LA Times Millennium Man
Leslie Gornstein: I would imagine that playing a vampire these days is almost like plunging into a major franchise like Star Trek or Star Wars—the scrutiny and adoration just go off the scale. What do you think it is about vampires, anyway?
Alexander Skarsgård: People are kind of intrigued because they represent immortality. And a character like Eric has been around for a thousand years. All that wisdom and experience—you carry it around with you. That’s attractive. What makes vampires a platform for good drama is they’re also lethal. Eric is an animal. He’s on that edge where you don’t know if he will turn and kill you in a second.
You filmed both an American film, Straw Dogs, and the Swedish film Puss—known stateside as Trust Me—during your latest hiatus. You’ve also said you never want to stop doing Swedish cinema. Tell me about that.
It’s not about if it’s a Swedish project or an American one. For me, it’s about the quality of the material, who the filmmaker is and if there’s something in the script or the character that gets me excited. I need that to get my creativity going.
Straw Dogs and Puss are so different. One is a reimagining of a Sam Peckinpah classic, and the other’s an indie. Why those two?
I shot Straw Dogs with Rod Lurie, who directed The Contender and [the TV series]Commander in Chief. We had a meeting, and I found the project very interesting. Puss—that’s Swedish for “kiss”—without a doubt was a film that excited me. It was directed by Johan Kling, who directed a movie called Darling three years ago—a beautiful little film about a woman and an older man and their friendship against all odds. When he called and asked if I wanted to be in his next movie, I said, “Absolutely.” I want to be able to do different characters, different projects, work in different languages. DoingStraw Dogs and Puss simultaneously and then going back to True Blood? That kept me on my toes.
And on a plane, from what I understand.
Oh yes, I flew back and forth between Shreveport, Louisiana, and this tiny island on the Baltic Sea. It was a bit of a nightmare, because it took, like, 23 hours to get from one place to another. And then as soon as I landed, I had to go straight from airport to studio to work for another 14 hours. I probably aged about 20 years doing that.
But so many actors require time to transition between characters, prepare themselves, really sink into a role.
I agree. Ideally, I would have gone back to Sweden, chilled out for a week or so, gotten into focus, but this was the only way we could work things out. I prepared for both projects before they started, then got as much sleep as possible on the planes.
Apparently, the paparazzi have shots of you going to the movies by yourself. Rising Hollywood idols don’t go anywhere by themselves—don’t you watch Entourage?
I’m not a “Hollywood” actor. I am a social guy, but I’m not one of those actors who will show up to a shoot with 15 agents and managers and publicists. An entourage like that just makes me uncomfortable.
You were a child actor in Sweden. That term carries a very specific set of stigmas here in the States—loss of childhood, too much pressure. Is the experience any less Drew Barrymore–esque over there?
Yeah, we don’t have, like, Hollywood moms and dads in Sweden the way you do here, where it’s a profession for kids. It’s not that big of an industry there, and my parents never pushed me. It can be really, really tough being a child actor. A lot of them have huge problems growing up. I didn’t like being famous when I was 13. I didn’t like people recognizing me.
So you quit—is that right?
Yeah, I told my parents I didn’t want to do it anymore, and they both said, “It’s a tough job, and if you feel like there’s something out there you’d rather do, do that. Only become an actor if you feel like you don’t have a choice.” My father is an actor. I didn’t have a plan for what I wanted to do, I just wasn’t comfortable doing that anymore.
What made you come back?
I missed it—being onstage or in front of a camera. I thought, All right, I’m 20 now instead of 13. Maybe I’m a little different from how I was seven years ago, and I owe it to myself to try it now, and at least I can dismiss it if I’m still not comfortable. I will know for sure, and I can move on. But it was just like my father said: I felt like I didn’t have an option.
Can I get away with saying something negative about your favorite soccer team, Hammarby, or are you a hoolie?
[Laughs.] I try to be a grown-up about that, but I can’t.
I see there are “Mrs. Skarsgård” mugs available for purchase on one of your fan sites. Flattering or unnerving?
Oh no, I am flattered by it. So very flattered. In order for me to stay sane, though, I try to mostly stay away from the fan sites, the blogs and the Twitterers.
Skarsgårdians, actually. So then if there’s someone out there who’s tweeting as Alexander Skarsgård, it’s not you?
It’s not me.
At age 23—according to one interview you did way back when—your idol was Eddie Izzard, your favorite movie was Duck Soup and your favorite book was Angela’s Ashes. Care to update?
Well, I am still a huge fan of Eddie Izzard, so I probably did say that. I was pretty obsessed with him back in the day. And Duck Soup, yeah, that’s still up there as well. As kids, my brothers and I had VHS tapes of all these Marx Brothers movies, and on Sunday mornings we would get up and make nonalcoholic egg toddies. Do you have those here?
Nogs?
No, toddies. Basically we cracked open, like, six eggs and put them in a blender with about two tons of sugar. Then we would mix it up and watch the Marx Brothers.
In that same interview, you did a little doodle of a man with stringy hair and a long, picklelike nose. Who was that?
[Laughs.] I don’t actually remember, but, knowing me, it was probably me.
True Blood Season 2 in UK
New Beyond the Pole photos
Alexander Skarsgard at Pacific Premiere
Saturn Awards Nominations Announced
Click here: Nominees Announced for 36th Annual Saturn Awards | It’s Just Movies scroll down for my faves..LOL xoxoxCheri 
Nominees Announced for 36th Annual Saturn Awards
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films has announced the nominations for the 36th Annual Saturn Awards. Leading the charge is James Cameron’s epic 3-D fantasy “Avatar” with 10 nominations. “Sherlock Holmes” uncovered 8 nominations, while “Inglourious Basterds” and “Watchmen” receiving 7 nominations apiece. “District 9″ and J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” and “District 9″ beamed-up 6 nominations each.
Warner Bros. Pictures leads the pack with 32 nominations from 8 films including multiple nominations for “Sherlock Holmes,””Watchmen,” “Where the Wild Things Are” and “Harry Potter.” Also with strong showings were Sony Pictures and 20th Century Fox with 15 and 14 nominations, respectively. Paramount and The Weinstein Company earned 13 and 10 nominations, followed by Universal (6), Summit (5), while Lionsgate, Magnolia/Magnet and Walt Disney each earned 4 nominations.
In the television categories, “Lost” once again found its way to the top with 8 nominations. “Dexter” (Showtime),”Breaking Bad” (AMC), and “True Blood” (HBO) all scared up 5 nominations. “Fringe” (Fox), “Doctor Who” (BBC), and “Leverage” (TNT) earned 3 nominations apiece. NBC’s “Chuck” “The Closer” (TNT), “Heroes” (NBC), and CBS’ “The Ghost Whisperer” followed, each with 2 nominations.
The Saturn Awards organization is instituting several new categories this year: production design and local theater production.
The Academy was founded in 1972 by noted film historian Dr. Donald A. Reed to honor and recognize genre entertainment. Over the years, the Academy has expanded their reach to include other film genres. The organization also recognizes excellence in television and home entertainment. Robert Holguin presently serves as President of the 38 year old organization.
The 36th Annual Saturn Awards will take place June 24 in Burbank, Calif.
My hopeful winners in bold red!
MOVIES:
Best Science Fiction Film
The Book of Eli (Warner Bros)
Knowing (Summit Entertainment)
Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)
Star Trek (Paramount)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Paramount)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (20th Century Fox)
Best Fantasy Film
Avatar (20th Century Fox)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Warner Bros)
The Lovely Bones (Paramount)
The Time Traveler’s Wife (Warner Bros.)
Watchmen (Warner Bros.)
Where the Wild Things Are (Warner Bros.)
Best Horror Film
The Box (Warner Bros.)
Drag Me to Hell (Universal)
Frozen (Anchor Bay Films)
The Last House on the Left (Rogue / Universal)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Summit Entertainment)
Zombieland (Sony)
Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film
2012 (Sony)
Brothers (Lionsgate)
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Co.)
Law Abiding Citizen (Overture)
The Messenger (Oscilloscope Pictures)
Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros.) (sorry Gerrrrrrrry 
xoxxo)
Best Actor
Robert Downey, Jr. (Sherlock Holmes) (Warner Bros.)
Tobey Maguire (Brothers) (Lionsgate)
Viggo Mortensen (The Road) (The Weinstein Co.)
Sam Rockwell (Moon) (Sony Pictures Classics)
Denzel Washington (The Book of Eli) (Warner Bros.)
Sam Worthington (Avatar) (20th Century Fox)
Best Actress
Catherine Keener (Where the Wild Things Are) (Warner Bros.)
Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds) (The Weinstein Co.)
Alison Lohman (Drag Me to Hell) (Universal)
Natalie Portman (Brothers) (Lionsgate)
Zoe Saldana (Avatar) (20th Century Fox)
Charlize Theron (The Burning Plain) (Magnolia)
Best Supporting Actor
Woody Harrelson (Zombieland) (Sony)
Stephen Lang (Avatar) (20th Century Fox)
Frank Langella (The Box) (Warner Bros.)
Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes) (Warner Bros.)
Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones) (Paramount)
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) (The Weinstein Co.)
Best Supporting Actress
Malin Akerman (Watchmen) (Warner Bros.)
Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds) (The Weinstein Co.)
Rachel McAdams (Sherlock Holmes) (Warner Bros.)
Lorna Raver (Drag Me to Hell) (Universal)
Susan Sarandon (The Lovely Bones) (Paramount)
Sigourney Weaver (Avatar) (20th Century Fox)
Best Performance by a Younger Actor
Taylor Lautner (The Twilight Saga: New Moon) (Summit Entertainment)
Bailee Madison (Brothers) (Lionsgate)
Brooklynn Proulx (The Time Traveler’s Wife) (Warner Bros.)
Max Records (Where the Wild Things Are) (Warner Bros.)
Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) (Paramount)
Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) (The Weinstein Co.)
Best Director
J.J. Abrams (Star Trek) (Paramount)
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) (Summit Entertainment)
Neill Blomkamp (District 9) (Sony)
James Cameron (Avatar) (20th Century Fox) (sorry Zack and Guy...xoxo)
Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes) (Warner Bros.)
Zack Snyder (Watchmen) (Warner Bros.)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds) (The Weinstein Co.)
Best Writing
Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell (District 9) (Sony)
James Cameron (Avatar) (20th Century Fox)
Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers (Where the Wild Things Are) (Warner Bros.)
Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci (Star Trek) (Paramount)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds) (The Weinstein Co.)
Alex Tse, David Hayter (Watchmen) (Warner Bros.)
Best Music
Brian Eno (The Lovely Bones) (Paramount)
Michael Giacchino (Up) (Walt Disney/Pixar)
James Horner (Avatar) (20th Century Fox)
Taro Iwashiro (Red Cliff) (Magnolia)
Christopher Young (Drag Me To Hell) (Universal)
Hans Zimmer (Sherlock Holmes) (Warner Bros.)
Best Costume
Colleen Atwood (Nine) (The Weinstein Co.)
Jenny Beavan (Sherlock Holmes) (Warner Bros.)
Anna Sheppard (Inglourious Basterds) (The Weinstein Co.)
Jany Temime (Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince) (Warner Bros.)
Michael Wilkinson (Watchmen) (Warner Bros.)
Tim Yip (Red Cliff) (Magnolia)
Best Make-Up
Barney Burman, Minday Hall, Joel Harlow (Star Trek) (Paramount)
Joe Dunckley, Sarah Rubano, Frances Richardson (District 9) (Sony)
Sarah Monzani (The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus) (Sony Pictures Classics)
Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger (The Book of Eli) (Warner Bros.)
Gregory Nicotero, Howard Berger (Drag Me to Hell) (Universal)
Mike Smithson, John Rosengrant (Terminator: Salvation) (Warner Bros.)
Best Production Design
Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg (Avatar) (20th Century Fox)
Scott Chambliss (Star Trek) (Paramount)
Stuart Craig (Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince) (Warner Bros.)
Sarah Greenwood (Sherlock Holmes) (Warner Bros.)
Philip Ivey (District 9) (Sony)
Alex McDowell (Watchmen) (Warner Bros.)
Best Special Effects
Tim Burke, John Richardson, Nicholas Aithadi, Tim Alexander – (Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince) (Warner Bros.)
John DesJardin, Peter G. Travers, Joel Whist, Jessica Norman – (Watchmen) (Warner Bros.)
Volker Engel, Marc Weingert, Mike Vezina – (2012) (Sony)
Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh, Burt Dalton – (Star Trek) (Paramount)
Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros, Matt Aitken – (District 9) (Sony)
Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, Andrew R. Jones – (Avatar) (20th Century Fox)
Best International Film
District 9 (Sony)
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (Sony Pictures Classics)
Lorna’s Silence (Sony Pictures Classics)
Red Cliff (Magnolia)
Taken (20th Century Fox)
Thirst (Focus Features)
Best Animated Film
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (Walt Disney Studios)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (20th Century Fox)
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (20th Century Fox)
Monsters Vs. Aliens (Paramount/DreamWorks)
The Princess and the Frog (Walt Disney Studios)
Up (Walt Disney Studios/Pixar)
TELEVISION:
Best Network Series:
Chuck (NBC)
Fringe (Fox)
The Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
Heroes (NBC)
Lost (ABC)
The Vampire Diaries (CW)
Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series:
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Battlestar Galactica (SyFy)
The Closer (TNT)
Dexter (Showtime)
Leverage (TNT)
True Blood (HBO)
Best Television Presentation:
Doctor Who: The End of Time (BBC America)
Alice (SyFy)
The Prisoner (AMC)
Torchwood: Children of Earth (BBC America)
The Tudors (Showtime)
V (ABC)
Best Actor in Television:
Josh Holloway (Lost) (ABC)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) (AMC)
Matthew Fox (Lost) (ABC)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter) (Showtime) (sorry Stephen xoxoxo, but I felt the writers let you down this season...not your fault...)
Zachary Levi (Chuck) (NBC)
Stephen Moyer (True Blood) (HBO)
David Tennant (Doctor Who: The End of Time) (BBC America)
Best Actress on Television:
Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad) (AMC)
Jennifer Love Hewitt (The Ghost Whisperer) (CBS)
Evangeline Lily (Lost) (ABC)
Anna Paquin (True Blood) (HBO)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) (TNT)
Anna Torv (Fringe) (Fox) (ooooooh its a tie...LOL)
Best Supporting Actor on Television:
Jeremy Davies (Lost) (ABC)
Michael Emerson (Lost) (ABC)
Aldis Hodge (Leverage) (TNT)
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) (AMC)
John Noble (Fringe) (Fox)
Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) (HBO) Hallelujahs, Hallelujahs...his amazing work in "I will rise up" alone ought to guarantee this one...)
Best Supporting Actress in Television:
Morena Baccarin (V) (ABC)
Gina Bellman (Leverage) (TNT)
Julie Benz (Dexter) (Showtime)
Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter) (Showtime)
Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost) (ABC)
Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) (NBC)
Best Guest Starring Role in Television:
Bernard Cribbins (Doctor Who: The End of Time) (BBC America)
Raymond Cruz (Breaking Bad) (AMC)
Michelle Forbes (True Blood) (HBO) (Okay...I was ready to reach through the t.v. screen and keeeeeeel the maenad myself...but, that just proves what an amazing actress Michelle Forbes is...she made me absolutely hate, loathe and despise Maryann every disgusting step of the way...)
John Lithgow (Dexter) (Showtime) ....but....Ole John Lithgow just might take this away from her, he was also playing a complete psycho...but, he was freaking brilliant in the role...
Leonard Nimoy (Fringe) (ABC)
Mark Pellegrino (Lost) (ABC)
The Last Magazine Video
Untitled from THE LAST MAGAZINE on Vimeo.
True Blood Season 3 Set Photos
Interview with a Vampire
Does Eric have genuine feelings for Sookie? Or is he doing it to get at Bill?
"He's intrigued by her, for sure. When he meets her for the first time, he knows there's something different about her and that intrigues him. He doesn't care too much for humans in general - he thinks they're pathetic - but when he meets her, there's something about her. He can't put his finger on it, but he's curious for sure."
It's not just a case of forbidden fruit?
"No – he's curious and he's not gonna let Bill stop him because Bill's just this little kid!"
Could Eric crush him in a fight?
"Bill? Oh yeah! Without a doubt."
Sookie aside, is there anyone else in the show at the moment that Eric would be a good match for?
"I don't know, man. He's already got his Pam - even though that's not a sexual thing, he's got his partner. For sexual attraction, it's all about Sookie."
How far into the third season will we see them acting on the attraction?
"I don't know - we start filming next month and I haven't seen the script yet! I don't know what's gonna happen. But it's building up..."
Alan Ball has hinted that the Queen of Louisiana will get her comeuppance this season. Will Eric have anything to do with that?
"They have this little business on the side so they'll definitely interact more I'm sure. Maybe they'll get punished for that - I don't know. I know less than all the fans on the blogs! I try to stay away from the fan sites because it's not good for me to read that stuff - it'll just freak me out!"
Canyon News list of Sexiest Actors
Meet Debbie Pelt
With that question now answered, True Blood's major roles for Season 3 have finally all been cast.
Do you think Morgan’s right for the part? Surprised Ball didn’t go with a bigger name (and word is there were a couple in the running)? What are your feelings on his choice. Post a comment below.
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