Get The Free uInterview Mobile App For News Anytime
Ryan Kwanten Video Interview On ‘True Blood,’ On-Screen Nudity
Ryan Kwanten, 36, may be best known to American audiences for his many nude scenes as Jason Stackhouse on the HBO series True Blood, based on the Southern Vampire book series by author Charlaine Harris, but the actor had a long career growing up Down Under before arriving Stateside.
Kwanten began his acting while attending Sydney University, where he earned a degree in business. He first garnered attention when he portrayed lifeguard Vinnie Patterson on the Australian television series Home and Away. His film credits include Red Hill, Griff the Invisible and Don’t Fade Away. Kwanten also wrote a book satirizing self-help advisors in The G Strategy, published in 2010. In his spare time, the actor is a licensed yoga instructor and competed in the world biathlon in Sweden in 2006 and 2007 in Italy.
But Kwanten will always be best known for his buff bod on full display in his frequent nude scenes on True Blood. “It’s always confronting when you walk into your wardrobe trailer and you just see just a modesty patch hanging from the coat hanger instead of a whole array of clothes,” Kwanten told Uinterview exclusively. “But with Jason, it was always story points. I never feel like I was exposing myself to the masses. It was always justified.”
For more on Ryan Kwanten and True Blood:
Ryan Kwanten Helps Injured Man
Ryan Kwanten Likes Drunk Triathalons
Ryan Kwanten Shoots ‘True Blood’ In L.A.
‘True Blood’ Star Ryan Kwanten Denies Nude Photo
EXCLUSIVE: Kristin Bauer van Straten On ‘True Blood’ Season 5
EXCLUSIVE: Alexander Skarsgard on ‘True Blood’
12 Comments
Leave a comment
A very good question. I think the reason why audiences like Jason Stackhouse is the fact that everyone knows someone like Jason, maybe not to the extremes that he takes things, but I think he has that kind of universal appeal in the fact that everyone knows someone who does those silly things. You know what — Jason's sort of one of those guys who really just shoots from his hip pocket, so quite often he doesn't even know what he's gonna do, so whatever I tend to do is what Jason tends to do, so I'm spur of the moment with my instincts and whatnot with Jason. So he keeps me and he keeps you on your toes, I hope.
I think people are obsessed with vampires because there's a level of intrigue in the fact that they were once human themselves. They have human qualities, yet they possess sort of almost like a sixth sense, in a way. And I think there's that level of intrigue where just when you think you get to know a vampire they can turn on you. That to me is very intriguing.
You know, with those sort of things, I'm more than happy to leave it in the expert hands of the writer. Obviously it's based on a series of books, but Alan [Ball] and his team of writers sort of created somewhat of a TV liberty with the books and, honestly, whatever they give me I'll take.
I've actually done a few American dialects now that I've been in America for, well, over seven years now. So it's really just a matter of pushing it to the back. When I talk American my voice is like an octave or two lower, and it's all sort of to do with the mouth — where I position my mouth and tongue and the pallet and all that kind of stuff. It sounds very technical, but really it's very simple.
I seem to be a little uncomfortable even answering this question. Yeah, it's always confronting when you walk into your wardrobe trailer and you just see just a modesty patch hanging from the coat hanger instead of a whole array of clothes. But with Jason, it was always story points. I never feel like I was exposing myself to the masses. It was always justified.
This is probably a long and somewhat boring story. But I always used to be a sportsman, and I was on my way to training. My brother was a dancer and wanted to get into acting. And my mom was dropping us both off. Time was ticking by and I had my training and my brother was auditioning. I ran up the stairs and my mom said 'What are you doing here?' And I said, 'Look just drop me off I can't miss training.' The lady came out of the audition for my brother and said, 'Oh are you here for the audition as well?' I said, 'No I can't act.' She said 'Look, come in and we'll audition you anyway.' To cut a long story short, I ended up getting in and he didn't. Right place right time.
Great question, Bill. For me, what I get from pushing myself so hard is there's a real — I'm almost obsessed with — in sports you call it "hitting the wall." Hitting the wall, gritting the teeth, breaking down the wall, and then overcoming. I think that's sort of an obsession that both fans and athletes have, and I've sort of taken that, I guess, into more of an art form in the acting world. So far it seems to be working.
No secret tricks. I actually really enjoy working out and, like I said, pushing my body to the limits and my mind so, no. Just good old plain hard work.
I read a lot. I've got a small, tight handful of friends that I will hang out with, and we'll go to movies, have a couple of drinks, and experience the good life. Other than that I'm a bit of a homebody.
Well, Matt, we're actually in New York right now, based out of L.A., so I'm shooting "Law and Order: SVU" right now, and then I've just wrapped a film called "Don't Fade Away." Then we get back for the second season, which you'll be happy to know, very early. We start shooting in like January and we'll be on air in June. So I look forward to see you watching it.
RELATED ARTICLES
Get the most-revealing celebrity conversations with the uInterview podcast!
Great interview! I love the format! Ryan seems so down to earth!
I absolutely love Ryan. He’s adorable and always seems so sweet, well spoken and almost a little shy when he’s interviewed, none of that macho full of one’s self quality that so many actors seem to have.
Definitely want to see more of Ryan in other things. More nude scenes in True Blood, keep em coming!!
Just saw the newest episode of Law and Order SVU if you like Ryan Kwanten check out this episode…he does a great job in a very different role!
Just wanted to let you know my daughter age 27 and myself age 61 absolutely love “True Blood”. Heaven forbid they take it off the air. Want to see more of the great story lines and love the acting seems so effortless. Way to go and keep up the great work!!!!
hi rayn my name is elizabeth williams from ohio
do u have a favtote pate in the movie
Hello–My name is Helen Martin—My question is for Stephen Moyer—I would like to know how he mastered the southern accent for the character of Bill Compton–I lived in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina and feel that a Mr. Compton would blend in with the Louisiana culture of today. Good Work!!!!
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD SOMEONE WANT THIS GUY TO DO NUDE SCENES?
ARE THERE JUST NO BOUNDARIES BETWEEN ACTORS, ACTRESSES AND THEIR FANS?
IN THE PAST, MANY PEOPLE, EVEN THE BEST OF MAGAZINES, VOTED CERTAIN ACTORS THE SEXIEST MEN ALIVE.
SOME OF THESE ACTORS ARE:
BURT REYNOLDS (REDICULOUS)
BILLY RAY CYRUS (REDICULOUS)
THE GUY WHO PLAYED MAGNUM P.I. (TOTALLY REDICULOUS)
TO NAME A FEW.
HAVE YOU REALLY HAD A GOOD LOOK AT SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS?
MAKES ONE WONDER IF WOMEN JUST FIND THEM SEXY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD A LONG TIME FANTASY BEING RAPED BY A WILD BEAR OR A MOUNTAIN MAN.
WHAT MAY BE SEXY FOR SOME OF THESE WOMEN, WHO EVIDENTLY HAVE SOME ISSUES OF WHAT GOOD-LOOKING IS OR IS NOT, IS NOT AT ALL SEXY FOR THE MAJORITY OF US.
I ALWAYS SAY, BEFORE YOU MARRY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER THEY BE MALE OR FEMALE, SLEEP WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL FIRST AND FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, LOOK AT THAT INDIVIDUAL WHEN THEY FIRST WAKE UP AND IF THEY STILL LOOK REALLY HOT AND HANDSOME OR HOT AND PRETTY TO YOU, THEN MARRY THEM. IF THEY DONT, THEN WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU SEE IN THEM?
He’s so sexy! Love the interview!
HOW DO YOU LIKE THE WEATHER IN LOUISANA
I love Ryan. And this video only makes me love him more! That accent!
How do you like playing the role of Jason? It seems fun and very diffrent:)