Amber Benson
Amber Benson | |
---|---|
Benson at Midtown Comics in March 2011. | |
Born |
Amber Nicole Benson January 8, 1977 Birmingham, Alabama, US |
Occupation | Actress, writer, director, producer |
Years active | 1993–present |
Amber Nicole Benson (born January 8, 1977) is an American writer, author, director, producer, and actress. She is best known for her role as Tara Maclay on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but has also directed, produced and starred in her own films Chance (2002) and Lovers, Liars & Lunatics (2006).[1] She also co-directed the film Drones with fellow Buffy cast member Adam Busch.[2]
Early life
Benson was born January 8, 1977 in Birmingham, Alabama, the daughter of Diane and Edward Benson, a psychiatrist.[3] She has a younger sister, Danielle, who is an artist. Her father is Jewish and her mother was raised Southern Baptist; Benson grew up attending a Reform temple in Alabama.[4][5][6][7][8]
As a child, Benson studied music and dance, and performed in the Birmingham Children's Ballet, as well as in local theater. She attended high school (one of her classmates being Joey Fatone) in Orlando, Florida after her family moved there, in part to help Amber pursue acting opportunities, the most prominent of which was an unsold television series called Kids' News, in which Amber was to have been one of two main anchors. The Bensons then relocated to Los Angeles, and Amber began to very quickly land roles in films and on television.
Career
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Benson was 14 when she made her feature film debut in the Steven Soderbergh film, King of the Hill.[9]
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 lover of Willow Rosenberg (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 only time 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 AJ (Ajit Jothikaumar) of Dark Horse Comics to create the Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow and Tara comic books titled Wilderness #1 and Wilderness #2.
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Benson and Christopher Golden produced began a series of animated fantasy films for the BBC with the animation studio Cosgrove Hall. Ghosts of Albion: Legacy (2003) and its sequels are available on the BBC Cult website. 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, who first appeared in the BBC computer animated web movie Ghosts of Albion: Legacy.
In 2003, she starred in Latter Days as Traci Levine, alongside Steve Sandvoss and Wes Ramsey.[10]
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 (comic book)|Shadowplay (with work by Ashley Wood and Christina Z.
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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 yet another collaboration, the short novel The Seven Whistlers which is 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[11] on February 24, 2009; Cat's Claw,[12] 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.[13]
Benson is the co-director with Adam Busch of the 2010 comedy film Drones.[14]
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.[15]
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.[16][17]
Benson has narrated the audiobook Lock In by John Scalzi.[18] In October 2014 published her fantasy book The Witches of Echo Park.[19]
Benson revealed in a January 2015 Reddit AMA that she was "an actress in a former life".[20]
Activism
During the 2008 campaign season, Benson was featured in a Barack Obama advertisement sponsored by MoveOn.org.[21]
Personal life
As of 2007, Benson resided in Los Angeles. She described herself as a "lapsed vegetarian".[22]
From 2002 to 2009, she dated Adam Busch, who played Warren Mears on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The couple have remained close friends.[23]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Jack Reed: Badge of Honor | Nicole Reed | TV movie |
1994 | Jack Reed: A Search for Justice | Nicole Reed | TV movie |
1995 | Don's Plum | Supporting actress | |
1995 | Jack Reed: One of Our Own | Nicole Reed | TV movie |
1998 | Promised Land | Amy Farnsworth | Episode: Out of Bounds |
1999 | Cracker | Amy | Episode: "The Club" |
1999–2002 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Tara Maclay | Seasons 4–6; 47 episodes Recurring role (1999–2002) Main role (2002:1 episode) |
2001 | The Enforcers | Abby | TV miniseries |
2004 | Cold Case | Julia Hoffman | Episode: "Volunteers" |
2005 | The Inside | Allison Davis | Episode: "The Perfect Couple" |
2006 2011 |
Supernatural | Lenore | Episode: "Bloodlust" Episode: "Mommy Dearest" |
2006 | Holiday Wishes | Danni Hartford | TV movie |
2007 | Gryphon | Princess Amelia of Lockland | TV movie |
2008 | Long Island Confidential | pilot | |
2008 | 7 Things to Do Before I'm 30 | Lori Madison | TV movie |
2009 | Private Practice | Jill Duncan | Episode: "Finishing" |
2010 | Grey's Anatomy | Corrine | Episode: "That's Me Trying" |
2011 | Ringer | Stripper Mary Curtis | Episode: "That's What You Get for Trying to Kill Me" |
2012 | Husbands | Angry Mom | Episode: "Appropriate Is Not the Word" |
2014 | Morganville: The Series | Amelie | Web TV Series |
2016 | Red vs. Blue | Epsilon Grif | Episode: "Get Bent" (Season 14) |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | King of the Hill | Ella McShane | |
1993 | The Crush | Cheyenne | |
1994 | S.F.W. | Barbara "Babs" Wyler | |
1994 | Imaginary Crimes | Margaret | |
1995 | Bye Bye Love | Meg Damico | With Buffy co-stars Eliza Dushku and Lindsay Crouse |
1998 | Can't Hardly Wait | Stephanie | |
1999 | Take It Easy | Justy | |
1999 | Deadtime | Patty | |
2000 | The Prime Gig | Batgirl | |
2001 | Hollywood, Pennsylvania | Mandy Calhoun | |
2001 | Don's Plum | Amy | |
2002 | Taboo | Piper | |
2002 | Chance | Chance | Directed, Produced Benson Entertainment Inc. |
2003 | Latter Days | Traci Levine | |
2005 | Intermedio | Barbie | |
2005 | Race You to the Bottom | Maggie | |
2006 | Lovers, Liars & Lunatics | Justine | Directed, Produced |
2007 | Simple Things | Sally | |
2007 | Girltrash! | Svetlana 'Lana' Dragovich | |
2008 | Act Your Age | Julia | |
2008 | Kiss the Bride | Elly | |
2008 | Strictly Sexual | Donna | |
2008 | The Blue Tooth Virgin | Jennifer | |
2008 | One-Eyed Monster | Laura | |
2009 | Tripping Forward | Gwen | |
2009 | The Killing Jar | Noreen | |
2009 | Another Harvest Moon | Gretchen | |
2010 | Drones | Co-directed | |
2012 | Dust Up (2012 film) | Ella |
Writing
- Ghosts of Albion
- Astray (with Christopher Golden) (Subterranean Press, 2004)[24]
- "Legacy" (with Christopher Golden) (Short story, available on BBC site)[25]
- Accursed (with Christopher Golden) (Del Rey, 2005)
- Witchery (with Christopher Golden) (Del Rey, 2006)
- Media
- Illusions (with Christopher Golden) (Animated feature, directed by Benson, available on BBC site)[26]
- The Ghosts of Albion Roleplaying Game (with Timothy S. Brannan and Christopher Golden) (Eden Studios, 2007)
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- WannaBlessedBe (Willow & Tara (2003) with Christopher Golden)
- Wilderness, Part 1 (with Christopher Golden)
- Wilderness, Part 2 (with Christopher Golden)
- 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 (February 26, 2013)
- The Witches of Echo Park
- The Witches of Echo Park (January 6, 2015)
- The Last Dream Keeper (January 5, 2016)
- Other
- The Innocent in Tales of the Slayers
- Shadowplay #1–4 (with Ben Templesmith) (2005)
- The Seven Whistlers (with Christopher Golden) (2006)
- Among The Ghosts (children's, August 2010)[27]
References
- ↑ Amber Benson at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Drones at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ "Amber Benson Biography (1977–)". Retrieved October 27, 2014.
- ↑ http://interviewly.com/i/amber-benson-jan-2015-reddit
- ↑ http://www.afterellen.com/tv/74272-an-interview-with-amber-benson/4
- ↑ "Amber chatted at Yahoo! on Thursday, March 8, 2001. Here's the transcript, provided by Coax, sans chat typos". The Essence of Amber. March 8, 2001. Archived from the original on May 12, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
- ↑ Bloom, Nate (June 6, 2003). "Celebrity Jews". Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
- ↑ Lindsey Byrnes (June 8, 2010). "An interview with Amber Benson". www.afterellen.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
- ↑ "Episode 18: Featuring Amber Benson", RossCarey, accessed May 24, 2011.
- ↑ "TLA Releasing presents Latter Days" (PDF). TLA Releasing. p. 16. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ↑ ISBN 978-0-441-01694-5
- ↑ ISBN 978-0-441-01843-7
- ↑ ISBN 978-1-937007-28-7
- ↑ Roedel, Jeff. "So, you work with an alien", 225batonrouge.com, September 25, 2008
- ↑ Vary, Adam B (June 28, 2012). "'Husbands': EP and star on season 2 of their gay-marriage web series – EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ↑ Mangani, Josephine (June 17, 2013). "'Buffy' Star Amber Benson Joins 'Morganville' Web Adaptation". Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ↑ Caine, Rachel (June 11, 2013). "Morganville: The Web TV Series". Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- ↑ Scalzi, John. "The Lock In Audiobook: Two Versions, Two Narrators. Pre-Order and Get Both". Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ↑ The Witches of Echo Park
- ↑ "I am Amber Benson, actor/writer/goofball/Lesbian witch from BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. AMA! : IAmA". Reddit.com. 2015-01-05. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
- ↑ '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.
- ↑ Benson, Amber. "art vs. commerce", Amber Benson's Official Blog, January 29, 2009
- ↑ "Exclusive Interview with Amber Benson Part 2". Buffyfest. February 26, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
- ↑ "Cult – Ghosts of Albion – Astray". BBC. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- ↑ "Cult – Ghosts of Albion – Legacy". BBC. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- ↑ Benson, Amber. "Cult Vampires – Ghosts of Albion: Illusions by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden". BBC. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- ↑ "Among the Ghosts » Blog with Pictures". Sinagrace.com. March 23, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
External links
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Wikiquote has quotations related to: Amber Benson |
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amber Benson. |
- Amber Benson at the Internet Movie Database
- Amber Benson at AllMovie
- Amber Benson at the Comic Book DB
- Amber Benson on Twitter
- An interview with Amber Benson on the BookBanter podcast
- "Amber Benson Interview". SlayerLit.
- Montero, Patrick (June 29, 2009). "'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' star Amber Benson finds new life as a novelist". Daily News
- Amber Benson at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Podcast Interview with Amber Benson at Scripts & Scribes
- http://www.loversliarsandlunatics.com/