Because it is, apparently, impossible to have a vampire storyline that does not include a werewolf storyline, the third season of the vampire-centric TV series True Blood will introduce a new werewolf character to make the supernatural drama even more dramatic. Entertainment Weekly gives us our first look at this wolfly new character named Alcide (played by Joe Manganiello) in a just-released promo photo with TB protagonist Sookie Stackhouse (played by Anna Paquin) … behold:

“There is definitely some [sexual] energy between the two of them,” says executive producer Alan Ball of the dynamic between his newest mane attraction, werewolf Alcide (One Tree Hill’s Joe Manganiello), and Sookie (Anna Paquin), who team up in season 3 (debuting June 12) to track down her kidnapped beau, Bill. “It’s not like either one of them is looking for romance, but they’re thrown into several intense situations [and] it’s hard not to bond on a deeper level.” It probably isn’t too tough for Sookie to bond with her animal sidekick on a superficial level, too. “The first shirtless scene [Joe] had I was like, “Who has those abs?” Ball recalls. “He’s in crazy peak physical condition. He’s eating nothing but pure protein. And of course, this being True Blood, he’s already shot his first naked scene. Hello, werewolves when they shift — no clothes!”

MMMMM … yes … I guess I now understand the appeal of throwing werewolves into any supernatural mix as much as possible. Considering how much True Blood likes to showcase nudity, I’m fully expecting that we will get to know this werewolf named Alcide very, very well. I doubt we’ll be seeing what Alcide looks like in wolf form before the show premieres in June but … I guess you never know what promo goodies might come our way in the next 2 1/2 months. Could the arrival of werewolves replace the vampires atop the hottness food-chain on True Blood? What do you think?

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Anna Paquin boldly reveals her bisexuality in a new PSA for the True Colors Fund as part of their Give A Damn campaign to encourage equality among all people. Anna is joined by other celebs like Mya, Clay Aiken, Sharon Osbourne, Jason Mraz and others in this new PSA … which you can see (and read about) below:

No one saw this coming! Anna Paquin, who plays a telepathic vampire lover on HBO’s True Blood, has come out as bisexual. Paquin, who’s engaged to her True Blood costar Stephen Moyer, makes the announcement in a PSA video promoting the Give a Damn campaign, which features celebritiess speaking out for equality. “I’m Anna Paquin. I’m bisexual and I give a damn,” Paquin, 27, says on-camera during a private taping on Jan. 30 in Los Angeles. Sources said they were unaware beforehand that Paquin would make the announcement … Paquin’s PSA comes on behalf of the True Colors Fund, an organization dedicated to earning equal rights for people who are gay, straight, bisexual or transgendered. The organization’s “Give a Damn” campaign launches Thursday, with Paquin’s spot as the first of several to be unveiled on-line in coming months.

Wow! Just as Ricky Martin should be applauded for coming out as a gay man, so too should Anna Paquin for revealing her bisexuality. It’s campaigns like this that help bridge the gap between people of differing identities. I’ve never believed sexuality as a black and white issue. I’m an ardent believer in the Kinsey Scale of Sexuality and I think Anna‘s declaration will do much to help others understand that different folks enjoy different strokes. This is a great campaign … it would be very nice if everyone Gave A Damn about other people in order to fight for equal treatment. I honestly believe we will get there some day.

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On Friday we heard from True Blood star Anna Paquin, in the pages of the new issue of British Marie Claire magazine, that she enjoys a nice quiet life with her TB co-star and real life lover Stephen Moyer out of the public eye. Today we get to see a couple photos of the couple enjoying their mundane life together as they walked arm-in-arm on their way home from the gym together:

It’s really rare to see these two out and about in public together, mainly because they never go anywhere exciting (ie. no paparazzi around). As Anna explained, the couple just like to hang out by themselves at home doing the normal stuff that non-famous couples like to do. While I am weary of work-relationships withstanding the test of time, I think these two are more likely to be a successful couple because they like to stay out of the limelight, away from the Hollywood drama. Anna and Stephen look really happy together … here’s hoping they stay that way for the long run.

[Photo credit: X17]

True Blood protagonist Anna Paquin is featured in the new British issue of Marie Claire magazine, the same issue that features Nicole Richie on the cover, and in her interview Anna opens up about working with and falling in love with her TB co-star Stephen Moyer. According to Anna, she and Stephen easily fell in love, enjoy a pretty mundane life together and are very happily looking forward to gettin’ hitched:

She has been in the Hollywood spotlight since she won an Oscar at the tender age of 11. But somehow, Anna Paquin has remained something of an enigma – especially where her private life is concerned. But after falling in love with co-star Stephen Moyer, 40, on the set of True Blood, the 27-year-old actress has opened up about their relationship. The couple, who met while filming the HBO show, have announced they plan to marry. They share an intense on-screen chemistry, playing telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse and her 172-year-old vampire love interest, Bill Compton. But Anna says the development of their off-screen relationship caught everyone by surprise. ‘Put it this way, I don’t think anyone knew before we did,’ she told Marie Claire magazine. ‘Clearly there was a reason we were cast in that particular combination but… it’s not like either of us were looking for love or anything trite like that. It wasn’t something we saw happening.’ The actress says the couple are united by their passion for acting. ‘We’re pretty mundane. We walk our dogs, rehearse lines. But our shared passion for our jobs is a really exciting thing. It’s part of the reason we ended up together’ … ‘I had no idea 2009 was going to be the vampire year,’ she said, referring to the recent trend for blood-sucking romance epics. ‘I just loved [True Blood’s] mix of funny, campy and weird.’ But she says despite her wedding plans she and her fiancé aren’t planning on starting a family just yet. ‘We’re doing nights on season three now,’ she said. ‘I have trouble planning anything more than brunch with my friends. ‘But when the time’s right, we’ll do it.’

It’s nice to hear that Anna and Stephen are so down-to-Earth and, well, boring. David and I are terribly boring … and that may just be the kind of happy life together that will stand the test of time. I’m always weary of work romances lasting but, meh, things might be different for these two. After the jump, check out another photo from Anna‘s Marie Claire photospread …

On Friday we learned that Radiohead had announced a last minute, impromptu live concert performance at the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood, CA to raise money for Haitian relief. The tickets were sold via Ticketmaster by auction and the show took place last night. A few celebs, like couples Maggie Gyllenhaal & Peter Sarsgaard and Anna Paquin & Stephen Moyer came out for the show which, according to LAist, raised over half a million dollars for the people of Haiti:

Late Thursday Radiohead announced that it would perform a charity show benefiting the survivors of the devastating January 12th earthquake in Haiti. The tickets were made available via a Ticketmaster auction which ended with a final minimum bid of $475 (meaning many secured their tickets for $450). Some went above and beyond as the proceeds were going to Oxfam America’s Haiti Relief Fund and the high bid was $2,000 per ticket (for either 2 or 4 tickets), according to the band. All in all more than $572,000 was raised in fans’ donations and it was an unforgettable, intimate gig for all at the 1,300-capacity theater.

It truly sounds like a special night … not only because the setlist looked AMAZING but because so many people gave so generously to help the affected people of Haiti. After the jump, check out the setlist in full …

Yesterday we saw a few photos of actor Josh Duhamel, allegedly happily married to Fergie Ferg, joshing around with a few film crew members in between takes on the Long Island, NY set of his new film The Romantics. Today we get to see a few more pics from the movie set, but this time Josh is engaged in a bit of a different activity with his Romantics leading lady Anna Paquin:

That’s right folks, everyone’s fave fangbanger from True Blood gets hitched to Joshy Josh in this new film … which is entirely unfair … a man that hot shouldn’t be married in either real life or fiction. He makes a hawt groom tho, I’ll give him that. After the jump, check out which actor co-stars in The Romantics were on set to bear witness to this fake nuptials …

True Blood co-stars and real-life fiancées Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer were spotted enjoying an afternoon trapeze lesson in SoCal this weekend, presumably for an upcoming film project. It’s possible that the couple, who brought along Moyer‘s daughter Lilac Moyer with them, were flying around for fun but since Anna is in pre-production on a film titled Flying Into Love it’s more likely this day of fun was really more a day of work. Here are a few photos:

I understand that little Lilac also go in on the trapeze fun … I suppose it’s also possible that the family is working on a circus act should their television and film careers go kaput. I think folks would line up to see The Flying Moyers in person. I am happy to report that no one was injured during this daredevil training session and the family went home safe and sound:

I bet you thought vampires didn’t know how to have a good time … well, in the daylight at least. How wrong you were ;)

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Yesterday we learned the happy news that on and off-screen lovers Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer (who co-star in HBO‘s True Blood) got themselves engaged to be wed … and today we get to see pics of Anna proudly showing off her new engagement bling. Anna took her doggies out for a stroll and very blatantly flashed her new engagement bling to the curious paparazzi:

I mean … I’m happy for Anna and Stephen and all but … I can’t say I’m too impressed with this ring. It looks like a mood ring that someone would buy at a museum gift shop for about $1.50. Unless this cloudy stone is some sort of expensive moon rock, I can’t say that I believe that Mr. Moyer spent much of his hard earned True Blood money on Anna‘s ring. BUT, it’s not the rock that’s important … it’s the sentiment and lurve behind the rock that matters. Again … much love and congrats goes out to the happy couple on their upcoming nuptials. Here’s hoping Anna‘s actual wedding ring is a bit more substantive ;)

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer and other castmembers of HBO‘s hit new vampire drama True Blood made their way to Paramount Studios lot here in Hollywood, CA for the premiere of season 2 of the show. The second season of True Blood debuts on HBO this Sunday night but the big celebratory party took place last night … here are a few photos from last night’s premiere party:

I quite enjoyed the first season of the show when it debuted on HBO last Summer so I am very much looking forward to season 2. I managed to rewatch the last few eps of the first season this week and was reminded how good the story is. I hear that the drama in the upcoming second season is not to be missed. I LOVE Michelle Forbes who plays the mysterious shapeshifter (?) Maryann on the show (I also loved her very much as Ensign Ro Laren on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Lynne Kresge on 24, Admiral Helena Cain on Battlestar Galactica and estranged wife Kate on In Treatment). Forbes is absolutely one of my favorite character actresses … she is really fantastic. I’m glad she was added to the cast of True Blood. I’ve refrained from watching any preview screeners of the show only cuz David and I love watching the eps as they air on a weekly basis. I must admit, I love that True Blood has more gritty bite than The Twilight Saga has … while the tweens can sink their teeth into Twilight, adults can much more enjoy the fun on True Blood. I’ll deffo be tuning in this Sunday night for the season premiere of True Blood … can’t wait!!

[Photo credit: Splash News]

After all the Oscar trophies were handed out at last night’s Academy Awards (actually, some folks didn’t even wait ’til all the awards were handed out … some showed up at the party before the Oscars were even finished), a who’s who of Hollywood A-Listers made their way to the Sunset Tower to party the night away at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party which was hosted by Graydon Carter. Folks this is THE party to go to if you are “anybody” in Hollywood. Here are a few pics from the red carpet arrivals last night:

I gotta say … I was very bummed to see that Madonna showed up at the VF party sans her much younger beau Jesus Luz. I was really hoping she and her boytoy would walk the red carpet together and set the gossips afire with her brazen brash & sassiness. Boo. On the plus side, tho, Jennifer Aniston was happy to cozy up to her beau John Mayer for the cameras … tho, the couple did not make a scene on the red carpet in full view of all of the cameras … they saved their canoodling for inside the shindig. While many folks make the rounds on Oscar night and hit up as many parties as they can, the folks who get an invite to the Vanity Fair party make sure to make an appearance and some end up staying all night long … it’s that good. I’m sure a great time was had by all … now that we’ve got the 81st Academy Awards in the can, I’m sure many folks were rearin’ to get to the celebratin’ (or the drownin’ ones sorrows in free booze … like Brangelina). See, there really ain’t no bizznazz like showbiz.

[Photo credit: Wireimage]