Amber Benson (born January 8, 1977) is an American actress, writer, director, and producer. She is best known for her role as Tara Maclay on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1999–2002), and has directed, produced and starred in her own films Chance (2002) and Lovers, Liars & Lunatics (2006). She also starred in the movie Kiss the Bride (2007). She co-directed the film Drones (2010) with fellow Buffy cast member Adam Busch, and starred as a waitress in the crime thriller The Killing Jar (2010).
Early life Benson was born January 8, 1977, in Birmingham, Alabama, her father is a psychiatrist. She has a younger sister who is an artist. Her father is Jewish and her mother was raised Southern Baptist; Benson grew up attending a Reform synagogue in Alabama.
Career
Benson was 14 when she made her feature film debut in the Steven Soderbergh film King of the Hill."Episode 18: Featuring Amber Benson", RossCarey, accessed May 24, 2011.
Benson is best known for her recurring role as Tara Maclay on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character first appeared in the season 4 episode "Hush" and soon became the girlfriend of Willow Rosenberg, played by Alyson Hannigan. Benson remained with the series until season 6 when her character was killed off. In her final episode, Benson was credited for the first time ever as a regular cast member.
Benson sang in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode "Once More, with Feeling". She provided vocals for the songs "I've Got a Theory/ Bunnies/If We're Together", "Under Your Spell" (her solo), "Walk Through the Fire", "Standing/Under Your Spell (Reprise)", and "Where Do We Go from Here?" In 2002, she performed two songs on Buffy colleague Anthony Stewart Head's album Music for Elevators. She also sang "Toucha Toucha Touch Me" (aka "Creature of the Night") at VH-1's celebrity karaoke tribute to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
While still working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Benson co-wrote the movie The Theory of the Leisure Class with director Gabriel Bologna, released in 2001, and directed, produced, edited, and acted in a digital video feature called Chance (2002) which also featured her Buffy co-star James Marsters. She also collaborated with director James Kerwin in 2003 to produce her play Albert Hall in Hollywood.
In 2001, Benson worked with Golden, Terry Moore, and Eric Powell of Dark Horse Comics to create the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow and Tara comic book titled "WannaBlessedBe". The following year (2002), she worked with Christopher Golden and Ajit Jothikaumar of Dark Horse Comics to create the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow and Tara comic books titled Wilderness #1 and Wilderness #2.
Benson and Golden produced and began a series of animated fantasy films for the BBC with the animation studio Cosgrove Hall: Ghosts of Albion: Legacy (2003) and its sequels. Benson and Golden have also collaborated on two supernatural thrillers: Ghosts of Albion: Accursed and Ghosts of Albion: Witchery. These books follow the fortunes of Tamara and William Swift.
In 2003, she played a supporting role in Latter Days as Traci Levine, alongside Steve Sandvoss and Wes Ramsey.
In 2005, Benson collaborated with artist Jamie McKelvie on a short story within the Image Comics collection Four Letter Worlds. In 2006, Benson collaborated with artist Ben Templesmith on Demon Father John's Pinwheel Blues published by IDW as a four-part split-book, Shadowplay (with work by Ashley Wood and Christina Z.
In 2006, Benson released her second independent feature film Lovers, Liars & Lunatics through her own production company, Benson Entertainment. The film was shot on film and was partly financed by the sale of limited edition "Triangle" Tara Buffyverse action figure. The project, initially called "The Dirty Script," was ultimately titled Lovers, Liars and Lunatics by producer Diane Benson, Amber's mother.
In 2006, Benson also portrayed the "vegetarian" vampiress Lenore on the TV series Supernatural.
In December 2006, Benson and Golden released another collaboration: 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 24, 2009; Cat's Claw, on February 23, 2010; and Serpent's Storm, in February 2011. On February 28, 2012, the fourth book in the series, How to Be Death was released.
In 2010, Benson and Adam Busch co-directed the 2010 comedy film Drones.Roedel, Jeff. "So, you work with an alien" , 225batonrouge.com, September 25, 2008
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 narrated the 2014 audiobook Lock In by John Scalzi. In October 2014, she published her fantasy book The Witches of Echo Park.The Witches of Echo Park
Benson wrote, directed, and provided her voice to Slayers: A Buffyverse Story alongside her former Buffy costars James Marsters, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Head, Juliet Landau, Emma Caulfield Ford, James Charles Leary and Danny Strong. The Audible exclusive, written with Christopher Golden, was released in October 2023.
In 2024 Benson narrated the first two audiobooks in the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series by Raven Belasco, Blood Ex Libris Amber Benson to narrate Raven Belasco’s first audiobook Blood Ex Libris and Blood Demands.Amber Benson To Narrate Raven Belasco’s Blood Demands, Second In Blood & Ancient Scrolls Series
Activism During the 2008 campaign season, Benson was featured in a Barack Obama advertisement sponsored by MoveOn.org.'It Could Happen to You'. The video was produced, written, and directed by Alex Barreto and brothers Rider Strong and Shiloh Strong, who also acted in the ad with Amber. The ad won MoveOn's contest for funniest Obama ad in 2008.
In February 2021, Benson spoke out in support of Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Charisma Carpenter's accusation of unprofessional and abusive behavior on the part of Buffy creator Joss Whedon, corroborating Carpenter's account by relating that the set of that series was a "toxic environment" whose traumatic effects upon those who worked there were long-lasting.
Personal life
As of 2007, Benson resided in Los Angeles. She described herself as a "lapsed vegetarian".Benson, Amber (January 29, 2009). "art vs. commerce". Amber Benson's Official Blog,
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1993CheyenneKing of the HillElla McShane1994S.F.W.Barbara 'Babs' WylerImaginary CrimesMargaret1995Bye Bye LoveMeg Damico1998Can't Hardly WaitStephanie2000Batgirl2001Don's PlumAmyHollywood, PennsylvaniaMandy Calhoun2002TabooPiperChanceChanceAlso writer and director2003Latter DaysTraci Levine2005IntermedioBarbieRace You to the BottomMaggie2006Lovers, Liars & LunaticsJustineAlso writer and director2007GryphonPrincess Amelia Of LocklandSimple ThingsSallyKiss the BrideElly2008Strictly SexualDonnaOne-Eyed MonsterLaura2009The Blue Tooth VirginJenniferTripping ForwardGwen2010DronesCo-directorNoreenAnother Harvest MoonGretchen2011Act Your AgeJulia2012Dust UpElla2015Desire Will Set You FreeJayne2016Apartment 407Chloeoriginally titled Selling Isobel2018House of DemonsMayaGlossary of Broken DreamsPfefferkarree McCormickTiny2019Samantha Rand 2024 I Saw the TV Glow Johnny Link's Mom
Television Year Title Role Notes1993Jack Reed: Badge of HonorNicole ReedTV film1994Jack Reed: A Search for JusticeTV film1995Jack Reed: One of Our OwnTV film1996PartnersPamEpisode: "Follow the Clams?"1998Promised LandAmy FarnsworthEpisode: "Out of Bounds"1999CrackerAmyEpisode: "The Club"1999–2002Buffy the Vampire SlayerTara MaclayRecurring role (seasons 4–6), main (season 6.19)2001AbbyTV miniseries2004Cold CaseJulia HoffmanEpisode: "Volunteers"2005Allison DavisEpisode: "The Perfect Couple"2006Holiday WishesDanni HartfordTV film2006, 2011SupernaturalLenoreEpisodes: "Bloodlust", "Mommy Dearest"20087 Things to Do Before I'm 30Lori MadisonTV filmLong Island ConfidentialLizTV film2009Private PracticeJill AveryEpisode: "Finishing"2010Grey's AnatomyCorinne HenleyEpisode: "That's Me Trying"2011Count JeffColleenEpisodes: "Pilot", "Sucks to Be Me", "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead"Strictly Sexual: The SeriesDonnaEpisode: "Laugh, Cry, Say Goodbye"RingerMary CurtisEpisode: "That's What You Get for Trying to Kill Me"2012FuturestatesLaura KellerEpisode: "Laura Keller: NB"HusbandsAngry MomEpisodes: "Appropriate Is Not the Word", "The Straightening"2013Shelf LifeRaggy AnnEpisode: "Powered Up"Twisted TalesDhiannaEpisode: "Shockwave"2014TinkerbellEpisodes: "Think Happy Thoughts", "The Pixie Chicks"Morganville: The SeriesAmelieTV miniseries2016Sunday MorningMarcyEpisode: "Marcy and Cliff"Red vs. BlueFemale Grif (voice)Episode: "Get Bent"GraceTV film2017Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer -TV film; Writer of screenplay
Video game Year Title Role Notes2003Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos BleedsTara Maclay
Bibliography Books Ghosts of Albion with Christopher Golden #TitleAlso InPublication DatePublisher1Astray2004Subterranean Press1.1"Legacy"Short story, available on the BBC website2Accursed2005Del Rey3Witchery2006Del Rey
Calliope Reaper-Jones
Death's Daughter (February 24, 2009) Cat's Claw (February 23, 2010) Serpent's Storm (February 22, 2011) How to be Death (February 28, 2012) The Golden Age of Death (Feb 2013)
The Witches of Echo Park Title Date Publisher Length Identifiers Notes / Plot January 6, 2015 Ace Books
The Last Dream Keeper January 5, 2016 Ace Books
The End of Magic May 16, 2017 Ace Books
Other books The Seven Whistlers (with Christopher Golden, 2006) Star and Marco's Guide to Mastering Every Dimension (with Dominic Bisignano, Disney Press, 2017)
Anthologies and collections Anthology or CollectionContentsPublication Date21st Century DeadAntiparallelogramJul 2012An Apple for a CreatureCallie Meet HappyAug 2012Life Inside My MindTherapy: the gift I gave myself Apr 2018
Comics Buffy the Vampire Slayer WannaBlessedBe (Willow & Tara with Christopher Golden, 2003) Wilderness (with Christopher Golden) "The Innocent" in Tales of the Slayers
Other comics Shadowplay #1–4 (with Ben Templesmith, 2005) Among the Ghosts (with Sina Grace, illustrator, August 2010) Clueless: Senior Year (with Sarah Kuhn) Clueless: One Last Summer (with Sarah Kuhn)
Other media Illusions (with Christopher Golden. Animated feature, directed by Benson, available on the BBC website) The Ghosts of Albion Roleplaying Game (with Timothy S. Brannan and Christopher Golden, Eden Studios, 2007) Middlegame by Seanan McGuire, narrated by Benson Walkaway by Cory Doctorow, narrated by Benson Attack Surface by Cory Doctorow, narrated by Benson Lock In by John Scalzi, narrated by Benson Head On by John Scalzi, narrated by Benson Swarm by Scott Westerfeld, narrated by Benson Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, narrated by Benson Slayers: A Buffyverse Story by Christopher Golden and Benson, narrated by an ensemble cast Constituent Service by John Scalzi, narrated by Benson
References
External links
Bean, Krista (May 6, 2012). "Podcast #5: Amber Benson". Scripts & Scribes. http://www.amberbenson.tv/