An Aussie heartthrob and a Succession star: We revisit the cast of True Blood 15 years on.

It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since the beginning of what's now known as the "vampire era". 

With HBO's True Blood and the first movie from the Twilight saga hitting our screens in 2008, the obsession with the blood-sucking species reached fever pitch. 

And we couldn't get enough! 

It didn't hurt that every vampire seemed to have a near-perfect bone structure and chiseled cheese-grater abs (I'm looking at you, Alexander Skarsgård!) 

True Blood, in particular, became a cultural phenomenon and made instant stars out of the main cast. 

So if you're wondering what happened to your favourites, here's what their lives look like now. 

Watch a scene from True Blood. Story continues after post.

True Blood: Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse)

Ever since the series wrapped up in 2014, the Canadian-born actor has gone on to star in a multitude of television and film projects, such as Flack, The Irishmen, and Alias Grace. 

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The now 40-year-old welcomed twins - daughter Poppy and son Charlie - with her True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer in 2012. 

In an interview with PEOPLE, the pair confirmed their children hadn't watched the hit series that brought them together and they never will if they can help it! 

Paquin said she made a deliberate choice to keep the twins, now 11, out of the spotlight as much as possible. 

"I don't feel comfortable making that decision for them, because it's permanent," she told the outlet.

Most recently Paquin appeared in film A Bit of Light, which received glowing reviews. 

Image: Getty.

True Blood: Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton)

Stephen Moyer is equally well-known for his portrayal of Bill Compton, a charming 174-year-old vampire making up one third of the show's steamy love triangle.

In a case of life imitating art, Moyer went on to marry Paquin in 2010 before they welcomed their twins. 

Moyer is also a father to children Billy and Lilac from a previous relationship.  

The now 53-year-old has continued working on both film and television projects, both in front of and behind the camera. 

His most recent project was as director for the film his wife stars in, A Bit of Light. It seems this pair is a force to be reckoned with!

Image: Getty.

 True Blood: Alex Skarsgård (Eric Northman)

Everyone who watched the series knows you had to pick a side, either Team Bill or Team Eric. 

It's hard to remember a time Skarsgård wasn't Hollywood's golden boy, but surprisingly True Blood was actually his breakout role as bad boy Eric Northman. 

Since the series ended, he has gone on to star as Tarzan in the live-action remake by the same name, which marked a pivotal moment in the actor's career. He has also had big roles in Big Little Lies, Succession, Zoolander and most recently Infinity Pool, alongside actress Mia Goth.

If you ever swung for Bill, it's probably safe to say you've been won over.

Image: Getty.

True Blood: Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte)

Oh, Sam, where to begin?

Since appearing as a shapeshifter and Sookie's trusted confidant on the show, he's been nominated for a Tony Award, has appeared in projects like Homeland, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase and the horror feature Organ Trail.

The 52-year-old actor has two children and is married to actor-producer Missy Yager, who is best known for her own major projects like Manchester by the Sea and Mad Men.

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Most recently, Trammell confirmed he'll be starring alongside Bones star Emily Deschanel in the upcoming sci-fi romance ReEntry.

It's safe to say we're keen to see what character Trammell shifts into next.

Image: Getty.

 True Blood: Nelson Ellis (Lafayette)

The character of Lafayette was a short-order cook working at the local restaurant Bellefleur's Bar and Grill that also possessed the power of speaking with the dead and other supernatural beasts.

It was a role that ended up winning actor Nelson Ellis the Actor Satellite Award from the International Press Academy, among other accolades.

In the novels the show is based on, Lafayette was actually killed off quite early on, but because fans fell in love with this character so much, the writers and producers felt that the character needed longevity.

Unfortunately, Ellis' story doesn't have a happy ending though. The actor had struggled with drug and alcohol dependence for many years, and his addiction became all-consuming. 

In 2017, at just 39 years old, Ellis had lost his battle with his addiction, suffering a related heart failure. 

However, the actor's legacy continues to live on through his work on screen, contributing to one of the most successful vampire series ever.

Image: Getty.

True Blood: Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton)

Since starring in the blood-sucking series, Rutina Wesley has gone on to work on several popular projects, taking smaller roles on shows like Hannibal and Arrow. 

Wesley keeps her private life...ah, well private...but we do know that she was married to actor Jacob Fisher for just shy of 10 years before deciding to separate.

In 2016, Wesley scored the lead in the drama series Queen Sugar produced by none other than Oprah Winfrey. 

It appears Wesley wasn't done with the undead either! Most recently, you probably recognised her face on the hugely successful zombie show The Last of Us.

Image: Getty.

True Blood: Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse)

Aussie heartthrob Ryan Kwanten first hit our screens as Vinnie Patterson in Home & Away. But he hit international stardom when he landed the role as Sookie's younger brother, Jason Stackhouse. 

Since filming True Blood, Kwanten has continued to work in the industry, having appeared in series like Law and Order: SVU and New Girl over the years. 

In 2022, Kwanten also scored a role in the science-fiction series Kindered, which sadly only signed for a single season.

Since taking these roles, it seems the actor has been keeping things pretty low key. 

By all accounts, the now 44-year-old hasn't been married, has no children and doesn't use social media.

Image: Getty.

True Blood: Carrie Preston (Arlene)

The now 56-year-old Carrie Preston starred as Arlene Fowler, a redneck waitress who worked alongside Sookie and disapproved of her vampire relationships. 

Since the show wrapped, Preston has gone on to feature in a number of series such as Dr Death and Crowded. She also served as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. 

Preston married fellow actor Michael Emerson way back in 1998, and the pair have remained married for over 25 years. 

Most recently, Preston has wrapped up filming The Holdovers, starring Paul Giamatti, however the project won't be released until mid October.

 

 

Image: Getty.

True Blood: Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica)

Originally from New York, Deborah Ann Woll played the seemingly sweet and innocent character of Jessica. Once a human, Jessica is eventually turned into a vampire as penance for Bill Compton murdering character Longshadow.

Since starring in the blood-sucking series, Woll has gone on to work on shows like Law & Order: SVU, The Punisher and voice the character of Laufey in the video game God of War: Ragnarök.

In 2018, the 38-year-old married comedian E.J.Scott, whom she met on Match.com. 

Woll has most recently appeared in an episode of Quantum Leap, a sequel to the 1989 sci-fi series.

Image: Getty.

Who was your favourite True Blood character? Most importantly, we're you a team Bill or team Eric? Tell us in the comments.

Feature Image: HBO.