Michelle Forbes.

Playing a devilish, supernatural temptress in a world filled with vampires is the easy part for Michelle Forbes.

“Interestingly enough, True Blood is the light thing!” said Forbes, laughing hard. “I think True Blood saved my life after Durham County.”

Ah yes, Durham County, darkness is thy name. We understand how True Blood seems like comedy by comparison.

The Texas-born Forbes has joined the cast for the second season of the Canadian drama series Durham County, which debuts Monday, July 13 on The Movie Network and Movie Central. Forbes plays a deeply troubled forensic psychiatrist named Dr. Pen Verrity.

Meanwhile, as the second season of True Blood continues on HBO Canada on Sunday nights, you’ll recognize Forbes as the mysterious Maryann, whose evil intentions in the small town of Bon Temps, La., have not yet been fully revealed.

“True Blood may be dark at times, but it also is very funny, and there’s no torture for Maryann whatsoever,” Forbes said. “She’s just free as can be and loves to dance — and get everybody else to dance, too — and loves to eat and take care of her appetites and that’s about it for her.

“I had no idea what a gift she was until about a month into it when I finally started shedding Pen and Durham County. I was like, ‘Oh, this is what normal people feel like!’ ”

Durham County was shot last fall in Montreal, while True Blood has continued to shoot this summer in Los Angeles. But wherever Forbes is plying her trade, she certainly doesn’t shy away from those darker roles.

Why does she play creepy so well? Is it those hypnotic eyes of hers?

“I would say that probably I’m just an actor who’s not afraid — I willingly go to those dark places, I’m curious about those dark places, just as a human being,” said the 44-year-old Forbes, whose past credits include roles on 24, Prison Break and Battlestar Galactica. “Also, I wouldn’t consider myself a vain actor, so I’m willing to go there at all costs.

“Perhaps that has something to do with it. I have no idea. But I’m always looking for something that is going to fill up every part of you. What’s the point of being story-tellers otherwise?”

That said, there is a lighter, less-dangerous, softer side to Forbes, too.

“In the midst of it, you get to play characters like Kate Weston on In Treatment, who was very down to earth, a woman with no self-esteem who was just struggling to find herself and save her marriage.

“And I did do a series in the U.K. for the BBC called Messiah where I played a deaf wife who was very vulnerable and very supportive, and not creepy in the slightest. I was in the kitchen a lot and chopped a lot of vegetables. But I did have to leave (North America) to do it.

“I have done a lot of things where I wasn’t creepy, I promise! It’s just not the ones with the big audience!”

We believe you, Michelle Forbes ... uh-oh, we’re staring into her eyes again ... yes, master.

bill.harris@sunmedia.ca