Theo Alexander : NYPost

Last night "True Blood" finally answered last year's big cliffhanger -- who abducted Bill Compton? Turns out that Russell Edgington, the vampire king of Mississippi was behind his post-proposal vanishing act. And upon arriving at Russell's stately fang manor, Bill -- and fans -- met Russell's partner of 700 years, Talbot.

And after a series of Brenda Dickson-esque scenes, it became clear that the happy homemaker shares more than just immortality with Martha Stewart. He's also a whizz in the kitchen (blood sorbet, anyone?), has a flair for decor and, according to actor Theo Alexander, is dynamite in the sack.

But Martha isn't the only famous face Talbot shares some DNA with according to Theo. I got the answer to that bold faced conundrum in addition to learning how he snagged the role and approached a (possible) sex scene withAlexander Skarsgard.

PopWrap: How did you get hired to play Talbot? 
Theo Alexander: This part was out for a British actor, but my agent thought I would do a great job with it. He was a very Dionysian, very sexual, very Greek! It couldn’t be anything but Greek in my eyes. So my agent called the casting director and they really wanted a British actor, but they said, "please, just see him – he’s perfect." So I went to the audition dressed in my kimono, in character and walk in on a room of 16 people – including Alan Ball, so I’m shaking. The casting director says, this is Theo, he’s Italian. So I turn to her as Talbot, and say, “excuse me, I’m Greek!” and that propelled me into the character. Talbot would have said that, he likes to speak his mind.

 

PW: Given Talbot and Russell's extensive history together, what kind of pre-production work did you and Denis O'Hare [who plays Russell] do? 
Theo: I have to say, it’s a blessing to have an amazing actor on your side. He called me when I got the part and we started working on our history before shooting. We met, we talked, we went to dinner, we had to create a 700-year history. It wasn’t easy but in order to be in love with someone on screen you have to really love them in real life. And Denis is very easy to fall in love with. He’s a great guy and an amazing actor – I already admired him, so it wasn’t that hard.

 

PW: So without going into too much detail, what kind of backstory did you two come up with? 
Theo: We met in the Byzantine, where I was royalty and I left with Russell. He didn’t turn me in the beginning. We were mercenaries, we would give our services to Kings who needed us in battle. In one of those battles I got wounded and would have died, but he wanted it to be my decision. He loved me so much he didn’t want to bestow that curse upon me, but I wanted it. So he turned me and I’ve been paying ever since.

 

PW: It makes sense to hear that Talbot was royalty -- he has very expensive tastes. 
Theo: Yes, I’ll give you an insight. You know the robe I came out in [last night], that’s a Tom Ford robe. Tom Ford was one of my inspirations for the part. He’s the quintessential man of style. In real life I would fly him in to do all my clothes. And then I would send the check to my husband!

 

PW: Do you think because the show tailored Talbot to Theo, there's a lot of you in him? 
Theo: Yes. I think it’s my Greek culture. We live life to it’s fullest. It’s the Zorba element that Talbot has. He loves the senses and food is very important, every object is very important. That’s why I get very disturbed when something goes wrong in my house. We are vampires and every object we have carries energy or a story. We don’t have many things to remember, every object has a 100 years of story on it.

 

PW: Fans who follow "True Blood" spoilers know that Russell & Talbot are headed for some rocky times -- but with 700 years together, how does fighting affect their partnership? 
Theo: I believe that when you love someone you fight because you feel completely. Russell is also my maker, so it’s a double whammy. He's like my father and my husband. So there is this double animosity, he can quiet me with one word. But I think every relationship – especially Mediterranean – if you don’t fight, there is no relationship. And that’s what fuels good sex too!

 

PW: Now, fans got the impression based on an interview you gave that Talbot cheats on Russell with Eric later this season -- care to comment? 
Theo: Oh, I didn’t reveal anything. You shouldn’t believe rumors, I am a married man! [laughs]

 

PW: OK, so theoretically, if that scene should happen, was it difficult to film? 
Theo: I’ll tell you something, because the writing is so excellent and everything happens for a reason, when you get a scene like that, it’s much easier to do because there’s a reason for it. So it comes out naturally. It’s not out of the blue. People say "True Blood" has so much sex, but all those scenes have a reason and they push the story forward.

 

PW: Obviously American's are raised with a more puritanical view of sex and the show is filled with foreigners, do you think that's why the cast isn't so concerned with it? 
Theo: In Europe actors are trained that those things will happen. And it pushes you forward as a human being as well. Everything that scares you in life, if you do it, makes you a better person. A more whole person. If I have a scene with a man and it scares me, you do it -- that pushes you one step ahead as an artist or human being because you did something you were scared of. We know these things can happen – nervousness is there – but you’ve got to go beyond that.

 

PW: Now, I don't want you to spoil too much because I know Alan keeps a close eye on you guys... 
Theo: He has a gun! He always has a gun! He will kill us. But go on [laughs]

 

PW: He said that Theo & Russell emerge as this season's villains. What do you think? 
Theo: I don’t like the word villain. We’re two poor vampires who try to survive. Well, we’re not poor, but you get the idea. I can reveal one thing – season three will be off the hook! You can’t expect what’s going to happen in season three. Don’t even try to guess, you’ll be wrong. Don’t make any bets. It’s beyond. This season is going to be beyond anybody’s fantasies.