MINNEAPOLIS –Shanola Hampton acts for a living, but there was nothing pretend about her passion prior to the Cowboys game Thursday night.

"To be this close right now, I'm freaking out about –" Hampton said before interrupting herself as Stefon Diggs caught a pregame pass across the field. "That was Diggs, did you see him? That was Diggs!"

Hampton, who plays Veronica Fisher on the television series Shameless, is a native of South Carolina but is a self-proclaimed sold-out Vikings fan.

As an individual who has a passion for theater, Hampton finds herself drawn to narratives.

"It all went back to Randy Moss," Hampton explained. "I fall in love with stories, and I fell in love with [former Head Coach Dennis Green] saying, yes, he wanted to give this kid Randy Moss a chance when nobody else wanted to.

"Once you fall in love, you fall in love," Hampton said. "I bleed purple and gold."

Hampton, repping her team from purple eyeshadow to a Vikings scarf, could hardly contain her excitement on the sidelines as she took in the atmosphere.

She likened finally seeing U.S. Bank Stadium to a child on Christmas morning.

"Kids go to bed, waiting to wake up and see Santa. [Wednesday] night, all I could do was think about seeing this stadium and seeing my boys," Hampton said. "Walking into this stadium is surreal to me. It's beautiful, it's amazing."

Hampton has ridden the emotional roller coaster of the 2016 season along with all Vikings fans, but she hasn't lost heart despite many obstacles.

"Here's the thing about the Vikings – we are no stranger to adversity," Hampton said. "We've had heartbreaks throughout the years. This team in particular is such a young, passionate team that seems to come together even more [under adversity]."

The actress was disappointed that Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer was absent from the sideline after undergoing emergency eye surgery the evening before, and she wished him a speedy recovery.  

"Our team is still young. We're about to go to high levels – this is just the beginning," Hampton said. "What you're seeing now is just a little root of how we're going to be in the next couple of years."

And she plans to be back in Minnesota again – hopefully, next February – to see the Vikings in action.

Said Hampton excitedly: "If I'm back in Minneapolis for the Super Bowl, I won't be able to breathe."

Curtis Axel Continues Family Tradition in Support of the Vikings

Hampton wasn't the only celebrity present for Thursday Night Football at U.S. Bank Stadium.

WWE wrestler Curtis Axel, a native of Champlin, Minnesota, made his first trip to the Vikings new home to see them take on the Cowboys.

"The atmosphere around here is electric," Axel said. "I grew up going to the Metrodome, which was loud, but I got goosebumps coming here."

Axel, son of WWE Hall of Famer "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig and the grandson of Larry "The Axe" Hennig, has passed along the Vikings family custom to his own sons.

"The thing I was brought up on most was being proud of where I came from, and one of those things is the State of Minnesota," Axel said. "I've always supported the Vikings. I came to games as a kid, and now I've brought my sons to games. This has been something that's been bred into me, and I'm going to continue the tradition."

Axel said he grew up loving Moss as the flashy, confident receiver that he was, but he has also always been drawn to defense.

He remembers hearing about the Purple People Eaters era and believes the current Vikings defense is following in the footsteps of legends.

"What we've got working right now is the best defense in the league," Axel said.

He later added: "They've pulled it together this year, and they should all be proud of what they've accomplished."

Axel said he's also enjoyed following Diggs through his second season and the success that Sam Bradford has had in Minnesota despite arriving late on the scene.

"You can see the team working together and pulling together," Axel said. "Can you imagine if you have those starters back with this cohesive of a unit and the teamwork that's going on and putting itself on the field? It's a building process."