Here is an interview by Michael Jensen who is the chief, I suppose, editor of AfterElton. Original article is here.
Kevin Alejandro Played Gay So Many Times, We Had no Choice but to Interview Him
by Michael Jensen, Editor
June 10, 2010
We’re starting to think actor Kevin Alejandro is stalking us. Yes, the 34-year-old Texas native is straight, married to a woman and has a child, but the actor can’t seem to stop taking roles that simply compel us to write about him.
First he was on Big Love as a gay hustler, then he played Justin’s dad on Ugly Betty which included a wonderful scene where he stood up on a subway full of people to defend his “theatrical” son. Alejandro followed that up by starring in Southland which attracted our notice due to the presence of gay cop John Cooper, then next played a gay part on the reboot of Melrose Place, and now he has joined the cast of True Blood as the love interest for Lafayette Reynolds (Nelsan Ellis).
Finally we had no choice but to cry “Uncle!” and do an interview with Kevin about his role as Jesus on True Blood and much more about this handsome and fascinating man.
AE: What was the casting process like for Jesus on True Blood?
KA: It was a pretty long one, actually. I probably went to four or five auditions here and there, and then finally the deciding audition, where they have what's called the chemistry read. It was down to four or five people, and they had us all come in there and read one at a time with Nelsan to see where the chemistry lay and who had it. You know, who fit with him. And I guess that was me.
AE: What sort of scene did they have you read for the chemistry test?
KA: It was a scene they made up and it was just sort of how we meet each other, like we met at a bar or something like that, and it was sort of flirty. You know, how can you flirt and to see what's real and not go over the top and that kind of thing. I can't remember the scene exactly, but we were playing darts in a bar … sort of back and forth, sort of chit-chat and sort of talking smack to each other. But in a flirty way, you know.
AE: Who were you up against for the part?
KA: They were really good about allotting a specific time so we wouldn't come and see who else ... there were a handful of us, though. So I didn't really see who I was up against which I like better, because I don't like to be intimidated.
AE: What can you tell us about Jesus?
KA: I can tell you pretty much what you already know, man. I am the love interest to Lafayette and we meet because I'm taking care of his mother in sort of a hospital. There's a strong connection between Jesus and Lafayette and all of that sort of unfolds throughout the season.
Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette and Alejandro as JesusAE: I know that the show is pretty tightlipped on what's going to happen, but can you tell me, was it love at first sight between Jesus and Lafayette?
in a scene from the upcoming season of True Blood.
KA: There's definitely a connection at first sight. You'll understand later why I say that. It's kind of one of those things where they explore throughout each episode. You see a lot unfold. You see it that way.
AE: Is Jesus an out gay guy, or is this something he discovers about himself? Can you say anything about that?
KA: I can't really tell you much about that. Sorry!
AE: Hey, I'm a journalist, I gotta try. Maybe you can't answer this question either, but again, True Blood can be pretty hot and heavy. Do the two of you end up kissing or having a romantic scene at some point?
KA: You are just gonna have to watch. Just remember: it's True Blood.
AE: Speaking of which, True Blood is known for being a rather erotic show and for getting its actors naked pretty frequently. Ryan Kwanten recently joked that he was going to be leaving the nudity up to the other actors this season. So I'm curious if you've been hitting the gym just in case.
KA: Oh dude, everybody on this show is hitting the gym. Because there's always that, “Oh man, it's gonna come, it's True Blood, it's coming. It's coming, it's coming!” So yeah, man, I've been going through some pretty hardcore exercising lately. But it's good, though, because I do it in general, but I had to step up my game a lot more especially being in a freaking show with a guy like Ryan, who looks like he was built by a woman.
AE: His body's kind of scary, isn't it?
KA: Yeah, it's ridiculous! I don't want to be in a scene with him with my shirt off.
AE: Despite your leading man looks, you’ve played a wide variety of parts. When you pick roles, are you purposefully going for this really wide range? You're certainly not getting typecast.
KA: A really good buddy of mine is my manager, and we really do kind of go through and see what the next step is. Like when True Blood came along, because Southland was still in the middle of, you know, trying to figure out what's going on … we both sat there and really thought about it: "You know, this would be a really good move...". So we do, man, we sit around and talk about, you know, what the next step is for us to take ... and so far, knock on wood, I feel like it's been working pretty well.
Alejandro as a gay hustler on Big LoveAE: What appealed to you and your manager about playing Jesus?
KA: Well, the fact that I hadn't done that yet. You know, you see a little hint here and there, you know, like in Melrose Place, there's a hint of gay. You know, with the hustler there was a different kind of ... like, an edgier guy. I'm not trying to give too much away about my True Blood character, but it was just different.
And all these actors are so great and to play opposite of Nelsan was a really big factor in our decision as well because he's such a solid actor. And that's what I love to do, I love to work with good people and it's just the whole formula. Alan Ball, being part of his company, his name has class and I want to be part of projects that are that way. So there's a whole lot of things that went into it, into the decision.
There's so much that happens to Jesus and there's a really nice arc that this character goes through. It's one of my most challenging roles. You'll see why, once it starts coming out. We'll do another one of these and you'll be, like, "Ah! I get it!"
AE: But part of the appeal was that it was a gay character?
KA: Yeah, because it's different. It was part of the appeal because I'm going straight from family man with kids, playing a detective in gang territory on Southland. We thought it would be a really nice balance and challenge to go from that to Jesus.
Alejandro as Justin's supportive dad Santos on Ugly BettyAE: How many episodes have you done for True Blood so far?
KA: I was just trying to figure that out this morning. I think I've done ... I'm on episode eleven right now, so I think I've done nine episodes.
AE: So we see a fair bit of Jesus in the series.
KA: Oh yeah yeah, definitely.
AE: What was it like to work with Alfre Woodard and Nelsan?
KA: It's so great, dude, you know? I learn a lot working with Nelsan. And Alfre, the character she plays is great, and she has the opportunity to just sort of go someplace else that's completely not part of who Alfre is. You really see her focusing and really getting into what she's trying to create. It's a really fun, sort of crazy character.
I think the three of us make a really good team. 0
AE: True Blood is obviously a very zeitgeist-y show. What it's like to step onto a show that's got that much buzz about it?
KA: Actually, it's very intimidating. You go through, you do your thing, and you do the best you can and you get the role and it's exciting. And you know, for me it was the first day at the table read ? I was like, "Phew. Okay, now I have to prove to these people that I didn't just do a fluke audition."
You come in and you listen to all these great characters ? I mean, everyone on the show is a character actor ? they're so good at creating these people. It's quite a bit intimidating. I hope I can live up to it.
Then I have to force myself to get over it, like dude, get out of your head. You know, play with these people. That's the whole thing is I had to let myself go enough to be able to go toe to toe with these people, because they're not thinking about that. So yeah, very intimidating, but it's also a driving force to make me want to do better.
AE: A show like True Blood is so intense, I'm curious what the set is like. Is it a loose set and people have a lot of fun or is it pretty serious given the subject matter?
KA: To do a show like True Blood, you have to have a good time. Sometimes the hours are long and the weather's not right and schedules are changing here and there. It's one of the coolest groups of people I've had the opportunity to be part of. We play jokes on each other, we laugh, but when it comes down to it, we get it done. When we have to be serious we are serious. It's a pretty good balance of people and humor and everything.
AE: You recently appeared as part of Cyndi Lauper's Give a Damn campaign and I'm of curious how that came about.
KA: I was actually asked if I would do it and without a second thought I said absolutely. It sort of just came up. You know, I have a lot of gay friends and people who deal with these kind of issues, and so it's very close to my life and part of the world that I'm in. I was so honored that I could be part of something like that.
AE: As I mentioned before, you're a handsome man and your profile is going to go up considerably with this show. Are you prepared to be even more of a sex symbol? You’re going to get a lot of new gay fans.
KA: You know, I don't really think of it that way, but I'm prepared for anything that comes my way. I'm flattered by that kind of stuff. I'm just doing what I'm doing. You know ... it's such a hard question. I don't know about being a sex symbol, but we all like flattery.
AE: One last question and I'll let you go. You were on one of my favorite shows last year, Southland, and I'm curious about your status. Is Nate going to be back when the show comes back?
KA: Nate will be back when the show comes back. Yeah, he will. I read somewhere the other day that John Wells took a meeting and announced that I would be coming back. Because on True Blood I started out as a recurring and I got bumped up to a series regular...
AE: Oh, I didn't know that. Congratulations.
KA: Oh, thank you. So we're going to work something out where I'm going to be able to sort of float back and forth, you know, if all goes well by the end of this season.
Alejandro as Det. Nate Moretta on SouthlandAE: Any other projects you have coming up?
KA: I'm just really hyped and excited for the premiere of True Blood. There's a movie called The Legend of Hell's Gate that people can look out for that a buddy of mine did. It's a western that a bunch of friends of mine and I did together. It's starting to get a little bit of hype.
True Blood returns Sunday, June 13th at 9 PM on HBO.
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