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EXCLUSIVE Interview with Carolyn Hennesy (Rosalyn on TRUE BLOOD)

Mike Vicic - June 24, 2012

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Carolyn Hennesy, who was introduced in last week's episode of TRUE BLOOD as Vampire Authority Chancellor Rosalyn Harris, took a break from her busy schedule to participate in an email interview with TV Tango. Carolyn dished about her TRUE BLOOD character's prolific past and mainstreaming motivations, discussed playing Barb on COUGAR TOWN, and revealed much more.

 

 

Season 5 of TRUE BLOOD continues through the end of August on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on HBO. If you can't get enough of Carolyn's vampy humor, then check her out on Twitter.

 

TV Tango: Is Rosalyn your character's real name (from Prague) or just her American name?


Carolyn Hennesy: Born Rostislava Hazuka...but then, find me a cowboy that could pronounce it.

 

TV Tango: Why was she selected to become part of the Vampire Authority? Why did she choose to join?


Carolyn Hennesy: She's smart, she's wise and she knows where the bodies are buried...most of them, when they're not up and about.  Joining the Authority was a no-brainer; it's the top of the heap: they make buck-stops-here decisions regarding vampires worldwide.  And they pick Oscar winners.

TV Tango: How did she get the title Chancellor of the Vampire Authority? What did she have to do?


Carolyn Hennesy: She's got dirt on everybody (and not just the kind she tosses on coffins.)  The title Chancellor came from the ancient Roman courts of justice and the Cancellarii; Guardian Roman thought it was catchy.  And as far as duties go...Rosalyn just opens her mouth and conversation stops.  She's the one the Guardian really listens to...but we'll just keep that between us gals.

TV Tango: Why did Rosalyn settle in Texas?


Carolyn Hennesy: When human, she had her head shaved many a time due to lice (Biblical era, let's not forget.)  She loves Texas for the same reason she loved the court of Louis XIV...big hair.

 

TV Tango: While she spent her time in Texas, what do you think was her primary role and biggest accomplishment?


Carolyn Hennesy: Keeping the boys at the Alamo in good spirits right until the end.

TV Tango: Has Rosalyn always been in favor of mainstreaming? How did she try to implement/advocate mainstreaming in the past?


Carolyn Hennesy: She's always been in favor of mainstreaming.  And she's showed her loyalty to the movement by not devouring several big-wigs she would have loved to (and could have)...not because she hated them or that they deserved it; they just smelled good: Queen Elizabeth, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mickey Mantle, Proust, Macaulay Culkin, Walt Disney and Jesus.

TV Tango: What does she expect humans to provide in the future, in terms of technological advances like Tru Blood?


Carolyn Hennesy: The thing every vampire wants above all: the ability to walk in the sunlight.

TV Tango: Do we get to meet, or hear about, any of Rosalyn's former lovers?


Carolyn Hennesy: I'm sorry, but Rosalyn doesn't drink and tell.

 

TV Tango: Do we get to meet, or hear about, any of the people Rosalyn's turned over the years?


Carolyn Hennesy: We do...and no spoiling here.  'Cause it would.

TV Tango: In other interviews, you've talked about Rosalyn's fashion sense for Jones New York/Chanel/Prada labels. If you could've taken home one of her outfits, which one would you have chosen?


Carolyn Hennesy: There's a smart and savvy little black and red dress you'll be seeing early in the season.  It doesn't hurt that Rosalyn is performing diabolical acts while wearing it.

 

TV Tango: What's your favorite Rosalyn line this season?


Carolyn Hennesy: I'll let you know when the season is over.

TV Tango: Since you're now partly known for being Barb on COUGAR TOWN, people might expect some comedy from you in TRUE BLOOD. Will they be satisfied?


Carolyn Hennesy: In spades.  Oh!  See what I did there?  "Spades," dig, dirt, grave, coffin, vampire!

TV Tango: Any word whether you'll continue to appear in COUGAR TOWN after the series switches to TBS?


Carolyn Hennesy: One can always hope.

 

TV Tango: What's your favorite Barb one-liner?


Carolyn Hennesy: "I keep it long in the winter."

TV Tango: What were your thoughts when you saw the script [for "Southern Accents"] in which Barb was no longer a cougar?


Carolyn Hennesy: Barry Bostwick?  I'll take it and how!

TV Tango: If you could portray any fictional TV character in the history of television, which one would you choose and why?

Carolyn Hennesy: June Cleaver [on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER]. To be that repressed, prudish, uptight and utterly put-together 24/7 would require mining especially deep as an actress.

TV Tango: Besides TRUE BLOOD and COUGAR TOWN, what TV shows are on your DVR?


Carolyn Hennesy: We use Netflix. But aside from the above, GAME OF THRONES is our appointment TV!