Anna Paquin
as Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress in a smalltown diner
(Photo Credit: HBO / John P. Johnson)

            Anna Helene Paquin was born July 24, 1982.

            With her work in films and theater, Academy Award winning actress Anna Paquin has displayed a range of emotions and a wealth of talent well beyond her years.

            Anna will next star in the upcoming HBO drama, “True Blood”, which marks her first foray into series television. “True Blood” is based on the “Southern Vampire” book series by Charlaine Harris, and is set to debut on HBO this September 2008.

            Anna recently received an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Elaine Goodale Eastman in  HBO's original movie "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee", opposite Adam Beach and Aidan Quinn.   Directed by Yves Simoneau and produced by Dick Wolf, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" , the film received a record 17 nominations.

            In 2006, Paquin produced "Blue State" with her brother Andrew Paquin, under their banner Paquin Films.  "Blue State" is a political romantic comedy about a Democratic campaigner played by Breckin Meyer, who follows through on his promise to move to Canada if George "Dubya" Bush is re-elected. Lured by an organization in Winnipeg that promises to help disgruntled Americans get settled in Canada, Meyer heads to Canada with his traveling partner, played by Anna Paquin.  This is the first collaboration between Anna Paquin and her brother.  "Blue State" premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival.

            Next year she will  be seen in Michael Dougherty's "Trick 'r Treat," a thriller about four interwoven stories that occur on Halloween.  Produced by Bryan Singer, Warner Bros. will release the film  in the fall of  2008.

            Paquin has also finished production on Kenneth Lonnergan's "Margaret," as the lead, opposite Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo and Matthew Broderick. Paquin plays Lisa, a girl who witnesses a bus accident, and is caught up in the aftermath.  "Margaret" is produced by Scott Rudin and Sydney Pollack and executive produced by Anthony Minghella and Dan Halsted. Fox Searchlight is set to release the film.

            In 2006, she reprised her role as "Rogue" in Brett Ratner's "X-Men 3." 20th Century Fox released the film worldwide on May 26th 2006; the film grossed over 130 million dollars opening weekend.

            Additional film credits include Noah Baumbach's "The Squid and The Whale" (winning Best Ensemble Cast at the 2005 IFP Gotham Awards), "X-Men 2", Spike Lee's "25th Hour" opposite Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Rosario Dawson, "Buffalo Soldiers" opposite Joaquin Pheonix and Ed Harris, Gus Van Sant's "Finding Forester" with F. Murray Abraham and Sean Connery for Columbia Pictures,  and Cameron Crowe's Academy Award winning "Almost Famous.",  "X-Men" for director Bryan Singer, "Hurlyburly" Robert Iscove's ""She's All That" ; "A Walk on the Moon" for Dustin Hoffman's Punch Productions; Keith Stern's "All the Rage"; Steven Spielberg's "Amistad;" Carroll Ballard's "Fly Away Home" with Jeff Daniels  and Franco Zeffirelli's "Jane Eyre."

            On stage Paquin received a Drama Desk nomination as Best Lead Actress for her stage debut in Rebecca Gilman's "The Glory of Living" for director Phillip Seymour Hoffman at New York's  MCC Theater.  She followed that critically acclaimed performance with the first West End production of Kenneth Lonergan's "This is Our Youth"  co-staring Jake  Gyllenhaal and Hayden Christensen in London.  Other stage credits include "After Ashley" directed by Terry Kinney at The Vineyard Theatre and Neil Labute's dark drama "The Distance from Here" (Drama Desk Award for "Best Play" and won for "Best Cast Ensemble").

            Paquin stunned the world in 1993 with her film debut as the daughter of the bride of an arranged marriage in Jane Campion’s “The Piano.”  Paquin’s performance opposite cast members Holly Hunter (who won the Academy Award for Best Actress), Sam Neill, and Harvey Keitel led to her winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 11 years old. 

            Paquin currently spends her time between Los Angeles and New York...

Stephen Moyer
as Bill Compton, a vampire with whom Sookie falls in love
(Photo Credit: HBO / Jaimie Trueblood)

            Stephen Moyer (born 1971) is an English actor.

            Stephen Moyer first turned heads when he appeared on the hit series “The Starter Wife” opposite Debra Messing. The series was recognized by critics and fans alike and was nominated for multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Awards.

            Moyer will next be seen in the highly anticipated Alan Ball (“Six Feet Under,” AMERICAN BEAUTY) series “True Blood.” The show takes place in a modern day world where vampires are able to live amongst mortals by drinking synthetic blood. It is based on the best selling books series, the Sookie Stackhouse Story by Charlaine Harris. “True Blood” also stars Oscar winner, Anna Paquin who plays a physic barmaid (Sookie Stackhouse) in Louisiana who falls for a vampire by the name of Bill Compton (Moyer). The series will premiere on HBO on September 7th.

            On the big screen, Moyer appeared in 88 MINUTES, the drama staring Al Pacino and directed by Jon Avnet. He also starred in UNDISCOVERED, the teen cult classic, the Oscar nominated film QUILLS opposite Kate Winslet and Joaquin Phoenix and PRINCE VALIANT with Katherine Heigl.

            Moyer’s television credits include “NY-LON” opposite Rashida Jones, “The Final Quest,” “Uprising,” “Entrusted,” and the BBC series “Life Support.”

            Moyer currently resides in Los Angeles and London...

Ryan Kwanten
as Sookie's brother Jason Stackhouse
(Photo Credit: HBO / John P. Johnson)


            Ryan Kwanten (born 28 November 1976) is an Australian actor.

            Nurturing an impressive body of work that encompasses film and television, Ryan Kwanten has positioned himself as one of Hollywood’s most promising talents as his career continues to evolve with exciting and challenging projects.

            This fall, Ryan can be seen starring alongside Academy Award winner Anna Paquin in the highly anticipated new HBO series “True Blood,” from creator Alan Ball (Six Feet Under). Based on the book series “Southern Vampire” by Charlaine Harris, the show follows the world of vampires, who are able to co-exist with humans by drinking a Japanese-manufactured synthetic blood. Ryan’s additional television credits include the role of Jay Robertson in the critically acclaimed Warner Bros. series “Summerland,” which ran for two seasons. He was also a lead in the ESPN original movie “The Junction Boys.”

            Segueing effortlessly between the big and small screen, Ryan recently finished working on the Luke Kasdan feature film “Don’t Fade Away” opposite Mischa Barton. His other feature film credits include “Flicka”, a Twentieth Century Fox film in which he starred opposite Tim McGraw, Maria Bello and Alison Lohman, the title role in “American Brown,” which received the Audience Award for Best Film at the Montreal Film Festival, “Liquid Bridge,” nominated for Best Picture at the Australian Film Festival and the newly released “Dead Silence” directed by James Wan (writer/director of Saw).

            A native of Australia, Ryan began his acting career while attending Sydney University, where he earned a degree in business. He starred in numerous feature films and television shows and gained international notoriety when he joined the cast of the long-running popular Australian series “Home and Away.” A published writer, Ryan is currently working on a new book.

            An accomplished athlete, Ryan qualified for the world Biathlon in Sweden in 2006 and Italy 2007 after winning the LA Biathlon series two years running. He is a qualified yoga instructor and spends his free time bike riding, surfing and has a passion for completing triathlons.

            Ryan currently resides in Los Angeles...

Rutina Wesley
as Tara Thornton, Sookie's best friend
(Photo Credit: HBO / John P. Johnson)


            Classically trained actress, Rutina Wesley, always brings a passion and intelligence to her work whether it is on the stage or behind the camera. She has been likened by some to a young Angela Bassett, an actress with true range who can make an audience both laugh and cry at the same time.

            Currently, Rutina is co-starring on the upcoming HBO series “True Blood,” based on Charlaine Harris’ popular “Southern Vampire” novels. The show is produced by Academy Award winner, Alan Ball, and tells the story of vampires living amongst humans buying synthetic blood and living in the American South. Rutina plays the role of Tara, best friend to Anna Paquin’s Sookie Stackhouse.

            Rutina, a native of Las Vegas, made her film debut starring as the lead in the Paramount Vantage/MTV Films, "How She Move," from British director Ian Rashid and produced by Canada’s Sienna Films. She played the lead role of Raya Green, a young girl who returns home to the inner city after the traumatizing death of her sister and her dismissal from an elite private school her family can no longer afford. She hopes her talent as a step dancer can win her enough money to escape back to the suburban private school life. Through her friends, Raya realizes that the secret to her future happiness lies not in escaping her past but embracing it. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival (World Competition) and received high praise with numerous publications singling out Rutina’s performance. The Hollywood Reporter said, “Young Wesley displays an intense charisma and powerful moves in the central role…”

            In the short amount of time following her graduation from Juillard, Rutina has amassed some high quality credits for her resume. She was a part of the pre-Broadway workshop of the Tony nominated musical "The Color Purple" and starred in “In Darfur” at New York’s esteemed Public Theatre. Rutina made her Broadway debut playing a role in the high profile production of "The Vertical Hour," by acclaimed playwright David Hare, co-starring Two time Academy Award Nominee Julianne Moore and Bill Nighy. The show was directed by critically-acclaimed director, Sam Mendes and produced by Scott Rudin and Robert Fox.

            Rutina received her BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Evansville and prior to that she attended the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts. She also attended the prestigious Juilliard School (Drama Division, Group 34). In addition to her studies at Juilliard, Rutina also spent a summer studying Shakespeare at the well-known and well-respected Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. While in the program, she was able to tackle the highly sought after role of Juliet in a production of "Romeo and Juliet" directed by Nona Sheppard.

            She currently splits her time between Los Angeles and New York. Rutina is represented by Endeavor Talent Agency and managed by Inspire Entertainment, LLC...

Sam Trammell
as Sam Merlotte, the owner of the restaurant in which Sookie works


Sam Trammell studied at Brown University and the University of Paris and has worked in theater, on-Broadway, off-Broadway, and in film and television.

Sam Trammell is an accomplished New York stage actor whose credits include a Tony nominated performance in "Ah, Wilderness!" at Lincoln Center. Off-Broadway, he starred in "Dealer's Choice," "My Night With Reg," "If Memory Serves," "Ancestral Voices," and most recently, "Kit Marlowe" at the Joseph Papp Public Theater, where he received outstanding reviews.

Trammell's feature films include "Autumn in New York," "Wrestling With Alligators," the soon-to-be-releases "Beat," and most recently a starring role in the independent feature "Undermind."

In television, Trammell was a regular on John Wells' "Trinity," while simultaneously appearing in a recurring role in Barry Sonnenfeld's "Maximum Bob."


Source: Showtime's "Going to California" press kit
(Photo Credit: HBO / John P. Johnson)

Nelsan Ellis
as Lafayette Reynolds, colorful cook at Merlotte's
(Photo Credit: HBO / Jaimie Trueblood)


            Nelsan Ellis is currently shooting the upcoming HBO vampire series “True Blood,” directed by Alan Ball.  He recently wrapped “The Soloist,” opposite Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx and Catherine Keener. Last year, Ellis completed filming “The Express” for Universal Pictures.

            Ellis’ television credits include the Fox television series “The Inside” produced by Brian Grazer and the HBO film “Warm Springs,” opposite Kenneth Branagh, Cynthia Nixon and Kathy Bates. 

            While studying at Julliard, Ellis wrote a semi-autobiographical play called “Ugly,” which was not only performed at the school, but he received the Martin Segal Award by Lincoln Center.  Further productions of “Ugly” were performed at the Fringe Festival, Storm Theatre and the Santa Monica Playhouse. 

            Nelsan Ellis was born in Alabama and later raised in Chicago.  He currently resides in Los Angeles...

Alexander Skarsgard
as Eric Northman, a thousand-year-old vampire Viking



Alexander Skarsgård (born August 25, 1976, Stockholm, Sweden), son of Stellan Skarsgård and brother of Gustaf Skarsgård, is a Swedish actor and director. He most recently appeared in the HBO mini-series "Generation Kill".

(Photo Credit: HBO / Prashant Gupta)

Adele: Lois Smith
Andy Bellefleur: Chris Bauer
Hoyt Fortenberry: Jim Parrack
Arlene Fowler: Carrie Preston
Rene Lenier: Michael Raymond James
Bud Dearborne: William Sanderson
Amy Burley: Lizzy Kaplan
Dawn Green: Lynn Collins
Pam: Kristin Bauer
Eddie: Stephen Root

CREATED AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY: Alan Ball; based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Brian Buckner
SUPERVISING PRODUCER: Nancy Oliver
PRODUCERS: Alexander Woo, Carol Dunn Trussell
CO-PRODUCER: Raelle Tucker
CASTING BY: Junie Lowry Johnson, C.S.A. & Libby Goldstein
MUSIC BY: Nathan Barr
EDITED BY: Andy Keir and Michael Ruscio, A.C.E.
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Suzuki Ingerslev