Vampires are sexy, says True Blood star

TRUE Blood star Nelsan Ellis says he'd have sex with a vampire, if he had the choice.

The actor, who plays medium Lafayette on the racy HBO series, said he would choose a vampire over the show's other supernatural characters fairies, shifters and wolves.

"They know how to have good sex. They can go a long time," he laughed.

Ellis, who is also an award-winning playwright, said the show has helped him be more open to sexuality in his acting and writing.

"When I started this show I was very very shy about sex and all this stuff," he said.

"I was conservative, and I am no longer that way anymore. I used to have this angst about my body, sex and being naked. I'm from the South in America, which is a very conservative place. Now I can write things that are very very bawdy. I've given myself permission."

Ellis will be in the country soon for the Supanova Pop Culture Expo, which runs at Brisbane's RNA Showgrounds from November 9 to 11.

It's his first trip to Australia but not his first pop culture expo.

Ellis says he has come to terms with fans mistaking him for his character.
"Lafayette is so much more interesting than I am, but it's what the fans see," he said.

"It doesn't bother me anymore. I myself am a fan. I'm a ridiculous fan. I go up to people at these events to get autographs. I'm an actor but I go 'oh dude I love you'. I'm still looking at them as if they're the character."

Ellis says True Blood's gratuitous violence and sex scenes are there for more than just shock value.

"I love that it's a campy show, and it was made that way for a reason," he said.

"You have all these creepy mythical creates that don't exist in this world we live in. How can it take itself seriously and how can we expect the audience to take it seriously? We take our situation seriously (as actors) to ground it in real life."

Lust has been a recurring theme for Ellis in his latest movie role.

He plays the Greek god Dionysus in Gods Behaving Badly, a comedy drama which follows the gods living in modern-day New York.

He stars alongside Christopher Walken, Rosie Perez, Edie Falco and Sharon Stone.

"My gosh, Sharon Stone," he said.

"She has good genes because she is still a strikingly beautiful woman.  I was like 's*** I'll go on a date with you'."