Season 5 Tara tidbit

We will see that as the hiatus progresses( is it June 2012 , yet ?) the Tara cliffhanger is the only one anyone is interested in , the wolf and Sam,  eh!  We all know the very next scene is Bill and Eric standing in Sookie's kitchen,  as we know they are just across the cemetery at Bill's ..I think maybe Tara's fate has something to do with Bill because I'm still a little intrigued with Bill saving Tara early in the season ( Ep 8) and when she asked why ? He said "you know" .... I think we'll find out what she knows or what that meant.

Also remember Lafayette is just upstairs, so he will also be in the kitchen with one or more vampires.

Question: OK Mikey (is it alright if I call you that?), now that True Blood has come to an end, please give us some dirt — even the tiniest amount — about next season! —Paige
Ausiello: Season 5 will pick up right where Season 4 left off — with Tara’s brains splattered all over Sookie’s kitchen floor. And to answer your first question, it’s most definitely not alright, Paige.

True Blood Scoop: Rutina Wesley Will Be Back For Season 5… But In What Form?

Rutina Wesley is a popular lady after the death of poor Tara last night on the season finale of True Blood.
In this interview below, she speaks to Michael Ausiello about Tara’s death, or is it a death? As you will read, since Rutina has a contract for Season 5, its certainly possible that she will return. 
In the closing minutes of Sunday’s True Blood finale, the actress’ seemingly cursed alter ego, Tara, jumped in front of a bullet intended for her BFF Sookie and got her brains blown out. Literally.
“I have to say it was actually kind of cool having my brains blown out,” confesses Wesley with a laugh. “All of the special effects and everything… It was cool.”
If she sounds surprisingly chipper for someone who just lost her job on one of TV’s most successful shows, it’s probably because well…she didn’t actually lose her job. In the following Q&A with TVLine, Wesley confirms that she will be back for True Blood‘s fifth season — but that’s only half the story.
TVLINE | When did you first find out Tara was getting shot in the head?
[Series creator] Alan Ball himself pulled me aside early on and told me that this was happening. And I was like, ‘OK, that’s cool.’ I know I’m coming back in some capacity, I just don’t know how I’m coming back. It’s scary as an actor to be in that position. Whatever they do, I think it’s the Golden Hour for Tara. But I don’t know how they’re going to revive me or if I’m dead. And that’s the big question: Can she be saved?
TVLINE | Has your contract option for Season 5 been officially picked up?
Yes. I know I’m coming back. I just don’t know in what capacity.
TVLINE | If she is brought back to life, it seems unlikely she’ll just be the same old Tara.
I like playing a human on the show. I like not having any powers. I like being the voice of reason. But it wouldn’t be a drama if we didn’t have a shift in things. Everything’s up in the air because half of my head is missing. [Laughs] I know Alan has big plans for me next season. But has he shared those plans with me? Not really.

read on tvline.com

True Blood's Rutina Wesley on Lesbian Tara: 'Am I Duct-Taped to a Toilet? No? OK, Cool.'

Rutina Wesley talks frankly about Tara’s new change this year and about the total experience of how she has changed throughout the seasons. When she discovered the writers’ plan to have her Tara kick off Season 4 of True Blood as a lesbian cage-fighter, the first question she asked was “Is she gonna be happy?”
Wesley sat down with TVLine at their Comic-Con interview suite to discuss how she found out about Tara’s shift in sexuality, what she found difficult about Season 3′s toilet scene, and whether her character is “just going through a phase.”

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True Blood’s Rutina Wesley on Her ‘Feisty’ Character, the Origins of ‘Hooker,’ and Getting an Action Figure

Orgies. Exorcisms. Bludgeonings. As an unwitting party to all of the above (okay, she meant to beat the bejesus out of that bipolar vampire with a medieval mace), poor Tara Thornton has lived a life full of drama and sorrow. But in season four, True Blood's resident martyr looks like she may finally get a shot at happiness. Where's the fun in that? Vulture spoke with actress Rutina Wesley, a soft-spoken Juilliard grad with a soft spot for comic books, about her Emmy-reel, getting an action figure, and her future as Wonder Woman.

Would you agree that, out of the entire True Blood cast, you probably have the most clips for your Emmy reel?
Yeah, totally! It's like, "Well, let's see: being duct-taped to a toilet or tied to a bed." I never know what they're gonna do, you know? The one time I was really surprised was in season two when we had to do those scenes out in the woods. [Laughs.] We were like, "Wait. What are we doing? This is an orgy scene!" But it's True Blood. I've never questioned anything that they've given me.

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True Blood’s Rutina Wesley Dishes Finale Secrets?! Will Tara Get Turned?! Exclusive Interview!

The place to go to forget evil vampires: Chicago 'TRUE BLOOD' | Actress hits Chicago after 'meaty' season

Her "True Blood" character has been kidnapped, tied down with duct tape, and subjected to mind games all season long, so it probably comes as no surprise that Rutina Wesley, who plays Tara Thornton on the hit HBO series, is looking forward to some rest and relaxation.
"I can't wait to reacquaint myself with Chicago," says the actress, who will be in town for two appearances today. "And I can't wait to get in touch with fans of the show who have been so, so supportive."

Wesley, who did her undergrad at Indiana's University of Evansville, says, "I'm hoping to meet up with a good friend of mine from Joliet and just relax down on the waterfront by Buckingham Fountain."
And after the season her character has had at the hands of psychotic stalker vampire Franklin Mott (played by James Frain), you can't blame her.

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True Blood’s Rutina Wesley: A Sam And Tara Reunion Wouldn’t Suck

This has been a difficult season for ‘True Blood’s‘ Tara.  An obsessed vampire tortured her and attempted to turn her.  Her best friend is more concerned about her vampire boyfriend than her.  To top it all off, she just found out her good friend and longtime crush killed the love of her life. Fortunately, bad times for Tara are good for Rutina Wesley, the actress who brings her to life.  She is thrilled with her meaty storyline. With the season finale rapidly approaching, Wesley reveals why it will be difficult to beat King Russell, how a Sam and Tara union could work, and what it was like to attend co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer’s wedding.
You attended Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin’s wedding last weekend.  What was that like?
It was wonderful and beautiful and everything I expected it to be.  It was magical to see two people who work together find love. To see them united was just magical.  That’s the only word for it.

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Interview with Rutina Wesley on KTLA TV

 

'True Blood': A Tale of Two Taras

Ever wonder what your favorite TV show would be like if a different actor played one of the main characters? True Blood fans don't have to use their imaginations. The TV blog Remote Patrolled just posted footage from the HBO show's original pilot, where the character Tara was played by an alternate actress:

Here's True Blood's Tara—Sookie's spiky best friend who's now immortalized by Rutina Wesley

But Rutina wasn't the first actress to play Tara. Check out Brook Kerr—the original Tara—in a memorable scene from the vampire saga's first episode.

Kerr is best known for playing Whitney on the soap opera Passions for 8 years on NBC. She left the role in 2007—straight into True Blood—but was replaced after filming the unaired pilot. No official reason was given.

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True Blood: True Blood: Season 3 - Tara Thornton So Far.

True Blood’s Rutina Wesley: Season 3 Is ‘Very Action-Packed’

After just two seasons, True Blood has drawn millions of viewers and made stars of its colorful cast of human and not-quite-human characters. And now the HBO hit is back, with brand-new episodes premiering June 13.

Rutina Wesley plays Tara Thornton, the quick-tempered, defensive best friend of the show’s heroine, Sookie Stackhouse. The actress talked to Parade.com about Tara’s trademark tough exterior, the surprises that lay in store for fans and what she thinks about the headline-making romance between co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.

Does Tara feel left out of the supernatural powers club?
“Absolutely not. She loves being human. I think she’s like, ‘WTF? What is going on?’ I think Tara is the truth, I think she’s the truth factor in True Blood. She sees everything like it is, she tells it like it is. And I enjoy playing a human being thrust into this world. It’s great. It creates a lot of drama, because it’s like How do the humans feel about this? If vampires and werewolves were walking around today, there would be chaos. People would be losing their minds.”


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Rutina on Tara by Kathie

On Kathies' blog..

That Alan Ball... lucky for us he knows how to write great characters, and even luckier for us young Rutina Wesley knows how to play a great character when it comes to Tara, the sassy African American BFF of Sookie Stackhouse. I chatted with Rutina about her character and the third season of True Blood for the cover article on the series in the August issue of Sci Fi Magazine, which will be on the newsstands on June 1 or so.

Here's a small bit of our exclusive interview, most of which did NOT make the magazine...

KATHIE: Why do you think Tara has managed to get herself into so much trouble in the past?

RUTINA: That darn vulnerability. She’s so vulnerable and naive at times, but I think that’s just ‘cause all she knows is Bon Temps. It's a small town. Even though she’s well read and self-educated, there’s still a lot of things about life experience that Tara just doesn't know. So she’s really getting some life experience (laughs). And she’s gonna go through a lot of different emotions. They’re giving me another incredible journey, and I just can’t wait.

KATHIE: Your character has such depth and isn't anything like the Tara in the book series. How do you feel about this role?

RUTINA: I mean it’s all coming together so beautifully, and I feel incredibly lucky and honored, to be a part of this cast and be a part of this show and working for Alan Ball and the rest of the writers and HBO is a dream. It’s like a dream job, and I had no idea it would be such a huge hit. I mean it just like went to the sky. We’re all over the world now. I have people writing to me from Hungary and Germany, and it’s just like… I’m just like amazed.

I get overwhelmed and I cry every now and now ‘cause I can’t believe it. I can’t believe I’m on TV. I can’t believe people are enjoying my work. I mean this is what I went to school for. This is what I wanted, and I’m actually getting to do what I love. And when you get to do your passion, what you want to do, it’s incredible because there are a lot of people who actually don’t get to do what they want to do. So I’m incredibly thankful and grateful and appreciative of this job and of the show. It’s really great.

KATHIE: Your character gets a new romantic interest this season with the vampire Franklin Mott, played by James Frain. How would you describe the character?

RUTINA: Yeah, I say tall, dark and handsome with an emphasis on dark. I’ll say that.

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Rutina ( Tara) Wesley interview for HBO Hungary

Rutina "Tara" Wesley talks True Blood at Scream awards

'True Blood' Star Rutina Wesley Sees 'Grief' And 'More Darkness' For Tara In Season 3

From MTV

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

When we heard last month that "True Blood" hottie Mehcad Brooks had been cast as a lawyer on ABC's midseason replacement "The Deep End," we wondered whether his character Eggs would be scrambled by Maryann. Well, we were partially right. The 28-year-old fell victim to a bullet in the season finale, though it was at the hands of well-meaning Jason Stackhouse.

As sad as we are to see Mehcad (and his abs) depart "True Blood," we're sure gal pal Tara Thornton is even more torn up. MTV News caught up with the actress who portrays prickly Tara (Rutina Wesley) at the premiere of Jude Law's "Hamlet" (read our rundown of hot Hamlets here), and she talked about what's next for Tara.

"I'm sure she's going to have some grieving to do, losing Maryann and Eggs—the love of her life, I think," Rutina theorized. "I don't know how Tara is really going to react to that. I see some grief. I see some more darkness."

As evil as maenad Maryann was, it's easy to forget that Tara relied on her as a mother figure in place of her own often-drunk mom, making her death nearly as devastating as Eggs'. Though Rutina said that Tara will likely find solace in recently returned BFF Sookie (Anna Paquin), we're hoping there's a juicier resolution—namely Tara turning to one-time crush Jason (Ryan Kwanten). Wouldn't that be ironic?

What do you think will happen to Tara in the third season of "True Blood"?

Rutina Wesley hopes her 'True Blood' role is a stepping stone for other black actresses

From Los Angeles Times

HBO's "True Blood" has had more than its share of frightening moments this season, but the fan frenzy surrounding the cast of the vampire drama can also be a bit scary, as Rutina Wesley has discovered.

For instance, there was the devotee at the cast's Comic-Con autograph session who wanted to "bite" Wesley, who plays the sharp-tongued bartender Tara Thornton, in the neck for a picture. Or the fan from Louisville, Ky., who almost collapsed into a quivering heap when she finally encountered Wesley at the San Diego event.

Then there are all the "True Blood" fans who spot her in markets or on the street who call her Tara ("People think I'm her") and the Web message boards that she can't keep away from despite warnings: "My husband yells at me to stop reading them. It drives me crazy. People can be really mean -- they say the most vicious things."

But despite those unsettling vibes from "True Blood" loyalists, the classically trained Wesley, who studied at Juilliard, is on "top of the world," simultaneously enjoying artistic satisfaction and popularity.

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'TRUE BLOOD's' RUTINA WESLEY GETS FREAKED OUT BY ORGIES

From IF magazine ..

RUE BLOOD has lots of sex, lots of blood and lots of characters, but Rutina Wesley’s Tara Thornton is in no danger of getting lost in the crowd. One of the few Bon Temps residents with no supernatural aspects, Tara (best friend of telepathic heroine Sookie Stackhouse, portrayed by Anna Paquin) is nevertheless one of the most complex characters on the show, desperate for affection yet quick to push people away, open to new experiences yet wisely wary, she’s a captivating conundrum, and Wesley plays the hell out of her.

The actress makes time to talk to us during an after-party for the Television Critics Association Awards, where TRUE BLOOD has just won for Outstanding New Program.

iF MAGAZINE: Has Tara changed from what you expected her to be when you got the part?

RUTINA WESLEY: Just for the better. I always thought she was a hard flower, this hard case on the outside with this delicate inside, but they’ve just made her so much more complex, they’ve given her so many layers, I’ve gotten to play so many different emotions. I mean, that’s an actor’s dream. This role is like a Hamlet for me. I think it’s been some of my best work that I’ve done so far, and it’s really nice that I’ve been able to be part of this ensemble, this family. Adina Porter [who plays Tara’s mother] – amazing. Her and Michelle Forbes are two of the most grounded actresses that I’ve ever worked with. They always have my back. Adina – I can’t say anything more to you than ‘phenomenal.’ I love her, I love working with her – she brings out the best in me, I always have to be on top of my game with the both of them. So she’s amazing.

iF: Is it hard to modulate just how open or shut down Tara is at any given moment?

WESLEY: Yeah, it’s a very delicate balance, because I don’t want her to ever be too angry. I want to make sure that she stays soft and real and honest in every situation, so I always play with varying emotions. I just try to keep her real, and the writers give me dialogue that helps me do that.

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RUTINA WESLEY from True Blood Exclusive Interview

From Daemonstv

Recently I got a chance to speak withRutina Wesley who plays Tara on one of the Best show ion television , HBO's True Blood.

Rutina Wesley is one of the Emmy hopefuls this year, and if you have seen True Blood then you know this is definitely an award-worthy show and Rutina Wesley is one of the people that help make it that way.

Rutina Wesley talked about what is coming up this second season for Tara, how she got into acting, and much more. So enjoy her interview below.

Congratulations on getting such good ratings for season two. How does it feel?

Rutina Wesley: It feels really, really good, and I'm telling you, I'm sort of shocked at the ratings. I knew that we had a huge following, but the fact that so many more people are loving the show, it's all great and positive.

Had you originally read all the books, or have you read them since doing the show?

Rutina Wesley: Well, I read the first book. Tara is very different in the books than they've decided to take her in the show. So after the first book I sort of didn't read anymore so that I could then create my own character along with the rest of the creative team since they had taken her in a different direction. But my mother has read all nine [laughs].

Did she like them?

Rutina Wesley: Yes, she loved them.

Do you think you'll eventually read them, maybe at the end of the show?

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True Blood Video : Tara character tease

Killer Curves: Rutina Wesley

Wow, hotcha-cha-cha Tara !

Surrounded by frisky vampires on HBO’s True Blood, Rutina Wesley is no stranger to thirsty dudes who stay up all night. Meaning we’ll get along just fine

So you think you can dance? Try stomping it out with actress Rutina Wesley. Owning the screen as leading lady in this year’s critically acclaimed street-stepping film, How She Move, Wesley left competitors served with her combustible routines. But the slender starlet is quick to note that her lifelong passion isn’t her sole meal ticket. “I definitely don’t want to [get pigeonholed] as the dance-movie girl,” says the Tinseltown newbie. “I get bored.”

Switching lanes like a tardy soccer mom, the Las Vegas native has used the role as a major, uh, stepping stone, bagging her latest gig on HBO’s ultra-explicit vampire series, True Blood. Armed with a potty mouth and thick bayou accent, Wesley plays the hotheaded Tara, resisting her small town’s newly integrated, undead citizens. But before you think about sinking your own teeth into the dark-chocolate delight, peep the wedding ring and promptly lay off like Lehman Brothers. Yes, reality bites.

Your first KING shoot couldn’t have been scarier than the bloodsuckers on True Blood. What attracted you to the show?
It was definitely [director] Alan Ball [creator of HBO’s Six Feet Under]. You see his name and it perks your ears up. It wasn’t a hard transition, because the character that I play on True Blood is very close to me in real life. When I read that script, I knew that character fit me. I understand her.

Were you comfortable signing on for such a graphic series?
I did go into it a little nervous, but everyone is very open, because it’s not about me taking my clothes off; it’s about the story we’re trying to tell. I’m one of those actresses who believe there’s no need to be taking your clothes off unless it’s absolutely necessary. As a culture, we’ve stopped using our imagination. It’s like we’ve got to see everything.

Tell us about it. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this is not.
[The show’s] been tasteful. It is very sexual, and the times when it’s nasty, it needs to be because that’s a plot point. My favorite thing about the show is that anything can happen at any moment.

Even a sexy scene starring yourself?
[Laughs] I plead the Fifth! I don’t know. The readers will have to keep watching.

Fair enough. But some viewers are more focused on the seemingly stereotypical black characters. How is your part unlike Omarosa?
I’m trying to make sure I always play a human being with a range of emotions, not this screaming robot. It’s funny—there are people who think I’m hilarious on the show and people who are offended, both black and white. They’re like, “I don’t talk like that. She’s ghetto.” I love hearing the differences, because there are people exactly like Tara—don’t lie and tell me there aren’t.

You should meet some of our ex-girlfriends.
It’s good that [Tara] offends you. She’s very offensive and very angry. If you watch for a minute, you’ll see why she’s so angry, and maybe you’ll realize that’s her mouth. That’s her.

Your onscreen cousin, LaFayette, is a drug dealer. Coincidence?
It’s a shame people get stuck on things. Everyone is quick to say it’s offensive. It’s not like a bunch of white people sat around and were like, “We’re going to make the black character cuss all the time, because that’s all black people do.” That’s not what it’s about. Alan has done a great job of creating real-life characters that aren’t these stock ones we’ve seen in the past.–John Kennedy

http://www.king-mag.com/online/?p=10224