Alexander Skarsgård: ‘There’s More to Eric Than Being A Badass Vampire’

PopWrap caught up with Alexander Skarsgard for a chat about Eric’s beauty routine, Lafayette, why Eric is so popular, Eric’s relationship with Sookie, and more:

PopWrap: The reveal of Eric last night with tinfoil in his hair was amazing. How did that come about?
Alexander Skarsgård: We had a lot of fun with that scene. I worked on that with the costume designer, wanting to find something weird or disturbing and flip flops was probably the weirdest outfit we could come up with for a badass vampire to wear while killing a guy.

PW: Was it hard looking scary in that outfit?
Alexander: That’s what I loved about the scene; I could have come down in a long black leather cape, looking tough. But I came down with foil wrapped tips. Look, Eric’s beauty session with Pam was interrupted. What can I say?

PW: And after a whole summer of wondering Lafayette was dead, you actually had him chained up in the basement!
Alexander: Nelsan [Ellis] who plays Lafayette is so amazing. He’s created such an incredible character. I mean, you can not kill that guy! He’s too good. We need him on the show!

PW: Going into season two, it’s clear that Eric is going to have a much bigger role. Did you know that coming in?
Alexander: Well, before I started filming season one, I read the first five books, so I had a vague idea that season one would just be an introducing to Eric and he’d develop more in further seasons. I love that we’re starting to show other sides of Eric besides being the badass vampire. There’s so much more to him and he’s got a lot at stake, personally, in season two.

PW: Although Eric wasn’t in season one that much, he came away being a fan favorite. Why do you think people responded to him so strongly?
Alexander: That’s a good question because I was quite overwhelmed with the response last year. I know that Eric has a lot of fans from the books, but I was a glorified extra in season one, so I was very surprised that I got so much attention. But even though he’s not always there, when he does come in, there is a mystery about him. I don’t know, something resonated about Eric and I’m still not sure what it is.

PW: Eric and Sookie’s relationship becomes a focus in season two, what does he think of her?
Alexander: Eric is intrigued by Sookie. When you’ve been around for 1,000 years, you become jaded, you’re not easily impressed. Especially by a human! Then Sookie comes along and surprises him. So when that happens, you’re obviously going to try and figure out what makes them tick.

(Read the rest of the interview here…)