Encore Alum Jamie Gray Hyder Stars in the HBO hit series, True Blood

Jamie: I have always had a very short attention span, and the stage and on set are the only places I was able to focus from a very young age. My energy is best put towards something creative! They are very different, but both have advantages and disadvantages. Stage gives you the instant gratification and adrenaline rush from the live audience, but you have to be on point because there is no cutting if you make a mistake. On screen, you get the chance to make adjustments, and try different things to see what works best, however not knowing what the final edit will be can make you nervous. You always have your fingers crossed that your scene doesn’t get cut!

Encore: What was your last show and memory with Encore?
Jamie: I was very lucky to do several shows with Encore (known as The Children’s Theater in my day) growing up. I made many of my life-long friends while performing and doing shows for Encore. I think the last show I did was My Fair Lady during the summer with Act III. We had a blast! I still use dialect tools that we learned while rehearsing for that show in my roles today.

Encore: Do you have a favorite audition experience?

Jamie: When I auditioned for True Blood, I thought it was going to be a long and drawn out process considering the magnitude of the show. My audition sides consisted of one line, but I knew I had to create as much character and context around that one line, as possible. I walked into a room of 10+ people, including Alan Ball the creator and executive producer of the show, the writers, directors, and casting directors. I did my audition, and left hoping I would at least get a callback. 2 hours later, my manager called and told me I booked it! It took a day or so for it to sink in, I was over the moon! Then we started shooting 2 weeks later.

Encore: What do you enjoy most about working on TrueBlood?
Jamie: The sense of community and positive energy on the show is incredible. Coming into a show 4 seasons in the making can be scary, but I was welcomed with warm smiles and open arms. We are really excited and fortunate to be there. We take so much pride in the show.

Encore: You were invited to the red carpet premiere for TrueBlood, what was that like?

Jamie: It was a dream come true, literally! I remember watching award shows and premieres on TV as a kid and thinking, that’s where I want to be, that’s the group I want to be a part of. I couldn’t figure out how all the photographers knew my name, it was nuts. It went really fast and I couldn’t wipe the giant grin off my face! You don’t realize it while it’s happening, but as a friend told me, ‘this is one of THOSE moments’ and I will never forget it.

Encore: The show has a lot of violence, is it as raw and scary in person as it is on TV?

Jamie: Some situations aren’t as scary while filming because you are stopping and starting, and there are tons of people and equipment around. But there are some effects and props that you can’t believe aren’t real. The dummy of Marcus’ dead body, in one of the werewolf scenes in Episode 1, looked identical to the actor. I was standing 3 feet away and could’ve sworn it was him. They had his stomach and ribs exposed and you could see the bones and muscles and everything. The art department on the show is incredible. They are insanely creative. One thing people don’t realize is that we work with real hybrid wolves on set, they aren’t CGIs. We have to be very still and quiet when they’re around, and it can be a little tense. They are wild animals.

After living in this area for all of your life, was it a difficult decision to pick up and move to Los Angeles? And how did you decide it was the right decision?

Jamie: After college, I came back to DC and did stage for a while. One day my dad said, ‘don’t you need to be out in LA if you want to do this for a living?’ I knew he was right, but wanted to have more money saved up before I went. He insisted that I couldn’t wait any longer, and gave me a little money to help me move, and 2 weeks later, I moved! It was really hard leaving my home, and friends and family, but I knew I had to go if I was going to pursue acting professionally. I didn’t go because it was easy, I went because it was what I had to do.

Encore: Do you have any advice for our current Encore participants for those would like to pursue acting as a career?
Jamie: Work as hard as you can. Read plays. Study films. Take care of your body and voice. Having my degree in Theatre and Film Studies has been invaluable when it came to getting representation in LA. People immediately know you’re serious when they see you spent 4 years studying every aspect of the craft. You have to take your work and yourself seriously, but with that said, have fun!! It’s doing what you love that is the real prize.

Encore: Any other scoop you can give us for all of the TrueBlood fans out there?!
Well, I wouldn’t dare spoil any juicy details 🙂 There is so much fun, exciting, and intense stuff coming up, so keep watching! Old characters are coming back, new characters revealed, and lots of blood!! Muahahahaha. 😉

Encore: We’re just so proud of you and all you’re accomplishing! Know that everyone at Encore is cheering you on!
Check out Jamie Gray Hyder’s website, and follow her on twitter @JGHyder