FX UK

Sookie Stackhouse

Having had her life turned upside down by the supernatural, mind-reading, free-spirited waitress Sookie Stackhouse is slowly adjusting to her budding romance with Vampire Bill Compton. Like with every other relationship, the late nights, the age gap, the rebellious teenager and the differing taste buds can eventually take its toll. So when Eric Northman asks for Sookie’s help to find a kidnapped Vampire in Dallas, Sookie sees it as the perfect opportunity to spend some alone time with Bill. Once again the impulsive waitress gets caught in the middle of the human/vampire war, and meets someone just like her along the way.

Anna Paquin:
The Canadian actress first made a name for herself when she won an Oscar for her performance in The Piano opposite Harvey Keitel at just 11 years old. Anna’s other film credits include Jane Eyre, Fly Away Home, and Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous and starred in the X-Men trilogy as Rogue. Paquin took a break from acting to study at Columbia University before landing the role as Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood, for which she took home a Golden Globe.

Bill Compton

Vampire Bill is showing traits of the green-eyed monster as he becomes more protective of a naive Sookie Stackhouse. Trying his best to fit in as Bon Temp’s run-of-the-mill Vampire, Bill has no choice but to give in to Eric’s demands to use Sookie in the search for Godrick, a missing Vampire. Whilst getting to grips with parenthood, Bill joins Sookie on the trip to Dallas to prevent her from getting in harm’s way but someone from his past comes back to haunt him.

Stephen Moyer:
British born Stephen Moyer began his acting career on stage before landing the leading roles in UK TV dramas Men Only, NY-LON and The Grand. He guest starred in a number of popular shows including Cold Feet, Midsomer Murders and Waking the Dead. Moyer made his big screen debut starring opposite Geoffrey Rush and Kate Winslet in Quills and with Katherine Heigl in Prince Valiant. His US television credits include leading roles in Princess of Thieves with Keira Knightley, The Star Wife starring Debra Messing and the NBC mini-series uprising opposite David Schwimmer and Donald Sutherland. Stephen plays the 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton in True Blood.

Sam Merlotte

When it comes to Sookie, Sam Merlotte has finally cut his losses and moved on. Whether he trusts Bill Compton though is a whole other story. As for his secret, Sam awakens some deeply buried memories from his early shape-shifting days when Maryann arrives in Bon Temps looking for him. Normally a private guy, Sam finally finds someone he can open up to, Daphne. Was Sam too quick to lay bare?

Sam Trammell:
Before landing the role as bar owner and shape-shifter Sam Merlotte in True Blood, Sam Trammell made a name for himself as a stage actor whose credits include a Tony nominated performance in Ah, Wilderness. His feature films include Autumn in New York with Wynonna Ryder and Richard Gere and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. Trammell was also a regular on TV series Trinity as John Wells and had a recurring role in Barry Sonnenfeld’s Maximum Bob. Sam also guest starred in NBC’s Medium as a living ghost.

Tara Thornton

Whilst Sookie is on the hunt for a missing Vampire, her best friend is living the highlife. Tara’s struggles with her alcoholic mother are finally over thanks to the extreme generosity of Maryann Forrester, who offers to take her in. Completely knocked for six by her new extravagant surroundings, Tara succumbs to the hypnotic charm and good looks of Maryann’s other beneficiary, Eggs. However you can always have too much of a good thing, and Tara soon realises she wants out. But can she convince her new love to leave with her?

Rutina Wesley:
Rutina was born and grew up in Las Vegas to a professional tap dancing father and Vegas showgirl mother. She graduated from Juilliard in 2005 where she studied dramatic art and went on to star in the Broadway plan The Vertical Hour directed by Sam Mendes alongside Julianne Moore and Bill Nighy. Wesley made her on screen debut in the lead role in 2007 film How She Move from British director Ian Iqbal Rashid. Before Rutina secured the role of Tara Thornton, Sookie’s best friend, in True Blood she appeared in the television series Numbers.

Lafayette Reynolds

Lafayette has made bad decisions in the past but this is one “hooka” who learns from his mistakes. The V-dealing grill cook is about ready to pay the price for working against the Vampires when Sookie comes to his rescue. Once an eccentric personality, a now quivering Lafayette finds himself working with and fearing Vampires like Eric Northman.

Nelsan Ellis:
Nelsan Ellis is an award-winning TV and film actor and a notable playwright. He attended Juilliard where he wrote a semi-autobiographical play titled Ugly which later won the Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award. His television credits include the FOX series The Inside and HBO film Warm Springs opposite Cynthia Nixon and Kathy Bates. Ellis won a 2008 Satellite Award for best supporting actor in a television series for his role as Lafayette Reynolds, Merlotte’s flamboyant cook, in True Blood.

Jason Stackhouse

A bad rep and a short fuse led to the wake-up call of his life when Jason Stackhouse had one too many run-ins with the law and a few blood-thirsty Vampires. Keen to change his ways, Jason find solace with the Fellowship of the Sun and quickly becomes the star recruit in the eyes of Reverend Newlin and his nurturing wife, but a threat in others. Jason’s impressionable state can only lead to trouble...

Ryan Kwanten:
Kwanten was born in Sydney, Australia where he began his acting career on the television series A Country Practice and Spellbinder before joining the cast on popular soap opera Home and Away playing lifeguard Vinnie Patterson. His film credits include Flicka with Maria Bello and Dead Silence and is set to star in the 2009 film Don’t Fade Away opposite Mischa Barton and Beau Bridges. Kwanten currently plays the role of Jason Stackhouse, Sookie’s seditious brother.

Maryann Forrester

Maryann Forrester is the hedonistic temptress who stirs up serious trouble in the town of Bon Temps during the second season of True Blood. She is introduced in Season 1 as a free-spirited social worker, but soon enough we see that Maryann is something much darker and more complex. Her true identity is that of a Maenad, an ancient supernatural creature from Greek mythology. In spite of her destructive intentions, she is a demonic diva who throws great parties. No mere human can resist the female force of nature that is Maryann. But the enigmatic relationship between Sam Merlotte and Maryann raises a few eyebrows…

Michelle Forbes:
Michelle stars as Maryann Forrester, a wealthy local with mysterious intentions, and is the latest addition to her admirable list of TV appearances. Michelle began her career in the 90’s working on the CBS daytime series The Guiding Light which garnered an Emmy nomination. Her other TV credits include a returning role on HBO series In Treatment, Fox’s 24 and the BBC drama Walking the Dead. Forbes has grossed a huge sci-fi fan base following her rave reviews as Admiral Cain in Battlestar Galactica and a guest appearance in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Michelle’s prolific TV career quickly landed her roles on the big screen opposite David Duchovny in Kalifornia, and Swimming with Sharks alongside Kevin Spacey.

Sheriff Bud Dearborne

Widely respected in a town where many residents remember him as a childhood authority figure, Bud tries to do right by everyone as much as possible. He doesn't understand people's sudden fascination with vampires, however, and his job was a lot easier before the creatures started showing up.

Eric Northman

If it’s a war they want, a war is what they’ll get when Eric’s maker Godrick is kidnapped by the anti-vampire purity group, The Fellowship of the Sun. Eric’s loyalty to Godrick shows a softer side to Louisiana’s oldest Vampire, a side Sookie sympathises with. But don’t be fooled, this Vampire has ulterior motives and will do whatever it takes to see them through.

Alexander Skarsgard:
Voted Sweden’s sexiest man five years running, Alexander Skarsgard first acted in several Swedish TV series and movies before landing a minor role in Zoolander opposite Ben Stiller. In 2007, he appeared as a leading role in the critically acclaimed HBO miniseries Generation Kill. As of 2008, Skarsgard is currently part of the True Blood ensemble cast as Eric Northman, the 1000 year old Viking vampire and owner of vampire bar Fangtasia. Alexander recently completed Straw Dogs alongside Kate Beckinsale and it is rumour he will play Thor in the 2011 film release.

Steve Newlin

Anti-vampire advocate Reverend Steve Newlin is the Fellowship of the Sun’s new leader following the suspicious death of his predecessor and father. Out to avenge his father’s death, Newlin paints a perfect picture of success and devotion but in truth is using the Fellowship of the Sun’s media attention to recruit and brainwash soldiers to fight in his war to rid humanity of Vampires once and for all. Mess with this bull and you’ll get the horns, something Jason Stackhouse learns the hard way…

Michael McMillian:
Before landing the role of Vampire-hating Steve Newlin, Michael McMillian made TV appearances in Big Love, Scrubs and Without a Trace and had a recurring role on What I Like About You. His growing list of film credits include The Hills Have Eyes II and Fight Club with another soon under his belt, The Business of Falling in Love, opposite Hilary Duff, set for release later this year.

Sarah Newlin

Stepford Wife and Fellowship of the Sun first lady Sarah Newlin is the epitome of purity. She stands by husband Steve bid to eradicate Vampires, albeit peacefully, while mothering the new recruits, in particular Jason Stackhouse. But in this story years of playing second fiddle to the Lord’s work is like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut…

Anna Camp:
Before taking to the small screen, Anna Camp lit up the stage in performances on the West End and Broadway. She starred opposite Daniel Radcliffe in Equus and alongside Morgan Freeman and Frances McDormand in The Country Girl. She was nominated for the prestigious Lucille Lortell award for her stage appearance in The Scene before guest starring in ABC’s popular TV series Cashmere Mafia and the American version of The Office.

Benedict "Eggs" Talley

Benedict Talley, aka Eggs, catches our eyes when he shows up in Bon Temps as a rehabilitated beneficiary of Maryann. His connection to Maryann is unclear but Tara is keen to find out and the pair quickly strikes up a relationship. But you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs and Tara starts to question his loyalty to Maryann. After several disturbing flashbacks, Eggs too becomes wary of Maryann’s true reason for taking him under her “claw”.

Mehcad Brooks:
A former fashion model, Mehcad Brooks who stars as “Eggs” in True Blood is relatively new to the screen, big and small, with appearances in Dollhouse, Ghost Whisperer and Cold Case. He landed his first big role in season two of Desperate Housewives in which he was nominated for both an Image and Screen Actors Guild Award. Brooks also starred in the 2007 feature film In the Valley of Elah with Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Sarandon and Charlieze Theron.

Daphne Landry

A new addition to Merlotte’s staff roster, delightful Daphne Landry is another mysterious character with an unexplained past. When her “waitressing skills” seem to have gone adrift, Sam takes pity on her and the two find out they have more in common than meets the eye. Bon Temps is home to all weird creatures great and small but isn’t quite big enough for two shape-shifters…

Ashley Jones:
Ashley Jones is a daytime television luminary and has been nominated for two Emmy Awards for her role in The Bold and The Beautiful. She recently starred in Tom Cavanaugh’s Trust Me opposite Gary Sinise, Ellen Burstyn, Will Farrell and Luke Wilson. Jones also has experience off camera when she produced her first television movie in 2009, Dead at Seventeen.

Detective Andy Bellefleur

Born into the faded lineage of Bon Temps gentry, Andy is aware that working as a police officer doesn't help his standing in a town that already distrusts him. Then again, his personality doesn't do him any favors either; he makes a habit of pushing people farther than he needs to and doesn't mind using his authority to settle scores with the locals.

Arlene Fowler

Divorced with kids at home, Arlene is pushing into her forties and in complete denial about it. Her boyfriend, Rene Lenier, helps keep her slightly grounded, but the stress of hustling between customers at Merlotte's while answering her children's constant phone calls has left her permanently frazzled.

Rene Lenier

One of Jason's friends from the road crew, Rene has been shacked up with Arlene long enough that he's basically a member of the family. As a stand-up guy in love, he'd like to settle down and have some kids of his own, though Arlene feels taxed enough with the children from her previous relationship.

Adele Hale Stackhouse

After Sookie's parents died, Adele took the young girl in, raising her through some tough teenage years. Though Gran always knew about Sookie's "talent" and encouraged the girl to use it when appropriate, she often found herself comforting her granddaughter when other young women weren't as understanding.