Archive for the ‘Rutina Wesley (Tara)’ Category

TV.com UK Podcast with True Blood cast, Parts One and Two

Posted by Lynnpd On February - 28 - 2010

As the premiere of True Blood, season two, approached in the UK, TV.com UK settled down with some of the stars of the show, via phone from Paris to discuss behind-the-scenes secrets and possible spoilers for Season 2.

SPOILER ALERT!

Part 1, Alexander Skarsgård and Rutina Wesley, better-known in Bon Temps as Eric and Tara, explain what’s in store for the upcoming seasons and what it’s like behind the scenes. They each talk about what we should be looking out for and give tips on speaking with a Louisiana accent.

Part 1

Part 2, features Sam Trammell (who plays Sam Merlotte) and newcomer Michelle Forbes (who plays Maryann Forrester). They’ll shed even more light on what’s to come in the second season, premiering on FX on Friday, February 26, at 10pm.

Part 2

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Rutina Wesley interviewed on the Golden Globes Red Carpet

Posted by Shadaliza On January - 18 - 2010

Rutina tells how excited she was to prepare for the Golden Globes.

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True Blood’s Rutina Wesley in Juicy Couture Squire sunglasses, Todd Lowe in Marc Jacobs 309s sunglasses, Ashley Jones in Valentino 5691s sunglasses and Sam Trammell Alexander McQueen 4108s sunglasses pose at the Solstice Sunglass Boutique and Safilo USA during the HBO Luxury Lounge in honor of the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Four Seasons Hotel on January 16, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California.

More photos in the Vault Photo Gallery

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Glamour Magazine has sent out a list of Faces To Watch in 2010. The list includes actors, musicians and fashion designers, that are the people you should know about this year. We are happy to report that True Blood’s Rutina Wesley and Alexander Skarsgård have made their list.

Rutina Wesley – Age: 25
Star Quality:
This Julliard School graduate got her big break as Tara in True Blood and found herself catapulted to stardom with the show’s resulting success. We predict an interesting 2010 for this young lady.

Alexander Skarsgård – Age: 33
Star Quality
: The son of Mamma Mia actor Stellan Skarsgård, Alexander is well used to life on a film set. He’s already made waves as Eric in True Blood and appeared in Lady GaGa’s controversial “Paparazzi” video and, with his thriller 13 out this year, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to gaze upon his lovely Scandinavian features.

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Rutina Wesley hints about True Blood movie and Season 3

Posted by Lynnpd On January - 12 - 2010

True Blood is now filming it’s third season, so could it be true that there is now talk of a movie of True Blood?  Speaking to SciFiNow, Rutina Wesley said that she would be interested in doing a True Blood film if the timing was right. “It would depend on the timing,” she said. “I would say that it would have to be way after the show was over, and then it would just depend on how they put it together as a film. “I do feel like every True Blood episode is like a mini movie in itself.”

Here’s her interview with SciFiNow by Shaun Davis:

What is it about Tara that appeals to you?

Well everything; I love that she is self-educated and that she has a big heart. I call her a hard flower because if you chip away at the outside there is this beautiful blossom on the inside. It’s nice to play this woman who has an inner struggle and needs to be loved.

Have you read the character in Charlaine Harris’ novel series?

I actually read the first book, and then knew they were going to be changing the character drastically, so I decided not to read on any more and decided to create the character with the writing team.

How has Tara changed throughout seasons one and two?

I definitely think she’s a lot softer in season two. She show’s a lot more of her vulnerable side, and it’s nice to see Tara not as defensive, it’s sort of nice seeing her being more open and naïve. It feels good to her have her being taken care of, because she’s never had this in her life, and it feels good to be starting a new romance with this beautiful man who serenades her with his guitar. It’s almost like living in a fantasy world a bit.

What does season three of True Blood have in store for Tara?

Well there’s going to be a lot of chaos that happens at the end of season two, which I think is going to cause Tara to have some darkness, some grieving and maybe even a new romance with Sam.

True Blood is HBO’s most watched show since The Sopranos, what would you say is the show’s enduring appeal?

I think that there is just no other show like it out there right now. I think that people are just draw to the fact that it is True Blood, it’s also not just about vampires it’s about this community of people living together and having to deal with the supernatural, vampires and other things that will be coming up in other seasons. It’s just appealing in the way that there is nothing else out there like it, and it is just a wonderful show; it’s mysterious; very adult and is very bloody.

Did you have any idea how big the show was going to get?

I had no idea, I mean it’s become a huge phenomenon and everyday I’m a bit teary eyed that I’m on television, right out of school, and I’ve got on this great show that has turned into a hit. There’s no way I could have seen this coming. It’s amazing.

How many seasons do you think Alan Ball envisages this series to run for?

No I don’t. I think it will run for as long as… I mean there are nine books out there, and [Charlaine] is going to do three more, but I don’t know if we will that long. People seem to think that True Blood is going to be one of those shows that will run for five or six seasons if not more. It’s going to depend on audience ratings and stuff like that, but I can’t imagine it not running for a long time because the books are just so juicy and Alan Ball has also made everything so vibrant, colourful and imaginative, and so I think it’s going to be a show that people are going to be dying to watch for a long time.

Do you think a True Blood movie will ever happen?

It would depend on the timing. I would say that it would have to be way after the show was over, and then it would just depend on how they put it together as a film. I do feel like every True Blood episode is like a mini movie in itself.

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Rutina Wesley in Allure Magazine

Posted by Lynnpd On January - 5 - 2010

There’s a two page spread in January 2010’s Allure Magazine that includes Rutina Wesley of True Blood called “Change is Good”.  It talks about three actresses who demonstrate how the best makeovers play up strengths, fulfill wishes and allow a woman to look like herself, only better.

Wow, Rutina looks great in the photos!

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Rutina Wesley in photo shoot for Signature Magazine

Posted by Lynnpd On December - 14 - 2009

Photographer Hellin Kay for Signature Magazine, shoots TV actresses Jaime Ray Newman, Navi Rawat, Cote De Pablo, Lisa Edelstein, Lauren Vélez, Rutina Wesley, Emily Procter, Katee SackHoff, and Jessalyn Gilsig.

Here’s a lovely photo of Rutina.

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At the site, they have written information about each actress and here’s the one about Rutina:

Rutina Wesley

Troubled Tara Thornton holds the emotional center of HBO’s smash hit True Blood, which is thanks, in large part, to Rutina Wesley’s nuanced and vulnerable performance. Born in Las Vegas to a showgirl mother and a professional tap dancer father, Wesley was always destined to see her name in lights. Wesley discovered her passion for acting after her first role in a play at the age of seven, “I just loved being on stage,” she admits, “my dad wanted me to be tapping, but I’m a storyteller, I feel like I’m a vessel through which characters come through. There are so many stories out there to be told and you can tell them through dance, through song and through acting; acting gives me a chance to do all of those things at once.” After such an emotionally grueling season, Wesley intends to take it easy before True Blood resumes filming, but you can catch her voice on an upcoming episode of The Cleveland Show, playing Yvette, Donna’s best friend.

Look for Rutina at approximately .45 into the video:

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Below is a video interview, in three parts, with Michelle Forbes, Rutina Wesley, Sam Trammell and Alexander Skarsgård made when they were in Paris in November 2009 where they answer questions about True Blood and discuss their roles. 

Most of the interview is in English but Billsbabe Lisafemmeacadienne has generously translated the introduction and ending for us:

Un Max de Trueblood Part 1 Translation by Lisafemmeacadienne.

Introduction:
Interviewer:” Good evening, everyone! We are excited to be here in Paris for a special program, ‘Un max de TrueBlood’. I have the great privilege of being in the company of some of the actors from the series tonight. We’re discussing the universe of True Blood, created by Alan Ball, that everyone has been hearing about. Alexander Skarsgard, good evening!”
Alex: “Good evening, Sophie, how are you?”
Interviewer: “I’m well. You play Eric? Michelle Forbes, you are Marianne? Good evening!.”
Michelle: “Good evening, how are you?”
Interviewer: “Very well, and you?”
Michelle: (Struggles for an answer)”Yes!”
Interviewer” “Sam Trammel, Sam, and Sam?”
Sam: “Yes, it’s the same, isn’t it?”
Interviewer: “You speak French very well.”
Sam: “No, that’s not true.”
Interviewer: “You speak well enough for TrueBlood. And good evening, Rutina Wesley!”
Rutina: “Good evening!”
Interviewer: “Welcome to Paris. You play Tara.”
(Interviewer switches to English.)

Un max de True Blood – Part 1

Un max de True Blood – Part 2

Un max de True Blood – Part 3

Translation “Un max de Trueblood” Part 3 (at the end) by Lisafemmeacadienne

Michelle: (Singing the lyrics to Spiderman in French)

“Spiderman, Spiderman…” (Lyrics a little mixed up here, but kudos to her for trying!)

Alex: “I like playing soccer with my friends.”

Sam: “I hope you like the series and the second season.”

Tara: “Here they are!”

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Interview in Paris with Rutina Wesley

Posted by Lynnpd On December - 5 - 2009

Several of the cast recently went to Paris for the premiere of True Blood Season 2.  This group included Rutina Wesley.  While there, she was interviewed by Tony Cotte. We have translated that interview below:
rutina_wesleyTony Cotte: In the series of novels Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries, in which the series True Blood is adapted, Tara appears in the second book.

Rutina Wesley: I was glad my character is different from that of the books, it allowed me to be present from the first season and have a little more importance. I wanted to create my own way with Tara  and so I decided not to read the other volumes of the collection. The screenwriters have taken some elements of Tara from the books, but for the most part, Alan Ball (creator of True Blood) gave me my own plot.

Tony Cotte: You seem to be a happy person. Tara is a young woman, very tough, even in friendly relations, how are you like your character?

Rutina Wesley: I am hard! (laughs) Like my character, I look severe, especially because of my muscular arms, but I’m much sweeter when you know me. To embody it, I had to play this girl who never had a childhood and had to grow up very fast. With such a past, Tara became someone austere, often on the defensive and works much on instinct. She is also a very intelligent girl with a lot of love, certainly it is not always easy to show since she spends her time swearing!

Tony Cotte: For many viewers, the True Blood vampires are a metaphor for minorities in America today. As an actress, how do you analyze the series?

Rutina Wesley: I think if they really lived among us, the vampires would be experience negative reactions. They do not resemble us, not our code or our language. If they existed, they would flee because Americans are very proud and dislike those who are not like them. This is still true today and I am speaking from experience being a black woman.  When I take a walk, I still feel the eyes of people. So I understand the feeling of being considered a minority, and being in some way undesirable. This is one of the highlights of True Blood, even if everyone does not see it.

Tony Cotte: Do you think the series helps to educate the younger viewers to tolerance?

Rutina Wesley: No doubt. When reality meets a fantasy world it allows his imagination to go really far. Some viewers may wonder, for example, if they can fall in love with a man who can turn into a dog (laughs). But we must see the metaphor: what it means to be in love (is) to someone different? Personally, I’m friends with a man of another race than mine and I can understand that sentiment perfectly. True Blood delivers a very positive message: we can live together, coexist and communicate … although vampires must drink their Tru Blood! (laughter)

Tony Cotte: Esquire Magazine has published a study showing that teenage love stories of vampires, as they fantasize, in fact, the gay boys. What is your view?

Rutina Wesley: (She laughs) I think they are crazy side “hot” vampires. They all secretly dream of being bitten, besides myself, I dream and hope that it will happen (laughs). Again, I think it has much to do with the fact and imagination to fantasize about something that we cannot have. This is, in my opinion, one reason for the success of the series viewers can only dream of being part of True Blood, crossing the screen and entering this world …
Cotte Tony: Some people say that the portrayal of the population of the southern United States is extremely stereotypical. The focus of your character is strongly marked, do you understand those criticisms?
Rutina Wesley: Tara is not a stereotype, just a human being. There are many girls like her in the world, people often come to me saying that I remind them of a cousin in Tennessee or aunt from Mississippi. It is important not to be narrow minded and watch the series before judging it. Some have seen the early episodes and were told: “Oh, an angry black woman! Oh look, a black gay! “But this woman is so much more than that, basically, she is fragile, needs attention and her flaws do not make her a stereotype. The southern United States is full of people speaking in the same manner as Tara or live, for example, for their firm. This is not that they have no value in our society.

Tony Cotte: The credits of True Blood shows how religious fanaticism and sexuality may make wild creatures or primitive. Is this aspect  a reality across the Atlantic?

Rutina Wesley: I do think that some people may lose because the spirit of love and sex. I like the credits of True Blood which is one of the best parts of the series: the mixture between the baptisms and the images of the body and how everything is mixed. This reminds me of those dark clubs that have a certain sexual energy, because everyone, women or men feel at one time or another, need to be loved and desired sometimes even despair. Read the rest of this entry »

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