Amber Benson/Tara in "Jump" Magazine
Who's the coolest lesbian Wicca on TV? Buffy's witchin' Tara, of course.
Amber's Burning Bright
Most teens know Amber Benson for her groundbreaking role as Tara, Willow's Wiccan girlfriend on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but she’s been in show business since she was a child and has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Now, with a slew of upcoming projects (and Buffy still going strong), the 24-year-old actress is taking the world by storm.
Born in Brimingham,AL , Amber's introduction to the spotlight began at the tender age of four, when she took up ballet. "I did the Nutcracker Suite and I realized I loved being on stage and having people applaud," Amber says. "It wasn't the actual dancing that was so thrilling -it was the aplause. So I kind of shifted from dancing to acting."
After moving with her family to Los Angeles, Amber got her first big break in King Of The Hill, a film by hot Erin Brockovich director Stephen Soderbergh. "I was so intimidated, but Stephen was so nice," she says. Parts in other movies followed, including The Crush with Alicia Silverstone, Bye Bye Love with Paul Reiser and Janeane Garofalo and Can't Hardly Wait with Jennifer Love Hewitt and future Buffy co-star Seth Green (unfortunately her scenes didn't make the final cut). Her introduction to everybody's favorite slayer sounds lik something out of a Hollywood screenplay. "I'd been friends with Alyson Hannigon [Willow] before she got Buffy, so I had always watched to see her and because it was such a good show," she says. "They asked me to come and audition, so I met with [series creator] Josh Whedon and the casting director. When I came for callbacks, I ran into Alyson and she got mad at me for not telling her I was up for a part. But, you kind of want to do these things on your own, you know? She said ' I'm going in there and making them give you the job!' So, she marched in and they told her I already had the part."
Being friends with so many of her castmates and co-workers, Amber admits her role as Tara doesn't feel much like work. "It’s like playing all day -everyone is really so great."
When Amber initially took the part of Tara, she didn't know she would be playing a gay love interest for her old friend. " It wasn't until three or four episodes later that I learned they wanted to take things in that direction." When Joss Whedon approached Amber abut playing a lesbian, she told him she was fine with it, but she just wanted to do the part justice. " There are so few role models for gay teens. This is really the first long-term lesbian relationship on TV and I knew it would make an impact," she says. " I was very happy with the way it was introduced -it wasn't about ratings or girls kissing. It's about two people, regardless of gender, who fall in love and treat each other with kindness and respect"
Amber’s friends and family have all been very supportive. " My grandparents don't know so much about it because they're very religious and old-fashioned," she says. "The whole 'vampire-demon-witch' thing is too much for them to begin with."
Amber confesses she still watches the show whenever she gets a chance. " You've gotta see what's happening in other scenes," she says “ Even if you read the entire script you’re only guessing what it’ll look like in the final cut.” She does admit that she can’t stand watching herself on TV. “ I usually close my eyes or change the channel when my character comes on.”
Unfortunately she doesn’t have any hints about upcoming plotlines or the show’s season finale in May. “They’re so tight-lipped –they don’t tell us anything! The only thing I know is that Britney Spears is not making a guest appearance. They talked to her about a part but she wasn’t available.”
Despite Buffy’s wildfire success, Amber lives a very normal life –sharing an apartment with her sister Danielle and her Dalmation, Pinnsylvania. “The people around keep me really grounded.” They also keep her rolling, since, surprisingly Amber doesn’t have a driver’s license. “ My mom gives me rides a lot, so does Sarah [Michelle Gellar]” she says, laughing, “ I’m at the studio so much, I don’t have much of a life anyway.”
She may not have time for a social life, but Amber’s got plenty of new projects on the horizon. This summer, she’ll star with Vince Vaughn and Julia Ormond in the move Prime Gig, about a group of telemarketers trying to scheme people out of their money. “I play a crazy and aggressive con-artist named Batgirl,” she says, “It’s a really sharp movie and a great part. I got to work with Vince Vaughn –who’s a total babe- and have multi-colored hair extensions and a nose ring.”
She’s also starring with two of Hollywood’s hottest properties –Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey McGuire- in Don’s Plum, which was shown at the Berlin film festival this past February.
One effort Amber is especially proud of is WannaBlessedBe, a special one-shot Willow and Tara comic she co-wrote for Dark Horse Comics. “I’m really proud of it,” she says. “Writing comics is a lot different than acting –for on thing, you have to come up with your own dialogue!” The book , about a girl who accidentally conjures up an evil goddess that the girls have to defeat, hits shelves in April.
Fave Web Site
Being a cast member of one of TV’s hottest shows, Amber has a long list of Web sites devoted to her. Her favorite “Essence of Amber” http://www.efanguide.com/~amber/ is run by “ Little Willow” and features interviews, chat areas and much more. Amber often visits the site to answer questions and check in with her numerous fans.
“I love Little Willow’s site because it really reflect my personality,” says Amber. “She knew I like Jeff Buckly so she added some of his quotes.”
and scan for you. Haven't had much opportunity to use my new scanner. I am excited!
