11 Amazing Bodies From True Blood

Sink your teeth into the fitness secrets and healthy habits of the supernatural stars of "True Blood." From Sookie Stackhouse's enchanting workouts to Jason Stackhouse's resilient spirit, this article reveals how the cast of this vampiric saga maintained their amazing bodies. Anna Paquin's on-the-road workouts, Anna Camp's snack-hoarding strategies, and Joe Manganiello's 80/20 diet plan will leave you thirsting for more. Rutina Wesley's agile dance-based regimen and Jurnee Smollett's jump rope prowess prove that vampires aren't the only ones with killer moves. Whether they're riding horses in the wild west like Luke Grimes or juggling auditions like Denis O'Hare, these actors have secrets to staying in shape.

1. Anna Paquin

Anna Paquin played lead character Sookie Stackhouse on the show. She shared some of her fitness secrets in a 2010 interview with SELF. "I had this really amazing trainer in New York, who I worked out with for years," she said. "He got me in amazing shape and taught me how to work out by myself and on the road. Half the time, I'd be in a hotel room somewhere and there would be a gym - if you could call it that - with not much more than a treadmill and some weights. He would write out workouts for me that I could do anywhere."

2. Anna Camp

Anna Camp played Sarah Newlin on seasons two, six, and seven. She tells People that she takes healthy snack options with her when she’s working. “I’m on the run a lot in L.A. Whether I’m hiking with my dog Rocky or driving from meetings to sets, having good snacks on hand is a top priority. I always carry almonds, fruit and water with me to fight the afternoon crash.”

3. Joe Manganiello

Joe Manganiello played Alcide Hervaux from season three on. His trainer, Ron Matthews, told Men’s Health that he has the actor on an 80/20 plan. “We never do less than 80 percent of full capacity with the diet and the workouts. But that means he can still have a cheat meal and enjoy life the other 20 percent.”

4. Rutina Wesley

Rutina Wesley played Tara Thornton on all seven seasons of the show. She shared some of her favorite workouts with Fitness Magazine. “I do a mix of cardio and strength — the elliptical machine and weight lifting — three times weekly. But a lot of my agility comes from being a dancer; I trained at Juilliard. I also do yoga. It helps me relax and let go of the crazy character I play.”

5. Ryan Kwanten

Ryan Kwanten played Jason Stackhouse on all seven seasons. He revealed in an interview with FOX News that he’s developed a lot of resilience, which has helped with his career. "I have that sporting background where I want to be the best, I want to be the champion. If I'm knocked down, you're damn sure I'm getting back up again. A lot of actors who may very well be more talented than me don't have that kind of tenacity in the face of rejection. That resilience gives me a distinct advantage."

6. Christopher Meloni

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Christopher Meloni played Roman Zimojic in season five. He shared his approach to eating with Men’s Health. “I have to juggle the correct kinds of foods, but I have to ingest enough calories to push the weight that I need to push in order to kind of maintain…whatever this thing is. I really eat everything. My philosophy—well, my diet—is I’m basically horse-trading all day. I like to pick and choose where I’m going to ingest my cholesterol or my heavy fats or starches.”

7. Denis O’Hare

Denis O’Hare played Russell Edgington on seasons three and five. He shared how he approaches an audition with Backstage.com. “I try, when I go in, to not let the director talk to me. I don’t want them putting any ideas in my head before I’ve done what I’m doing. Afterward, it’s fine. And I don’t tend to banter—I don’t tend to chat. I don’t try to make friends. I just come in, do my job, and leave. And I also don’t hang around. Once I’m done, I get out of there so fast. I don’t want anybody to see me. I don’t want to have another conversation. I don’t want to have a second audition. I just leave.”

8. Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett played Nicole Wright on the final two seasons. She shared some of her favorite exercises with SELF. Smollett says that she makes sure to workout when traveling. “If I have a jump rope and a resistance band, I can work out anywhere. Even without a jump rope. If you do 200 jumping jacks, then drop and do some crunches, and then do some squats, you’re good.”

9. Luke Grimes

Luke Grimes played James Kent in season six. He also appears on the hit series, Yellowstone, and revealed to Monsters & Critics that he did a lot of riding to prepare for the role. “When we got to Utah, where we filmed the first season, a lot of us went on a cowboy camp where we went on a pack trip that went out for three nights. Taking these horses up mountains, jumping creeks, and doing a lot of stuff that a lot of us had never done before just to try to get us into the feel of the place and of the world.”

10. Lizzy Caplan

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Lizzy Caplan played Amy Burley on season one of the series. She opened up about finding fulfillment in her career to Variety. “It seems rare to know, for me, what a whole year is going to look like,” she says. “I keep it moving, jumping from lily pad to lily pad. I feel extremely lucky that I get to bounce around so much and do the things that I personally find meaningful or scary or a challenge.”

11. Carrie Preston

Carrie Preston played Arlene Fowler Bellefleur on the entire series. She shared some of her wellness secrets in an “A Day In My Life” interview with Us Weekly. Preston revealed that she makes smoothies for breakfast. “My smoothies are legendary. I start with pea milk, avocado and kale, and then I throw in every kind of berry, flaxseed, cacao nibs powder and nut combo it can handle.”