Lauren Bowles – True Blood

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

A) I’m just now available. So, it is to be determined.

Q) What can you tease is in store for the remaining episodes of “True Blood?”

A) I think the recent Armageddon atmosphere we have all sort of tried to survive in has really made people look at how they have been living their lives and what changes they want to make. I think when you are sort of faced with life and death situations one really questions whether they are living their life to the fullest.

Q) We’ve seen Holly traumatized from being held hostage. How will this change her relationship with Andy?

A) I think you will really sort of see them grow together in a way they haven’t in the past. It’s not like everyone is out of the woods and everyone is blissful and happy just because they survived this. The stakes are still there. So, you will see them grow together in both happy and sad times.

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

A) No; however, I think anytime you have played a character for that long the writers certainly borrow aspects from you. That is sort of more a question for them of how I have informed the character than I could really answer. It’s not an ad lib show where we improv a lot.

Q) Who were you hoping to have scenes with this season on “True Blood” that you have yet to work with?

A) I didn’t really have hope for anything because there are such different worlds on our show that they very rarely coincide. I will say the vampire world of Alexander [Skarsgard] and Kristen [Bauer van Straten] are so fantastic and I had a little bit with Alex in the “Moon Goddess” episode in season four, but never anything with Kristen. She is just beyond phenomenal! That would have been fun to get to play around with her, but I didn’t have any sort of high hopes for it.

Q) What scenes did you note at the table read this season that you thought fans would really go crazy over?

A) There are a lot upcoming, which I obviously can’t tell you about. I knew right away the two deaths of…When I got that first script and Tara was dead before the opening credits, I thought I had misread it. I remember texting Carrie [Preston] saying, “Wait! This isn’t real, right?!” She was like, “Oh no. It’s real!” I was like, “What?!” I was convinced. So, I knew the deaths of Tara and Alcide would be huge.

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming “True Blood” over the years?

A) I definitely would say my most memorable moment was birthing the fairy babies. That was just a really surreal day. It was loads of fun to shoot. There were real babies and fake babies. Maurella (Kristina Anapau) had to wear these lighted panties. It was a crazy, crazy show! Alan [Ball] had written that one so it was really great to work one-on-one with Alan! It was quite a lovely day on set. Staring at Kristen’s lady parts all day was quite a day to remember.

Q) What do you think it is about “True Blood” that has really captured so many viewers?

A) I think that on the surface it is glossy, fun, funny, sexy and scary. And that’s all great, but really what grabs it and has given us our longevity is the sort of depth that Alan’s vision was originally. That was sort of a lot of the existential things that all humans and vampires, anyone on this earth look for. It’s issues of love, mattering and sort of ultimately quandaries of why we are all here. I think that has really given it the longevity.

Q) Who have been some of your favorite directors to work with from the series?

A) Some of my main favorites have been Michael Lehmann. Although, we didn’t get to play with him this year. Angela Robinson, who is one of our great writers, got to direct one this year. She was one of my favorites and I just love, love, love her. She directed me way back when in New York in one of my first plays I did way off Broadway. It was called “Girl Trash.” So, I had worked with her before, but not in a film capacity. She is phenomenal.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive during and after the episodes air?

A) Yes! It’s really fun. Carrie and I did a live tweet last week, which was hysterical and so much fun! My husband made fun of me because it is very hard for me to keep up answering questions and be commenting on the episode while the episode is happening. I do my best! It’s really been fun getting everyone’s feedback on the episodes and answering questions. It’s a really great way to interact with the fanbase.

Q) What do you hope the legacy is when people watch the series “True Blood?”

A) Again, that to me is for everyone to decide for themselves. I’m not one to sort of have a set take away that I would want everyone to have. I hope everyone has enjoyed the ride and enjoyed how we got to go out.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and of the series?

A) Total and utter heartfelt gratitude because if it weren’t for…Our fanbase is really so impassioned and really who we are aiming to please. If it weren’t for them, there would really be no show. It’s just total utter gratitude for their appreciation of the show.