Chelsea Ricketts – True Blood

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I just finished shooting a pilot for ABC Family called “Recovery Road.” And then I have a psychological thriller coming to theaters in September called Lost Time. I also have a Lifetime movie, but I don’t know its release date.

Q) What can you tease about this final season of “True Blood” and with your character Lucinda?

A) If I could you a word for this season, it would be absolutely “epic!” I was a huge fan of the show way, way before I was on it. I’ve been watching since the pilot episode. As a fan, you are going to be very satisfied. It’s going to answer a lot of questions. It’s going to be a big bang! Everything explodes.

Q) What did you find challenging about this role?

A) I think it was challenging coming into the seventh season of this massive huge show. It’s pretty scary. To come in and be brand new with a cast that has known each other for so many years, I think I was a little bit nervous about that in the beginning. By the end of my day one, they had made me feel so apart of the gang. I think that was my biggest fear, but it was washed away after working with everyone for one day. And then the rest of the time, it was just a blast.

Q) Was there anything you added to your role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) Lucinda was actually offered to me. I didn’t audition for her. I had been auditioning for the show a couple times throughout the years. They just gave me the part, which was kind of fun because when I came onto it there wasn’t a whole lot. I kind of got to create her and play with her in a way with the directors. I kind of got to make her my own and the writers gave me the freedom to do that. That was very cool.

Q) How was Lucinda originally described to you then?

A) The only thing I can say without getting in trouble is that she is a little young and whiney.

Q) Since the cast has become so close over seven seasons, was there instant cast chemistry when you began working together or did you spend some time bonding?

A) It did come naturally. We would all have lunch together every day. A lot of the times on shows the reoccurring cast will sit together and then the leads that have been on the show that has been on forever will go sit together, naturally. Those are the people that know each other. It wasn’t like that. Stephen Moyer had lunch with me and a couple of the other guest cast members. It was great! He was getting to know us and chatting with us, not even about work! He was talking about our lives, where we came from and our families. He definitely made us feel included.

Q) Not just the cast is so amazing, but also the level of directors that come on the show. Who did you enjoy working with the most?

A) My favorite director was Howard Deutch. He is an actor’s director. Every director is different, but there is very specific directors that are the “actor’s director.” They are engaging. He cared about what I wanted to do with Lucinda and my opinion. He would talk to me about it and he wasn’t one of those directors that would say, “Hey, Chelsea, do it this way. Okay, bye.” He would ask, “What do you think? Do you like it this way? Should we try it this way and then do it that way?” He was very engaging to his actors and you don’t always get that.

Q) Who did you not get to work with on “True Blood” that you were hoping to have a scene with?

A)  I have got to say, Ryan Kwanten. I met him at the table read so I did  get to meet him, which was exciting. But I didn’t directly have a scene with him.

Q) What were your most memorable moments from filming the show?

A) Well, my most exciting thing that I could not wait for was the vampire teeth. All I ever wanted was to have some vampire teeth. I definitely think that was my most exciting moment, getting to play with the vampire teeth and getting to see how they make them. I always wondered about the special effects of having them come down and I got to see how all of that is done. Also, I have a couple scenes with a lot of the main cast. So, just getting to work with some of the leads on the show to me was so much fun and so exciting. And the set…These are sets that I have been watching for six years now as a fan. Seeing these sets and then walking onto them I was a total fan girl! People are like, “You’re an actress! You see these things all the time!” But I am the biggest movie buff and the biggest TV buff! I’m a fan just like anybody else. Just the opportunity to see those sets was the coolest thing ever, much less to work on them. It was very exciting!

Q) “True Blood” is often a very racy show. As an actress, how do you navigate from mainstream to a more provocative subject matter?

A) That’s a good question! I think it is just I have fun with it. I do a lot of ABC Family younger stuff and then I did “The Killing” and “True Blood,” which are both a lot edgier and darker. I find it fascinating. I like doing the edgier jobs. I think it is just so much fun. I think it’s just a mindset. You just have to go back and forth. It’s a different character and a different mindset. I don’t really think it is a different preparation or process. I think it’s just a different character and a different stage.

Q) Is there anything about the role or Season 7 of “True Blood” that you want to make sure to share with fans?

A) I just think that this is going to be the craziest season yet. I mean, as a fan I was like, “I don’t even want to read the script!” I just wanted to stick to my part, learn it and not know all these things. I didn’t want to know what was happening and just watch the show. Obviously, it doesn’t work that way. I had to go to the table reads and read the whole things. Without giving anything away, this is the season to watch! Get your friends together and host viewing parties. I do it for “True Blood” and “Game of Thrones.” It’s so much fun and fans are not going to be disappointed. That’s for sure! They are going to be so excited!