Anna Paquin rose to fame as a child actress in the acclaimed film The Piano for which she won the Academy Award for Actress in a Supporting Role.  She didn’t slink into child actor oblivion however, and went on to star in films much as Almost Famous and the X-Men Series.  Most recently she is known for her starring role in the amazing TV show True Blood.

So where did this talented lady start out from?  Well, Anna was born in Canada but her family moved to New Zealand when she was just 4 years old.  Anna was soon living on US soil however, after her parents divorce and she graduated high school in LA where she lived with her mother.  Paquin studied for a year in Columbia University but decided to leave and follow her dream of becoming an actress.  She has never looked back.

Upon filming the pilot to True Blood in 2007 Anna started to date her costar Stephen Moyer, the pair were married in August 2010.  Anna has been vocal about her bisexuality since she came out in a public service announcement for the We Give a Damn campaign.  She said of the experience

I’m not someone who endlessly talks about her personal life for no reason, but obviously, as someone who identifies as bisexual, those are issues I really care about — and frankly, I don’t see why everyone doesn’t care about them. So when I was asked to participate in that PSA, it was just an obvious, “Well, of course I will.”

Well said indeed Anna.

It’s great to see such a high profile actress talk about her bisexuality in such an open way.  Paquin has recently spoken about her belief that bi people have to put up with a great amount of prejudice, and let’s face it, she’s not wrong.

The latest series of True Blood has just started in the US and it’s as weird and addictive as ever.  Winner of the GLAAD award for Outstanding Drama Series the show is currently in it’s fourth season.  Talk about well deserved, there are more queer people on the show than straight, Paquin ironically playing one of the few straights in there.  She leads a wonderful cast of actors in a show that is as enthralling as it is bizarre. In fact, the group has recently been joined by the very Irish and very gay (oh we know she must be) Fiona Shaw.  I won’t say who she plays in case you haven’t seen it yet but trust me, you’ll love her, and the rest of the newbies.

The shows characters are so well developed and played out that it’s a great testament to Paquin’s abilities as an actor that she can hold the lead of the show with such consummate ease.  We see Sookie as extremely vulnerable but her strength is always there to see and Anna plays that with aplomb.

I have to use this as an opportunity to show you a clip, it is one of my favourite shows after all, and I am hopping up and down with excitement at it’s return.  So if you’ll indulge me for a moment (any excuse to put in a scene with the wonderfully les-tastic, and none apologetic, Pam in it)…

So what do you think of this strong bi lady who happens to play the role with the best character name on TV, miss Sookie Stackhouse?  Would you do anything for a chance at that neck?  Or would you pass?  Let us know in the comments section below.