True Blood star Rob Kazinsky on amazing journey from EastEnders shame to vampire fame

True Blood star Rob Kazinsky on amazing journey from EastEnders shame to vampire fame

As a disgraced ex-EastEnders actor, trying to rebuild his career after a sex scandal, Rob Kazinsky gambled everything on breaking America.

It could easily have ended in total failure as it has for many before him.

But instead he has landed a leading role in a hit US series for the very reason his career almost ended â€" taking his kit off.

The 29-year-old has joined the cast of supernatural series True Blood and is hoping it will spell the end of his troubles.

The star, who played Sean Slater, was suspended by EastEnders six years ago after sending raunchy pictures to a model.

After serving his punishment, the 29-year-old bounced back with the 2009 Best British Soap Actor of the Year Award.

But his contract was not renewed and he decided to try his luck in Hollywood.

His gamble has paid off and he says it’s down to his experience on EastEnders.

“Nothing is as hard as working on a British soap in this industry,” he says.

 

 

Square affair: As Sean Slater with Roxy

"There is nothing harder than working 50 pages a day, working 16 hours a day, trying to be good with only shooting rehearsals.

“If you can be good on a soap then you can honestly be good in anything and, yeah, the kind of fanaticism and craziness of it prepares you for this kind of scenario and situation. If I hadn’t had that experience I’d be tripping out.”

He will be starring in the sixth series of HBO’s hit about vampires and werewolves running riot in Louisiana â€" due to be aired on Channel 4 later this year.

However, he admits he was terrified about stripping for sex scenes â€" with the lead actor’s wife.

He also has sleepless nights about measuring up to the ripped hunks among his co-stars â€" in particular Joe Manganiello.

On screen Rob plays mysterious Ben Flynn who has a turbulent love affair with lead character Sookie Stackhouse. It meant he had to strip for one of his first scenes.

He says: “I have never had to be naked before and it was only embarrassing for me because everybody else was so accustomed to it after six seasons. But for me it was pretty damn terrifying.

“No one cared apart from me. They were like, just take your clothes off, now, we are running out of time. But it was absolutely jaw-dropping and terrifying. And it came out OK, I hope.

“You get given a day’s notice and I was up all night stressing about it and how bad I am going to look next to Joe. I am a redhead and very pale and in a stark moonlight I do glow. I have a glowing ass.

“It is weird looking at yourself in that situation on screen too. It is not something people usually do.

“But everyone is so friendly and treats it as just a scene. You essentially remove your ego then your clothing and as the shame begins, the ego drops off.”

Sexy beast: Stripping off for True Blood

To add to his anxiety, Rob also had to shoot his nude scenes opposite Anna Paquin, who happens to be married to lead co-star and series director Stephen Moyer.

Rob continues: “It wouldn’t be so easy if I wasn’t working with Anna. She’s so professional.

"I don’t want to say she is really experienced at getting her clothes off, but on this show she is. Before the scenes she said from day one ‘shut up’ and ‘do it â€" if I am doing it you’re doing it’.”

Moyer, who was born in Brentwood, Essex, also reassured Rob about romping with his wife, who gave birth to twins nine months ago.

Laughing Rob adds: “I asked him what are the boundaries, what can I do? And he said just do what you should do.

“Stephen couldn’t be more giving or kind and they couldn’t be more secure in their relationship.”

True Blood, which broadcasts to more than 50 countries, has a reputation for raunchy sex scenes, giving female fans the chance to drool over stars like Joe and Alexander Skarsgard in their birthday suits.

Rob knew he had a lot to live up to, saying: “I’m now really focused on my body. Every minute I am not on set you have to take every damn opportunity to make sure you are in shape. But up against Joe, it is intimidating.

You just have to accept certain things in life like you are never going to look like Joe. You can work out as much as you want but genetics mean a lot.

“When I got there on the first day I thought, I will have to do some serious acting or have great hair to look as appealing.”

True love: Moyer and Paquin in True Blood

For Brighton-raised Rob it has been a long road to Hollywood.

He was expelled from college and worked as a bouncer before going to drama school.

Appearances in The Basil Brush Show and Sky One’s Dream Team finally led to his three-year role in EastEnders.

His character, ex-soldier Sean, caused wars with regulars, attempted to murder Max Branning and bedded locals Tanya Branning, Roxy, Chelsea Fox and Karin Jones.

But off-screen there was controversy too when Rob made headlines for bombarding a model with obscene text messages and photos.

In January 2007, Kazinsky was suspended for two months and, despite his apology, written out of the show.

He then followed in the footsteps of Sean Maguire, Michelle Ryan and Judi Shekoni by moving to the US.

Although they had limited success Rob feels they made Hollywood aware of British soap talent.

“There was the Bionic Woman, Jimi Mistry came out here and did quite well and Michael Greco did that History Channel thing. These guys did help pave the way.

“I will never knock or impugn EastEnders. The best actor I ever worked with works on soap â€" Jake Wood (Max Branning). And that will probably not change unless I work with Ben Kingsley.”

Man of mystery: Robert Kazinsky in True Blood role

However the hunk, who had a reputation as a partygoer and womaniser in the UK, dating BGT judge Alesha Dixon and Hollyoaks babe Jennifer Biddall, has yet to find Mrs Right across the pond.

“I am not seeing anyone at the moment,” he says. “Intelligence, sense of humour is vitally important. If you have that it’s probably game on. Not having those two makes even the world’s most beautiful woman really dull.”

But Rob says his personal life is a lot less interesting than it used to be. “I don’t drink, do drugs, party. It’s kind of a boring existence.

"I loved playing computer games. I used to be one of the top World of War-crafters in the world for a couple of years.

"But playing that 16 hours a day is not going to get you work. And that is not the way to stay thin.”

Fans will see Rob walk into Louisiana in episode two, but he’s happy to discuss how his character will influence the series.

“There will be revenge, fireworks, blood and nudity... and my glowing-in-the-dark butt... sometimes in daylight, sometimes at night. It gets around.”

True Blood Season Six will air on HBO tonight.