Joe Manganiello reflects on 'True Blood' cast: "We were all really overqualified"

On a recent episode of the Podcrushed podcast, actor Joe Manganiello shared his thoughts on the impressive talent within the cast of HBO's hit series "True Blood." He described the show as "wild, crazy, and intelligent," but noted that the actors involved were exceptionally skilled for the material.   

Manganiello pointed out the cast's diverse backgrounds, including Tony and Oscar winners, as well as alumni from prestigious acting schools like Carnegie Mellon and Juilliard. He specifically mentioned Anna Paquin's Oscar win for "The Piano" at age 11 and Emmy wins for Alexander Skarsgård and Carrie Preston in other projects.   

While acknowledging the "deceptively tricky" nature of the writing, Manganiello suggested the cast's theatrical training allowed them to excel in the sometimes "operatic" nature of the show.

"True Blood," created by Alan Ball, ran for seven seasons and followed the adventures of telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse in a world of vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures. Despite Manganiello's playful commentary on the cast's qualifications, the show remains a cult classic, celebrated for its unique blend of fantasy, drama, and social commentary.