Nora Gainsborough

Nora Gainsborough is a fictional vampire and a supporting character on the HBO television series True Blood. Played by actress Lucy Griffiths, she was introduced in the premiere episode of season five, "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and was a billed cast member throughout the remainder of the season.

Biography
Nora Gainsborough is a vampire and the progeny of the late elder known as Godric. She is also a vampire "sister" to Eric Northman, with whom she has had intense sexual relations with in the past. She became a chancellor for the Vampire Authority, but became disenfranchised with the organization's actions and fell in with a faction of other like-minded vampires who believed that the Authority had overextended their power base. When the Authority leader known as Roman Zimojic ordered that Eric Northman and the vampire King of Louisiana, Bill Compton, should be put to the True Death, Nora and her followers worked to save them. Nora helped orchestrate a rescue operation after Bill and Eric had been captured and provided them with false identities.

Unfortunately, all three were captured and taken to the Authority's headquarters in New Orleans. The VA guardian, Roman Zimojic, imprisoned Nora and interrogated her at length, torturing her through the use of ultraviolet radiation. Ultimately, Nora confessed that she was in league with the Sanguinista movement. As it turned out however, Nora had a strong ally in Salome Agrippa, who was a powerful vampire chancellor, playing both sides of the VA and the Sanguinistas. Salome freed the psychotic anarchist vampire Russell Edgington from imprisonment and Russell killed Roman. Salome then took control of the remaining members of the Authority as well as Nora, Bill and Eric. She presented a glass flask which allegedly contained the blood of Lilith - the first vampire. They all drank from the flask and became heavily intoxicated. Heavy with bloodlust, and bereft of all inhibitions, they attacked a karaoke bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans, slaughtering several people.

Only Eric Northman had the prescience of mind to break free of the so-called "Lilith blood" and realize that what they were doing was wrong. He tried to appeal to Nora, telling her that he had a vision from Godric, who told him that they were on the wrong path. Nora scoffed at Eric's plea, citing that Godric was a weak, pascifistic fool.

Notes & Trivia



 * Actress Lucy Griffiths is also known for playing the role of Marian on the BBC adventure/drama series Robin Hood.