And she’s among that collection of talent. With the recent shifts in her “True Blood” character, Wesley gets to display a side of herself that isn’t tortured and teary-eyed. After years of being known as the show’s resident “tough girl,” Tara Thornton got a sexed-up makeover last season, courtesy of her transformation into a vampire. And Rutina couldn’t be happier with the change.
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more opportunities — especially since I’ve been a vampire,” Wesley concedes. “People see me in a different light. I get to be really sexy, instead of [always wearing] a tank top and jean shorts ripped at the bottom.”
“Sometimes, there’s a double-edged sword because of that stereotype of the aggressive, angry black woman — they think that’s all I can do,” Wesley says, revisiting the aforementioned “angry black woman” criticisms. “So when I get auditions, I really have to go in the room and show people a whole other side of me.” She says that producers and directors are now beginning to see the sexier, funnier, broader side of Rutina Wesley.
“I’ve had such a journey and such a transformation and I feel like that’s the greatest thing … it’s been a great change for me,” she says.
