Stephen Moyer Interviewed by BBC News

Currently at his home in London, Stephen Moyer has been doing publicity for True Blood to prepare for the HBO show's debut on Channel 4 in the UK. In an interview with BBC News, he talked about his character, Bill Compton, and vampire mythology in general. Getting in character is a total transformation, complete with a deep, Southern accent that harkens back to Bill's Civil War days, much different from his natural English accent. Stephen says that fans are often surprised when they hear him speak:

"However much press that Hugh Laurie does and however many interviews they see him sounding English, when they meet him in the street, they still can't believe it and that's the reaction I get. It's lovely for me, you know, I have dark hair in the show and I'm pale and I have the dark sideburns so it's like a whole costume by itself. It's very enjoyable."

Stephen has had experience playing a vampire, on the BBC series Ultraviolet, but he enjoys the complexity of his True Blood role. Bill is tortured and struggles with his vampire nature:

"Bill, for all his attempts at being a decent--for want of a better word, human--is conflicted and he won't prey on the innocent. But he's quite happy to find people who cause pain to Sookie and if he finds them, he will take them down."

As for Stephen's favorite portrayals of vampires, he likes both classic and newer ones:

"For me, the original Nosferatu is just so compelling and dark and weird. Our fascination with vampires didn't really start until after that and they made the vampire attractive. I'm a massive fan of Gary Oldman and I also love Hammer and the new Swedish movie, Let the Right One In, was an extraordinary film."

Stephen knows the vampire craze will eventually fade from pop culture, but he thinks that True Blood has many other elements that appeal to people, from the pantheon of supernatural creatures to the fascinating human relationships. Not only that, but Alan Ball brings depth to the story, with vampires as a metaphor for social outcasts:

"As soon as you get told that Alan Ball is involved, you have to take it a bit more seriously. It's not going to be just some camp romp, although there is some of that."

Stephen says that it is not difficult for him and fiancee/costar, Anna Paquin, to keep work separate from home:

"We both love the show, Anna and I, and if we have a scene coming up, maybe we feel that we've seen before, we'll try and do it in a different way and we'll talk about work then. We always try and make it fresh, but when we've done that--it just becomes about life, not vampires anymore. We met on set, and everyone knows us on set and as a couple, but that's really where it stops."

Speaking of life, Stephen is getting ready to celebrate a big moment: his 40th birthday! He's rented a country house and hired some entertainers (including an Indian Elvis). His friends will be coming and they are going to "make merry." Happy birthday, Stephen! And happy True Blood debut, England! SOURCE: news.bbc.co.uk (Photo credit: Associated Press)

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