Changes: Amber Benson

Latest revision as of 17:07, 3 November 2023

Amber Benson is an actress and writer who portrayed Tara Maclay in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series and wrote Buffyverse comics from Dark Horse Comics.

Career

Benson's first film role was in Steven Soderbergh's King of the Hill at the age of 14. In 1995, she starred in the romantic comedy Bye Bye Love, which also starred Eliza Dushku and eventually starred alongside her in Buffy.

Benson was cast as shy Wiccan Tara Maclay in Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 2000. According to Buffy producer Marti Noxon, Joss Whedon was initially reluctant to cast Benson in the role of Tara due to her not being the right physical type. Noxon convinced him to let her read again where he realized she would be perfect for the role.^[1] Benson left the show in 2002 after appearing regularly for three seasons. She provided singing vocals on the musical episode "Once More, with Feeling."

Whilst appearing on Buffy, Benson co-wrote the movie The Theory of the Leisure Class which was released in 2001. She also wrote, produced, directed and starred in digital video Chance which also starred her Buffy co-star, James Marsters. In 2002, she sang on two tracks on Buffy co-star Anthony Stewart Head's solo music project Music for Elevators.

In 2006, Benson released her second feature-film Lovers, Liars & Lunatics through her own production company, Benson Entertainment. It was shot on film and was mostly budgeted by the sale of limited edition Buffyverse "Tara" action figures. In the same year, she appeared as "vegetarian" vampire Lenore in Supernatural.

In December 2006, Benson and Christopher Golden released the short novel The Seven Whistlers, distributed through Subterranean Press in a limited number of signed copies. In September 2007, Benson signed a three-book deal with Ginjer Buchanan of Penguin Books. Death's Daughter was released by Ace Books on February 2009; Cat's Claw on February 2010; and Serpent's Storm in February 2011. On February 2012, the fourth book in the series was released, How to Be Death.

Benson co-directed 2010 comedy Drones with Buffy co-star Adam Busch.

In 2012, Benson played a young Judith Collins in the Dark Shadows audio drama Dress Me in Dark Dreams. She guest starred in the second season of the Jane Espenson scripted romantic comedy web series Husbands. In June 2013, it was announced that Benson has been attached to star in the web TV series adaptation of The Morganville Vampires as Amelie, the founder of Morganville. Benson has narrated the audiobook Lock In by John Scalzi. In October 2014, she published her fantasy book The Witches of Echo Park.

Benson attended Entertainment Weekly Cast Reunions: Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 2017. She returned as an alternative reality version of Tara in the Audible audio series Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, which she co-wrote and co-directed.

Buffyverse credits

Actress

Benson appeared in 47 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in the role of the witch Tara Maclay.

"Hush"
"A New Man"
"The I in Team"
"Goodbye Iowa"
"This Year's Girl"
"Who Are You?"
"Superstar"
"Where the Wild Things Are"
"New Moon Rising"
"The Yoko Factor"
"Primeval"
"Restless"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5 (Absent in "The Replacement," "No Place Like Home," "Fool for Love," "Into the Woods")
Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6 (Absent in "Gone," "Doublemeat Palace," "As You Were," "Two to Go," "Grave")

Additionally, she voiced Tara and her vampire counterpart in the Chaos Bleeds video game and an alternative version of Tara in eight episodes of the audio series Slayers: A Buffyverse Story.

Writer

Benson has written four comic stories set in the Buffyverse.

"The Innocent"
Willow & Tara: WannaBlessedBe (with Christopher Golden)
Wilderness, Part One (with Golden)
Wilderness, Part Two (with Golden)

She provided as well the foreword for reference book The Making of a Slayer and co-wrote Slayers: A Buffyverse Story with Golden.

Director

In addition to acting and writing, Benson directed the audio series Slayers: A Buffyverse Story.

Gallery

Behind the scenes for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

External links

Amber Benson on Wikipedia
Amber Benson on IMDb
Amber Benson on Comic Book DB

References

↑ Joss Whedon. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fourth Season on DVD; audio commentaries for the episode "Hush" [DVD]. 20th Century Fox, June 10, 2003.

[1] Joss Whedon. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fourth Season on DVD; audio commentaries for the episode "Hush" [DVD]. 20th Century Fox, June 10, 2003.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Actor
+{{Staff
 |Image           = Amber Benson.jpg
-|First           = "[[Hush]]"
+|Caption         = Amber Benson in 2019.
-|Last            = "[[Villains]]"
 |Name            = Amber Nicole Benson
-|Gender          = Female
 |Date of Birth   = January 8, 1977
-|Place of Birth  = Birmingham, Alabama, United States
+|Place of Birth  = Birmingham, Alabama, USA
-|Characters      = [[Tara Maclay]]
+|Job(s)          = *Actress
+*Writer
+*Director
+|First           = "[[Hush]]"
+|Last            = "[[Slayers, Episode 9|''Slayers'', Episode 9]]"
+|Characters      = *[[Tara Maclay]]
+*[[Tara Maclay (vampire)]]
+*[[Tara Maclay (Slayers)|Tara Maclay (''Slayers'')]]
 }}
-'''Amber Nicole Benson '''(born January 8, 1977) is an American actress, writer, film director and film producer. She is best known for her role as [[Tara Maclay]] on [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]].
+'''{{PAGENAME}}''' is an actress and writer who portrayed [[Tara Maclay]] in the ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' television series and wrote [[Buffyverse]] comics from [[Dark Horse Comics]].
-== Early life ==
+==Career==
-Benson was born in Birmingham, Alabama to psychiatrist, Edward and Diane Benson. She has a younger sister, Danielle who is an artist. As a child Benson studied music and dance, performing in the Birmingham Children's Ballet as well as in local theater. She attended high school in Orlando, Florida but moved to Los Angeles later with her family.
+Benson's first film role was in Steven Soderbergh's ''King of the Hill'' at the age of 14. In 1995, she starred in the romantic comedy ''Bye Bye Love'', which also starred [[Eliza Dushku]] and eventually starred alongside her in ''Buffy''.
+Benson was cast as shy Wiccan Tara Maclay in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' in 2000. According to ''Buffy'' producer [[Marti Noxon]], [[Joss Whedon]] was initially reluctant to cast Benson in the role of Tara due to her not being the right physical type. Noxon convinced him to let her read again where he realized she would be perfect for the role.<ref>[[Joss Whedon]]. ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer: [[The Complete Fourth Season on DVD]]''; [[audio commentaries]] for the episode "[[Hush]]" [DVD]. [[20th Century Fox]], June 10, 2003.</ref> Benson left the show in 2002 after appearing regularly for three seasons. She provided singing vocals on the musical episode "[[Once More, with Feeling]]."
-== Career ==
+Whilst appearing on ''Buffy'', Benson co-wrote the movie ''The Theory of the Leisure Class'' which was released in 2001. She also wrote, produced, directed and starred in digital video ''Chance ''which also starred her ''Buffy ''co-star, [[James Marsters]]. In 2002, she sang on two tracks on ''Buffy'' co-star [[Anthony Stewart Head]]'s solo music project ''Music for Elevators''.
-Her first film role was in Steven Soderbergh's ''King of the Hill ''at the age of 14.
+In 2006, Benson released her second feature-film ''Lovers, Liars & Lunatics'' through her own production company, Benson Entertainment. It was shot on film and was mostly budgeted by the sale of limited edition Buffyverse "Tara" action figures. In the same year, she appeared as "vegetarian" vampire Lenore in ''Supernatural''.
-Benson was cast as shy wiccan [[Tara Maclay]] in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer ''in 2000, becoming a popular and important character to the series due to the lesbian relationship she shared with [[Willow Rosenberg]]. She left the show in 2002 after appearing regularly for three seasons. She provided singing vocals on the musical episode [[Once More, With Feeling]].
+In December 2006, Benson and [[Christopher Golden]] released the short novel ''The Seven Whistlers'', distributed through Subterranean Press in a limited number of signed copies. In September 2007, Benson signed a three-book deal with Ginjer Buchanan of Penguin Books. ''Death's Daughter'' was released by Ace Books on February 2009; ''Cat's Claw'' on February 2010; and ''Serpent's Storm'' in February 2011. On February 2012, the fourth book in the series was released, ''How to Be Death''.
-Whilst appearing on ''Buffy, ''Benson co-wrote the movie ''The Theory of the Leisure Class ''which was released in 2001. She also wrote, produced, directed and starred in digital video ''Chance ''which also starred her ''Buffy ''co-star, [[James Marsters]].
+Benson co-directed 2010 comedy ''Drones'' with ''Buffy'' co-star [[Adam Busch]].
-In 2006, Benson released her second feature-film ''Lovers, Liars & Lunatics ''through her own production company, Benson Entertainment. It was shot on film and was mostly budgeted by the sale of limited edition Buffyverse 'Tara' action figures.
+In 2012, Benson played a young Judith Collins in the ''Dark Shadows'' audio drama ''Dress Me in Dark Dreams''. She guest starred in the second season of the [[Jane Espenson]] scripted romantic comedy web series ''Husbands''. In June 2013, it was announced that Benson has been attached to star in the web TV series adaptation of ''The Morganville Vampires'' as Amelie, the founder of Morganville. Benson has narrated the audiobook ''Lock In'' by John Scalzi. In October 2014, she published her fantasy book ''The Witches of Echo Park''.
-In 2006, she appeared as 'vegetarian' vampire Lenore in ''Supernatural. ''She also co-directed 2010 comedy, ''Drones ''with ''Buffy ''co-star [[Adam Busch]].
+Benson attended ''[[Entertainment Weekly Cast Reunions: Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' in 2017. She returned as an alternative reality version of Tara in the [[Audible]] audio series ''[[Slayers: A Buffyverse Story]]'', which she co-wrote and co-directed.
-===Buffyverse comics written===
-Benson has written or co-written several comic stories set in the [[Buffyverse]].
-====''Tales of the Slayers''====
-*''[[The Innocent]]''
-====''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''====
-*''[[WannaBlessedBe]]'' (co-written with [[Christopher Golden]])
-*''[[Willow & Tara: Wilderness]]'' (co-written with Christopher Golden)
-== Episodes ==
+==Buffyverse credits==
+===Actress===
-* "[[Hush]]"
+Benson appeared in 47 episodes of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', in the role of the [[witch]] Tara Maclay.
-* "[[A New Man]]"
-* "[[The I in Team]]"
-* "[[Goodbye Iowa]]"
-* "[[This Year's Girl]]"
-* "[[Who Are You?]]"
-* "[[Superstar]]"
-* "[[Where the Wild Things Are]]"
-* "[[New Moon Rising]]"
-* "[[The Yoko Factor]]"
-* "[[Primeval]]"
-* "[[Restless]]"
-* [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 5)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5]] <sup>(Absent in "[[The Replacement]]", "[[No Place Like Home]]", "[[Into the Woods]]")</sup>
-* [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 6)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6]] <sup>(Absent in "[[Gone]]", "[[Doublemeat Palace]]", "[[As You Were]]", "[[Two to Go]]", "[[Grave]]")</sup>
+*"[[Hush]]"
-== Personal life ==
+*"[[A New Man]]"
+*"[[The I in Team]]"
+*"[[Goodbye Iowa]]"
+*"[[This Year's Girl]]"
+*"[[Who Are You?]]"
+*"[[Superstar]]"
+*"[[Where the Wild Things Are]]"
+*"[[New Moon Rising]]"
+*"[[The Yoko Factor]]"
+*"[[Primeval]]"
+*"[[Restless]]"
+*[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' season 5]] <small>(Absent in "[[The Replacement]]," "[[No Place Like Home]]," "[[Fool for Love]]," "[[Into the Woods]]")</small>
+*[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' season 6]] <small>(Absent in "[[Gone]]," "[[Doublemeat Palace]]," "[[As You Were]]," "[[Two to Go]]," "[[Grave]]")</small>
+Additionally, she voiced Tara and her [[Tara Maclay (vampire)|vampire counterpart]] in the ''[[Chaos Bleeds (game)|Chaos Bleeds]]'' video game and an alternative version of Tara in eight episodes of the audio series ''Slayers: A Buffyverse Story''.
-Benson and ''Buffy ''co-star, [[Adam Busch]] dated from March 2009. The couple are no longer together but remain close friends. Benson now lives in Los Angeles, California.
-== Trivia ==
+===Writer===
+Benson has written four comic stories set in the Buffyverse.
+*"[[The Innocent]]"
-* She loves to read. Her favorite authors include J.K. Rowling and Christopher Golden.
+*''[[Willow & Tara: WannaBlessedBe]]'' (with [[Christopher Golden]])
+*''[[Wilderness, Part One]]'' (with Golden)
+*''[[Wilderness, Part Two]]'' (with Golden)
+She provided as well the foreword for reference book ''[[The Making of a Slayer]]'' and co-wrote ''Slayers: A Buffyverse Story'' with Golden.
-* She shares her birthday with Elvis Presley.
+===Director===
-* Wrote a comic book based on the characters of Willow and Tara from ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer. ''
+In addition to acting and writing, Benson directed the audio series ''Slayers: A Buffyverse Story''.
+==Gallery==
-* Arrived late to a ''Buffy ''convention in 2003 because a deer ran into her mother's car in New York.
+Behind the scenes for ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''.
+<gallery widths="110" spacing="small" orientation="square">
-* According to ''Buffy ''producer Marti Noxon, Joss Whedon was initially reluctant to cast Benson in the role of Tara Maclay due to her not being the right physical type. Noxon convinced him to let her read again where he realized she would be perfect for the role.
+Buffy S5 Joss Whedon and cast.jpg
+B6x07 cast.jpg
-* Sang on two tracks'' ''on ''Buffy ''co-star [[Anthony Stewart Head]]'s solo music project, ''Music for Elevators. ''
+Tabula Rasa Benson Caulfield.jpg
-== Quotes ==
-* "I got letters from girls saying that I had changed their lives and I met people who would cry about it, and that had such an impact on me. You don't realize what an impact television has on people. But when you get letters from young girls saying "I came out and now I have a girlfriend because of you", it's great." - About her role as lesbian Tara on ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer ''
-* "I have breasts and hips and I am very happy that they are a part of me. I weight one-hundred-and-eighteen pounds and I'm five foot four. If you saw me in real life, you'd think I was on the thin side." - on being perceived as 'heavy'.
-== Gallery ==
-<gallery>
-Sfx02.jpg
-Buffy11.jpg
-Amber-in-Tripping-Forward-amber-benson-4340979-434-593.jpg
-Chance_stills_002.jpg|Amber & James, Chance still
-amber.jpg
-t.jpg
-Amber B. January 8, 1977 sfx03.jpg
-Amber-amber-benson-6828013-671-853.jpg
-portrait08.jpg
-portrait20.jpg
-portrait39.jpg
-AmberAdam.jpg|Amber an Adam Busch
 </gallery>
 ==External links==
-*{{IMDb actor|0072435}}
+*{{Wikipedia}}
+*{{IMDb|0072435}}
-*[http://archive.is/20130707005236/www.afterellen.com/people/2007/8/amberbenson Interview with AfterEllen]
+*{{ComicBookDB|4696}}
-*http://www.amberbenson.tv
+==References==
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Amber}}
+{{References}}
+[[de:Amber Benson]]
 [[fr:Amber Benson]]
+[[pt-br:Amber Benson]]
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Amber}}
 [[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer (series) Actors]]
-[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer (video games) Actors]]
+[[Category:Voice actors]]
-[[Category:Writers]]
 [[Category:Guest Stars]]
 [[Category:Series Regulars]]
+[[Category:Comic book writers]]
+[[Category:Directors]]