Two more cast members have been chosen for True Blood, Lafayette’s Mom and Tara’s new beau, Franklin Mott.
Meet Lafayette’s mom: It’s Alfre Woodard!
The Emmy-winning actress has been tapped to guest star on Alan Ball’s vampire drama “True Blood” as the mother of Lafayette Reynolds (Nelsan Ellis), the cook at Merlotte’s who got busted for selling vampire blood and held captive and tortured by Eric (Alexander Skarsgård).
Since Lafayette and Tara (Rutina Wesley) are cousins, it means that Sookie’s best friend would be getting a visit from her aunt.
Woodard, repped by ICM and D/F Management, recently joined TNT’s dramedy pilot “Delta Blues” in a co-starring role opposite Jason Lee.
However, Tara is getting a visitor too, a new boyfriend.
Tudors star James Frain has just been cast in the heavily recurring role of Franklin Mott, Tara’s over-protective vampire squeeze.
The English actor, whose TV credits include recurring roles on Invasion (as Eli) and 24 (as Paul Raines), will debut in the second episode of the show’s upcoming third season.
The casting breakdown for the role describes Franklin as a tall, dark, and handsome vampire who seems to have an “immediate and torrid” connection to Tara. In the books, Franklin is essentially Tara’s sugar daddy, but it seems like Alan Ball is taking the character in a different direction.
I am totally, absolutely psyched about Alfre Woodard. She played Dr. Sophia Jordan in the recently-canceled CBS medical drama Three Rivers. She is an outstanding actress. I do not know Mr. Frain’s work but I’m sure he will do an excellent job as Franklin. I love all the casting news we’re getting. Thanks, Lynn, for providing.
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Omg I am either psychic or like minds think alike. I have been thinking Alfre Woodard,Regina Taylor or Hattie Winston would be fantasic as Lafayette’s mom. All three are amazing actresses. I did not know they were casting for his mom.
James Frain I am familiar with thru The Tudors and a plethora of other roles I have seen him in. He generally plays the bad guy so I think he will have no problem with a role of a less than pleasant vamp. He looks different than I had pictured him but AB is melding two vamps to get his Franklin Mott according to a previous description from AB. He is a good actor.
It seems AB is casting actors that are better known than he has previously so maybe there is hope to get Eric Bana as Alcide? lol I’d love to see Gena Rowlands play : Olivia This elderly woman in her 80s, who moves with the aid of a walker and also uses an oxygen tank, lives in a house in the middle of nowhere. She mistakes Bill for her son…GUEST STAR
Just call me AB lol
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Oh, Alfre is so beautiful, she’s even prettier than Lafayette. And Franklin Mott – more blue eyes. I like this actor, he’s handsome in an interesting way.
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Love Alfre Woodard for Laffy’s mom! Just Fabulous !
James Frain has such a great speaking voice – I do hope they permit him to use it. I could listen to him recite the phone book he’s got such a great voice.
Now all they have to do is cast Will Swenson for Alcide and I’ll be very happy!
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mizmode Reply:
December 15th, 2009 at 16:23
I know I want JF to use his own accent for the role.
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Alfre Woodward is an excellent choice for Laffy’s Mom. AB certainly went all out to get this big time actress! I’ve seen alot of her work over the years. I didn’t see her in “Three Rivers” but loved her role on “Desparate Housewives” about 2 seasons ago. She played, believe it or not, Melchad Brooks mom in that season when they were a family on Wysteria Lane.
Don’t know anything about James Frain but he does have an interesting look about him.
I’m with Sterling- AB just cast Will already for Alcide and two of us Babes will be very happy!
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Love love LOVE Alfre being cast as Laffy’s mom! awesome! She is amazing and Nelsan is probably beside himself with excitement I’m sure. I wonder if Alex and her will have any scenes toegether since Laffy is all tied to Eric now. I won’t be able to stand it!
I remember Tara’s mom sayiung to Laffy ” I don’t hate you the way my sister does” when she had the shotgun on him? So this is going to be REALLY interesting.
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Alfre was in Star Trek: First Contact, and was fabulous in that! I hope James can speak in his English voice!
This is so exciting!
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What wonderful casting additions to TB! Alfre Woodard has always been one of my favorites…..she is so beautiful and so very talented. I’ve never seen her play a bad part.
James Frain is one of those actors you love to hate. He was excellent in the Tudors. I’ve seen him play in various other movies and shows..wonderful actor.
S3 is going to be awsome! Now we need to get Stellan Skarsgard on board!
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loves me some alfre woodard. my favorite movie of hers and one of my favorite movies ever is crooklyn. sidenote: her daughter is gorgeous and is miss golden globes this year.
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mybabybill Reply:
December 15th, 2009 at 21:07
Down in the Delta
Mumford
Miss Evers’ Boys
Passion Fish
Star Trek
MANDELA…
love her, love her, love her !!!
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and i am so excited tara is going to have a crazy vampire relationship. how bizarre and intriguing. maybe what sookie said about vampire sex piques her interest. i really wasn’t feeling her storyline last season. she rocked in season one but this year i was like what happened to tara???
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mizmode Reply:
December 15th, 2009 at 16:29
I agree! Tara is my favorite character and loved, loved her in S1. I’m glad there was some happiness to her in S2 but she wasn’t the same Tara.
I’m so glad Tara is knowingly is getting involved with the supe world. Well, she did go with Sam (but didn’t know that he was a shifter), and the whole Maenad/Eggs possessed thing but this is different.
She’s willingly and knowingly going to be with a vampire :)
And AB said that Tara and Franklin’s relationship will be different than any other human/vamp relationship. I can’t wait for this all the happen. :)
I know they said FM is strongly recurring but I hope it doesn’t take a few eps for her to realize that she wants to be with FM though. I know she’s not a fan of vamps but it might happen sooner, since he’s in ep 2 and they have an immediate and torrid connection. hmmm :)
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cocoablossoms Reply:
December 15th, 2009 at 16:35
hmmm is right. this could be explosive. sam was emotionally draining. eggs was doomed from the start. let’s throw in a wild card and see what happens. i honestly think in the end jason and tara need to get together but i think there is a lot more story to tell before that could happen.
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mizmode Reply:
December 15th, 2009 at 17:04
I remember reading on a blog or article or something about Jason and Tara getting together because of the whole Jason killing Eggs. Like if they grow close while he comforts her. I haven’t heard anything else about it though.
Not sure if you remember but I was/still am a Sam/Tara shipper, but I think that is really over. So that’s why I’m ready for Tara to be with Franklin. See how that goes. I can’t remember her relationship with FM in the books though – I do hear from other fans about it though.
What I find weird though is that she’s been with these men in a very short period of time because everything that happens on TB happens in a matter of weeks. Don’t want Tara to become the George or Meredith (from Grey’s Anatomy) of True Blood, lol, but I think Jason has that down. lol
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cocoablossoms Reply:
December 15th, 2009 at 18:12
i was all about sam and tara but i’m over it. he didn’t seem jealous or concerned enough about her this season for anything real to still be there. i think he cares for her, but he still has it bad for sookie and that will never go away.
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Two strong actors for two strong roles. We don’t know much about Lafayette’s mother but I’m sure we will find out and Franklin character is detailed in the books and I am looking forward to see what AB makes of him and how Tara’s weaved in.
Welcome Alfre and James to TB.
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Love, Love, Love James Frain. He was the Spanish Ambassador in Elizabeth. He was so fabulous. I also liked him in Tudors. I first remember him as Daniel Barenboim in Hilary and Jackie. I think he’ll make a very sexy vampire. You could drown in those soulful eyes.
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