Chatting with Anna Paquin

I just finished taking part in a live chat with Anna Paquin that took place at the L.A. Times’ Gold Derby, hosted by Tom O’Neil. It was a crowded house and overwhelming, at times, but Anna is a trooper and spent about 20 or 30 minutes with us before she had to go for a costume fitting for episode 12. From this chat, I’ve compiled a list of things you may or may not know about this lovely and talented actress.

• Sookie may not have any tatoos, but Anna does.
• Anna has seen every episode of Alan Ball’s “Six Feet Under” at least 3 times.
• Anna works out a lot to keep fit; yoga, pilates, boxing, anything that involves moving.
• Anna’s personal vampire preference: “Bill all the way!”
• Anna would love to do another play.
• Anna wishes she was naturally tan and blonde, but glad she’s not really a telepath.
• Sookie is NOT Eric’s biggest fan.
• They film in Baton Rouge next week.
• Anna read the books while pursuing the part.
• Anna likes Fleet Foxes and Fiona Apple.
• “Fake blood tastes like congealed, gooey jam that has been pureed.”
• Anna knows what Daphne is, but she’s not spilling.
• Anna can sing, but hasn’t since school choir.
• Anna gets home to New Zealand about once a year.
• Anna does not own a car or know how to drive.
• Anna does have a Hello Kitty beach cruiser.
• Anna does NOT have a MySpace page.

A few more things about Anna that she mentions is she loves her life in L.A. and her Golden Globe win was a complete shock to her. She has a lot of respect for all the women on the show. “I really admire all the women on my show.   I think Rutina, Deborah, Mishka, and Carrie are all extraordinary.” She also thinks Jessica is “amazing”. We agree, Anna!

Anna Paquin in "True Blood"

Anna is delightfully feisty and not afraid to say it like it is. Someone mentioned a MySpace page that had Stephen Moyer proposing to her, and her response was simply, “Yeah, I love reading things about my life that are FICTION.” Anna goes on to say, “A while back, someone posed as me on Facebook  and said I was in hospital.  Which was funny because I was on set at the time and have never been in hospital since I was born.  Thought it was a bit thoughtless because if that info trickled out to friends or family, they would be worried…  ya know?”

About Sookie, Anna has this to say: “Sookie gets to do so much cool shit.   She is in action scenes, romance, drama all of it. It’s really, like, I get to play every possible “type” of female character on one show.”

Anna is not really thinking about the Emmy’s or any other awards right now. She’s completely wrapped up in the world of True Blood. However, she is honored to be in the same category as Holly Hunter (Saving Grace). And she keeps her Oscar and Globe on a counter top at home in her bedroom.

Anna has no problem filming the nude scenes. She says, “I knew what I was getting myself into.” They are not finished filming the second season of True Blood yet, and she doesn’t know what the hiatus will bring. I hope she gets some rest so she’s fresh for season three, which she shamelessly plugged for during this chat. “No official word on season three,  so please, keep watching and keep your fingers crossed!”

You know it, Anna!