From Self:

When Anna Paquin isn’t taking off her clothes on True Blood, she’s showing off her killer body in tight tops and short shorts. How does she shape up for her skin-baring role? She shared all the details in our July cover story!

At our cover shoot, the star swore genetics make her look like that, but admitted she works her butt off to stay in tip-top shape. That means swimming, running and boxing, Bar Method, Core Fusion and pilates classes, plus working out on the elliptical and stationary bike she keeps in her garage.

“Working out is about stamina,” she told us. “I’m physically challenged on set. I love that Sookie isn’t a teeny, tiny damsel in distress. She’s a tough, fit, kick-ass Southern girl who is equally as comfortable in a pretty floral print dress as she is beating the crap out of somebody.”

When it comes to her body, Paquin says, “I don’t know too many women who are 100 percent happy, but I’m the happiest I’ve been. For me, it has more to do with being fulfilled in other areas of life, not how many hours I’m at the gym. If you’re not happy in other areas of your life, you’re not going to be happy with the way you look.”

From Self:

Anna Paquin brought her own iPod and speakers to our July cover shoot, so we were more than happy to play her favorite songs throughout the day–she kept grooving during every tune, even in her itty-bitty bikini!

From Self:

True Blood-fever has definitely hit the SELF office (we can’t wait for our July cover to hit stands this week…wink wink), and last night’s premiere left two questions lingering in the beauty department: How amazing is Anna Paquin’s skin? And, how can we get our skin to look that flawless?

Since we’re sure you’re asking the same question, we tracked down some behind-the-scenes info from the set of True Blood. Hint: It’s REALLY easy.

Apparently, Brigitte A. Myre, Anna P’s makeup artist, relies on Cover FX Powder FX M40 and Cover FX Matte FX Oil Absorbing Powder in Light.

Here’s how you can get the look in three simple steps:

1. 1. Prep with a primer to smooth skin and keep the foundation in place longer.
2. 2. Use a dense kabuki brush to apply Powder FX, starting in the center of your face and working outwards. Make sure to use a small, circular motion to help polish the minerals and give that signature Sookie-radiance to your skin.
3. 3. Apply Matte FX Oil Absorbing Powder to finish (and throughout the day) to keep skin looking fresh.

From Zap2It:

“True Blood” star Anna Paquin shrugs off the suggestion that she did anything remarkable when she came out as a bisexual earlier this year in a PSA.

“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,” Paquin, who is engaged to co-star Stephen Moyer, tells Zap2it. “So when I was asked to participate in that PSA (for True Colors First, a gay rights organization), it was just an obvious, ‘Well, of course I will.’

“It wasn’t like it was a big secret. It was just a cause I cared about and privately supported, but not one that I had ever had an opportunity to speak out about in a way that would be useful. Obviously I know that one person’s voice doesn’t necessarily do that much, but I just wanted to do my bit.”

Her announcement didn’t come as a surprise to her “True Blood” boss, Alan Ball, who is openly gay himself.

“I thought that was really brave, and I say ‘good for her,’” Ball says. “I like the fact that she doesn’t feel the need to keep that hidden, and she was sort of saying, ‘This is who I am and I am doing this because I want to make a stand for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, and equal rights for all.’

“But I don’t think it’s that big a deal, really. I was aware of this before, but when I heard that she had made that announcement, I just said, ‘Good for you.’ “

From Black Book:

“I feel kind of stupid saying that music inspires me,” says Anna Paquin, during her morning commute to the set of HBO’s vampire drama True Blood, in which she stars as Sookie Stackhouse, a big-hearted waitress with a thing for the undead. “I love music, but when I try to narrow it down, to describe it, I feel dumb.” The 27-year-old Oscar winner recently acquired a new outlook on the power of the playlist. “I just learned to drive, and I’ve discovered the pleasure of good driving music,” she says, “especially now that I’m confident enough to have noise around me when I’m behind the wheel.” Fully immersed in True Blood’s third season, which premieres next month, Paquin admits that she has been too busy to search out new songs, so it’s helpful that Stephen Moyer—her real-life fiancé and love interest on the show—came into her life with a large music library. “A lot of the music I listen to comes from him,” she admits. “I think he has half of iTunes on his computer.”

Lady Gaga’s “Teeth.” I’m sure that everyone else on the planet jumped on the Lady Gaga bandwagon long ago, but I was just introduced to her music last month. She has this amazing voice and, honest to God, it sounds like this song was written about our TV show. It’s great workout music.

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