‘True Blood’ cast member opens up about gay twist

Spoiler Alert!! If you have yet to sink your teeth into the season premiere of True Blood, you might not want to click below!

The fourth season premiere of True Blood was full of surprises, and among the jaw-dropping twists was the revelation that Tara (Rutina Wesley), who spent a good part of last season mourning the death of once-boyfriend Eggs and engaged in a destructive relationship with Franklin, now has a girlfriend (newbie Vedette Lim). But Wesley tells EW exclusively that Tara’s new direction is as exciting as it was surprising.

“When I first got the script, I thought it was great. They’ve always given me stuff that challenged me as an actor and that was fun,” she says. “I think Tara — if she is going to have a love interest this season — she’s finally ready for it. She’s had time to find herself and think a little bit. I think she’s finally going to love herself in a way that is beautiful. Her self-esteem is back up and that’s opened her up to love someone else. I think she also needed a new lease on life. She totally comes back more zen, and she’s a feisty season one Tara who we all loved.”

And as shocking as the twist was for audiences, Wesley says she think it was even more so for Tara. “I don’t think she was expecting it. I think it just happened. I think it was one of those things where you just fall in love with who you fall in love with. I don’t think she labels herself as one thing or the next. She just started hanging out and the next thing you know, she was in love.”

“I don’t think she was in love with Eggs. Every time she was with him she was either stoned or under a spell. I don’t think that was real. I think it’s going to take her some time to realize that, but I think what she has now is a little more significant.”

Truebies, make sure to come back later tonight for Mandi Bierly’s full recap of the premiere.

Follow Sandra on Twitter: @EWSandraG