmmm. Oh, and I’ll second the TEAM BILL!! :))
[Reply]
Oh Anna, you have no idea how many Team Eric girls you’ve hurt because of that one statement alone. ):
But I’m glad she was honest. Her answer is sort of expected since her boyfriend is playing Bill and she hasn’t read all the books. (:
[Reply]
Ana Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 19:52
Oh, I think I know how you feel, I would feel bad if Anna was on Team Eric :( I think many book readers like Eric, I read eight books before watching the show but never saw Eric as “the one”, I wonder why. I always liked Bill but after I watched TB I fell in love with him completely, I guess Alan Ball made me see how Bill really is, instead of the distorted notion we get from the eyes of Sookie in books.
[Reply]
How nice of Anna to take time out of her busy day to spend some time with fans to answer questions and and to be so open with her answers. She is a true asset to all she does. I’m glad she is a Billsbabe and on Team Bill. Note to Anna: Thanks Anna, sorry I didn’t get to ask you my questions, but overall this was a great chat and it was very gracious for you to do it.
[Reply]
i’m sure anna knows where the story goes and is still team bill just like alot of us. i’d say most of team bill knows what happens and are still team bill. we are watching the show.
[Reply]
callonmebill Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 15:08
Totally agree with you!
[Reply]
cocoablossoms Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 15:14
seriously. and does it matter what team anna is on as far as the show goes. really the only person who’s team really counts is alan ball. he has already said things will change and then change again as far as sookie’s love life. but lets not forget that bill is the main vampire character. people keep forgetting that the events, motivations, and relationships presented in the show have their own flavor.
[Reply]
WKW Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 15:25
Me, too.
[Reply]
LifeIsNotEasy Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 15:37
I agree. I read the books and I am still proudly TEAM BILL.
[Reply]
Dorothea (LISMlvr) Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 16:27
I read the books, but I think that my partiality is attributed to True Blood Bill, not book Bill. I was really hard to have patience with book Bill, and his inabilty to express his need for Sookie. And as was said, what else could Anna say? If she’s not on Team Bill, who would be?
[Reply]
cocoablossoms Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 16:40
exactly. book bill is not true blood bill. the cast, crew, even charlaine harris have acknowledged that. and there are fans that like book bill. regardless, people like who they like, but you can’t judge one interpretation of a character based one another interpretation. it is inevitable that certain things from the book will occur that neither team likes, but that doesn’t negate the truths presented in the show.
[Reply]
Everyone who has read the books doesn’t want Eric/Sookie together.
I think Anna read up to 4 books until she started with the show. So she still has a good idea
I LOVE her answer about the Facebook and the engagement. That she loves reading stuff about her life that if FICTION, LOL. She’s so fiesty. And awesome. I love her. And I completely understand why Stephen does too.
[Reply]
I’ve read the books and I don’t want Eric and Sookie together. We don’t know what AB is going to do. Plus I don’t see any chemistry between Alex and Anna.
[Reply]
lofferic Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 21:22
I’m sure “Steve” is glad he doesn’t see any chemistry there either!!! LOL
[Reply]
anyways, too cute that she cameos in her brother’s movie. i wonder what the story is there??? i’m wondering if stephen will ever become involved with the paquin production company. he has said his son billy wants to act too. paquin/moyer legacy developing??? like the barrymores but less scandalous haha.
[Reply]
Sari Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 18:10
Synopsis:
A wealthy couple in a strained marriage hosts an open house in order to sell their palatial home. They are horrified to find out days later that one potential buyer never left their house.
I belive that this film isn’t a Paquin Film, Anna just apears ’cause is directed by her brother.
[Reply]
cocoablossoms Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 18:36
thanks sari. do you know if it is a comedy or drama and also the name of the film???
[Reply]
LifeIsNotEasy Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 19:09
It’s called Open House. Her brother Andrew just says it’s basically a thriller/suspense kind of movie.
[Reply]
I get the impression this amount of media and fan attention is fairly new to her. True she is an award winner with a lengthy and impressive resume but until now she seems to have flown just under the radar. Could be why she seems so well grounded. On to her preference for Bill.
What would one expect? :) I consider myself a bookie and trubie and it has always been Bill for me. Ms. Harris nor Mr. Ball can not sway me from my beautiful vampire come what may. ;D
[Reply]
cocoablossoms Reply:
July 1st, 2009 at 18:40
very true. she has kept a lower profile than other child actresses of her generation. natalie portman and kirsten dunst come to mind. she has always had a fan base, but hasn’t been as sought after by her audience or the media before.
[Reply]
Oh, Anna, we share the same name (almost, hehehe), I don’t know how to drive either and I am Team Bill just like you. So many coincidences! I wish I lived with Stephen, like you ^_~ Ooops, hope my husband don’t read this.
[Reply]
love it that she does these things!
[Reply]
Holy cow Tutu!! Did anybody notice our own Tutu had 4 questions answered??
Anna is such a sport to do this online chat- brava! Thank you Shad for posting this transcript- I’m sorry I missed the chat!!
[Reply]
What a great chat. Anna was sharp and funny and sweet. I always thought that Anna was a lucky girl but Stephen is clearly very lucky too! Team Bill ……absolutely!! Sookie and Bill belong together just like Anna and Stephen do.
[Reply]
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.
[Reply]