CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Fans of Alan Balls latest HBO hit, True Blood, may not recognize Ryan Kwanten in the photos here. Flaunting convention, the former Australian soap star, who plays the shows resident sex addict, Jason Stackhouse, spends more time out of his clothes than any of the female leads and is rarely seen in anything more than a tank top or tight-fitting tee. One of the grips working on the show was joking that he sees me naked more than he does his girlfriend, Kwanten laughs.
We come from a very open-minded society in Australia, so I guess its a lot more acceptable, and its not seen as that much of a shock. In terms of the various sexual positions that I find myself in, Im sure thats still a shock no matter who or where you come from. But its all part of the fun I think, he says.
True Blood is Six Feet Under creator Balls adaptation of Charlaine Harriss Southern Vampire Mysteries, a series of novels set in present-day Louisiana, where vampires have begun living openly in society and are seeking assimilation. Like the books, the show centers on Sookie Stackhouse (played by Anna Paquin), a woman with a taste for vampires and the ability to read peoples minds. Kwanten plays Sookies brother, and his role has particular appeal to Ball, who chose to give him more play than in the books. I felt like Jason was a big character who had his own story that I wanted to expand, he says. Ive always responded to Peter Pan characters who havent ever had a reason to grow up. Nate was like that on Six Feet Under, and you could argue that Kevin Spaceys character in American Beauty was that way, Ball says, referring to the film that won him an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in 2000.
Kwanten admits that showing off his Aussie bum is a little easier with Alan Ball around. Ive been in the business now for 15 years and I havent had an experience that comes close to the one Ive had with working with Alan and HBO, he says. Theyre so embracing of the artist. You know anything you want to bring to the table, no matter how ridiculous it may seem, theyre willing to listen. It really is an absolute rarity in this business to have that, and a lot of it comes from being associated with Alan. They trust his judgment and his choices.
As Jason, a man who hasnt met a substance he doesnt like, Kwanten finds himself sleeping with nearly every female character he isnt related to, and though depravity is so much a part of his character, there is an underlying sweetness to his performance that is hard not to fall for. And for the actor, who admits he has a tendency to overanalyze everything in his life, portraying a character who lacks any semblance of self-control has been an enlightening experience.
As for the pop-culture allure of vampires -- in True Blood, Twilight, and here! TVs The Lair, among other current sagas -- its easy for Kwanten to explain: Whats intriguing about them is the fact they were once human themselves but now have these extrasensory abilities, as opposed to a superhero, which is for me sort of above and beyond our reach. Vampires, it seems, are within the realm of possibility.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
38 Male Celebs Who Did Full Frontal Scenes
November 17 2023 5:18 PM
These are all the celebrities Who came out as LGBTQ+ in 2023
December 31 2023 12:19 PM
These Pics Prove Maluma Has Always Been a Certified Daddy
October 20 2023 1:13 PM
32 LGBTQ+ Celebs You Can Follow on OnlyFans
October 25 2023 3:15 PM
26 actors who showed bare ass in movies & TV shows
February 28 2024 1:50 PM
16 Times Celebrity Men Had to Say They Weren't Gay
February 29 2024 1:19 PM
15 Unforgettable Gay Kissing Scenes From TV & Movies
February 14 2024 10:20 AM
13 Queens Who Quit or Retired From Drag After 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
November 24 2023 10:11 AM
40 steamy celebrity Calvin Klein ads we'll always be thirsty for
January 04 2024 10:54 AM
The 15 Best LGBTQ+ Movies of 2023
December 04 2023 10:32 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
March 27, 2024
19h
'Barbie' star Hari Nef is starring in a biopic about this trans legend
March 26 2024 7:02 PM
Alert! Lady Gaga just gave us the most substantial update on LG7 to date!
March 26 2024 4:31 PM
Find your perfect fit with gender-inclusive fashion from The Pride Store
March 26 2024 2:16 PM
The queer stars of Universal Television stun in spring menswear
March 26 2024 1:58 PM
With 'Hello Again,' Tig Notaro knows she's a role model for queer women
March 26 2024 12:48 PM
The ball's in Zendaya's court in this horny new 'Challengers' clip
March 26 2024 12:35 PM
'Scott Pilgrim's Satya Bhabha knows queer visibility starts on set
March 26 2024 12:00 PM
Joel Kim Booster talks 'Loot' & kissing his boyfriend on red carpets
March 26 2024 12:00 PM
'Chicago Fire's Daniel Kyri talks the 'joy' of playing an out hero on TV
March 26 2024 12:00 PM
Mark Indelicato teases the 'shake-up' on 'Hacks' & talks spring style
March 26 2024 12:00 PM