Joe Manganiello : NYPost

Joining the cast of TV's buzziest drama is a fairly awesome prospect -- but when the show in question already sits atop your Tivo season pass list, that "you're hired" phonecall reaches unprecedented levels of jubilation.

Such was the case when Joe Manganiello learned he'd been cast as Alcide, Sookie's werewolf bodyguard and potential bedmate in "True Blood's" third season. But the celebration was short-lived since Joe now had to made his body live up to author Charlaine Harris' novel image of Alcide. "Arms the size of boulders" is a daunting description.

With his biggest episode to date airing this Sunday, I caught up with Joe to find out what it felt like to go from "True Blood" fan to featured actor, why he felt such a personal connection with Alcide and what lies ahead in the Bill-Sookie-Alcide-Debbie-Coot love quadrangle.

PopWrap: You've previously admitted to being a fan of "True Blood" before joining the show, so I'm curious what it's like being on set? 
Joe Manganiello: Yes, that’s right – big fan. The first table read was like being sucked into the television. I’d imagine it like being a kid who loves Michael Jordan and getting drafted into the NBA where you have to guard him. Being at the first table read was like that – I am watching the show from the front row but I have to get in there and be a part of it. There was a lot of adjustment. Adjustment and awe.

 

PW: And what about the first day shooting? 
Joe: I remember filming the scene and literally thinking, “oh my god, that’s Sookie Stackhouse!” Seeing Lafayette in full makeup was another amazing thing. There’s never a dull moment. I sit there and play my part, but I also have a front row seat to Ryan Kwanten and Chris Bauer doing their thing as I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing in their takes. It’s really awesome.

 

PW: Your first episode teased a Sookie/Alcide connection -- how does their relationship develop this season? 
Joe: [laughs] It’s the million dollar question. Alcide's in a dark, lonely, sad, heartbroken place because his fiance, Debbie Pelt, has left him. His psycho ex girlfriend – she’s still floating around, causing trouble. Then you’ve got Sookie going through her trials and tribulations with Bill. I think if you stick people in that situation – this big, strong, protective bodyguard with a girl, both heartbroken, sparks will happen. There’s a bit of lost puppy going on there.

 

PW: You're talking about Alcide's physicality -- how important was it for you to bulk up? 
Joe: It was really important. Charlaine went into a lot of detail in the books about Alcide being giant – about having arms that look like boulders. Like Sookie could do pull-ups on them. So I had that in my head. Vampires can get away with having very slight builds and the audience will still believe that they're super powerful. Werewolves are animals and in my mind they should be very muscular. Not an extra ounce of fat on them. Really ripped. I wanted people to look at Alcide and think, "wow, he's a super strong animal." I didn’t want them to have to imagine that he’s a super strong animal. It was also important for me to get a tan because I think it would off-set my character in terms of all the other characters.

 

PW: Was it difficult? 
Joe: Sure, but [laughs] well I was lucky, my mom is Half Austrian and comes from this long line of these giant austrian athletes. I remember my mom doing double bicep flexes and her arms were just ripped. She had like Madonna arms. She would flex and say, "that's where you get it kid." So I have my mother to thank.

 

PW: You mentioned Alcide's ex, Debbie, earlier -- can we expect fireworks when they get together? 
Joe: Yes, they have a very volatile relationship. When they were together there was a lot of passion, but now that things have gone sideways, it’s very volatile and they get back into it very quickly.

 

PW: Sounds like Debbie and Sookie are polar opposites. 
Joe: They are, and I think as you watch this season unfold, Alcide grows and changes and I think his relationship with Sookie helps that. There was a fork in the road -- Debbie goes down one side and Alcide goes down the other. I think Sookie represents the woman Alcide wants to be with, that he wishes he could be with whereas Debbie represents where he came from.

 

PW: What attracted you to Alcide? 
Joe: He’s a character with a lot of heart who’s all about loneliness. Being this giant superpowered person who has to live within the confines of human society, he’s had to live this solitary lifestyle. I also grew up as a really big kid. I could have beat every kid up in elementary school and stolen their lunch money. But for me it was that struggle of learning how to be big and strong but not hurt other people. And I think there’s a lot of that in Alcide. Learning to be weaker to appease everyone else. And I think he battles with that, which is why it’s really fun when I get to let the beast out.

 

PW: Do you have a particular favorite episode from season three? 
Joe: I think episode 7 is pretty amazing.

 

PW: Why? 
Joe: [laughs] Uh, there’s a lot of blood and a lot of people die.

 

PW: Fair enough. You just wrapped production on season three, wis the finale as cliffhanger-y as last years? 
Joe: Worse. Way worse. Waaaay worse. You have no idea what they’re going to spring on you in season three, it’s crazy. You've got the introduction of my race and a lot about where Sookie comes from. They answer a lot of questions and in answering those questions they open up a whole new universe. It’s pretty wild.