Burghers of Bon Temps

ANNA PAQUIN IS SOOKIE STACKHOUSE
Sookie knew dating a vampire would be a walk on the wild side. But, now twice-orphaned and still bruised after her near-death experience at the hands of Bon Temps' serial killer, the telepathic waitress must contend with having her life turned upside down by the supernatural. While her friends and family all struggle with their own demons - sometimes literally - Sookie navigates the strange new world Vampire Bill has introduced her to: a world equal parts bliss, blood and fear. Sookie is a tough cookie but what worries her most is she's not as horrified as she should be.

RYAN KWANTEN IS JASON STACKHOUSE
Jason's days as a freewheeling small-town swordsman climaxed when his freaky-deaky ex, Amy, was murdered and he was framed for the crime. Try as he might, his heart just ain't in his hard-on anymore. Or is his heart in it too much? Hell, Jason just wants to be a good person, but is he ready to lead God's army into war against the blood-sucking battalions of Bon Temps and beyond?

NELSAN ELLIS IS LAFAYETTE REYNOLDS
Lafayette flips burgers, boys and vampire blood - although rarely in that order. But ask the good ole white trash boys at Merlotte's who mistake his eyeliner as an invitation for sexual harassment - sure, Lafayette can mince with the best of them, but ain't afraid to throw down a knuckle sandwich. However, with his shady sideline business deals catching up fast, it's time for Lafayette to man up.

STEPHEN MOYER IS BILL COMPTON
He's fought a Civil War and drained the lifeforce from many a showgirl. But, even at age 173, the piano man-turned-playboy we know as Vampire Bill has endured a tricky return to his ancestral home of Bon Temps since falling for Sookie Stackhouse. Now he's got a cadre of powerful vampire sheriffs from interstate breathing down his neck, baying for blood (preferably Sookie's). Throw in his responsibilities for newly ‘turned' vamp fledgling Jessica, and Bill is up to his neck in strife.

SAM TRAMMELL IS SAM MERLOTTE
Ever since vampires arrived in Bon Temps, Sam's alpha-wolf status manning the local bar has felt a lot more like lead lunatic in charge of the asylum. Fact is, Sam has yet to come to terms with his own crisis - that he's a shapeshifter living secretly among humans who might just be in love with a pig. One thing is for certain: so long as Sam keeps running from his past and people keep showing up dead in his car park, he's dooming himself to a dog's life chasing his own tail.

CARRIE PRESTON IS ARLENE FOWLER
Divorced with kids at home, Arlene is roaring into her forties and in complete denial about it. Her last boyfriend, Rene Lenier, turned out to be Season One's serial killer, which hasn't helped her odds of finding a stepdaddy for her swamp grommets while hustling burgers to the crowd at Merlotte's.

RUTINA WESLEY IS TARA THORNTON
Tara's exorcism experience has given her hints that something's fishy about her new self-appointed mother-superior mentor Maryann Forrester (and the sex-crazed, black-eyed company she keeps). But having been kicked out, condemned and disowned by her own religious whacko mama, Tara's happy to inhale, imbibe and survive. Can she find love between the loins of Eggs? Is witchcraft the answer? Nookie or Sookie? The proof for Tara lies in the pie...

TODD LOWE IS TERRY BELLEFLEUR
This lovably unhinged short-order cook at Merlotte's brought more home from his tour in Iraq than a sand-filled duffel. Some days his PTSD psychosis acts up so bad he goes dumbo for his gumbo. It used to be his cousin Andy who'd keep him grounded, but ever since the Bon Temps body count hit overdrive, he's been on his own, a brainpan-fried buffalo soldier deep-frying buffalo wings.

JIM PARRACK IS HOYT FORTENBERRY
Hoyt used to be happy sipping beers with his best buddies Jason and Rene after a hard day on the road gang. Then Jason turned to God and Rene turned out to be a serial killer. It's had a sobering effect on the sweet-as-cherry pie Hoyt, but he knows deep down that if he overturns the right rock, the girl of his dreams is waiting... if his overbearing mother doesn't kill his chances first.

MICHELLE FORBES IS MARYANN FORRESTER
The mysterious, psycho-sexual Maryann turned up as a bail bondsman for Tara when she ran off the road to avoid hitting a naked chick walking her pig through the forest (seriously). Now this high-priestess is running a fruity frat house of reformed crims and spooky man serfs and putting the willies into Sam by quivering on the spot and persuading people to fornicate on his pool tables.

ALEXANDER SKARSGARD IS ERIC NORTHMAN
Tall, pale and handsome, Eric is an old and powerful Nordic vampire whose icy willpower commands respect, even if his predilection for natty tracksuits leaves other vamps cold. As sheriff of Bon Temps' bloodsucking fraternity, Eric's expert political scheming and disdain for human life don't win him any friends. But his hold over Bill and sinister designs on Sookie mean he's an ally to be kept close, lest he become the worst of enemies.

WILLIAM SANDERSON IS BUD DEARBORNE
Widely respected in Bon Temps where many residents remember him as a childhood authority figure, Sheriff Bud was kept busy in Season One with dead bodies galore (the hot-sludge-filled coffin case haunts him still). He tries to do right by everyone, but the law as he knows it doesn't seem to apply to the undead varmints who are turning his deputies batty and making his job hell.

CHRIS BAUER IS ANDY BELLEFLEUR
Clinging to his tattered lineage as Bon Temps gentry, Deputy Sheriff Andy is sober to the fact that working as a cop doesn't help his standing in a town that already distrusts him. But he's not sober. And, even when he's not nudging the turps, Andy's habit of using his authority to settle scores with the locals doesn't do him any favours. Now, with his badge and sanity at risk, it's time for him to decide whether he wants to be the village idiot or the hero this town is crying out for.

True Blood Season 3 premieres on Showcase on Thu 19 Aug, 8.30pm. True Blood Seasons 1& 2 are on DVD through Warner Home Video.

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Alexander Skarsgård - interview

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