Amber Benson
Template:Short description Template:DMCA
Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.
Amber Benson | |
|---|---|
| Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found. Benson in 2012 | |
| Born | Script error: No such module "person date". Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | Script error: No such module "person date". |
| OccupationTemplate:Pluralize from text | Page Template:Hlist/styles.css has no content.
|
| Years active | 1992–present |
| EmployerTemplate:Pluralize from text | Template:Pluralize from text |
| OrganizationTemplate:Pluralize from text | Template:Pluralize from text |
| AgentTemplate:Pluralize from text | Template:Pluralize from text |
| Notable creditTemplate:Pluralize from text | Template:Pluralize from text |
| LabelTemplate:Pluralize from text | Template:Pluralize from text |
| OpponentTemplate:Pluralize from text | Template:Pluralize from text |
Criminal chargeTemplate:Pluralize from text | Template:Pluralize from text |
| SpouseTemplate:Pluralize from text | Template:Pluralize from text |
| PartnerTemplate:Pluralize from text | Template:Pluralize from text |
| Template:Pluralize from text | |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for deprecated parameters".
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,[1] in Birmingham, Alabama,[2] 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;[4] Benson grew up attending a Reform synagogue in Alabama.[5][6][7][8][9]
Career
Benson was 14 when she made her feature film debut in the Steven Soderbergh film King of the Hill.[10]
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 (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 ever 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.
Benson and Christopher 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 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 animated web movie Ghosts of Albion: Legacy.
In 2003, she had a supporting role in Latter Days as Traci Levine, alongside Steve Sandvoss and Wes Ramsey.[11]
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 yet 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[12] on February 24, 2009; Cat's Claw,[13] 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.[14]
Benson is the co-director with Adam Busch of the 2010 comedy film Drones.[15]
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.[16]
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.[17][18]
Benson narrated the 2014 audiobook Lock In by John Scalzi.[19] In October 2014, she published her fantasy book The Witches of Echo Park.[20]
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.[21][22]
In 2024 Benson narrated the first two audiobooks in the Blood & Ancient Scrolls Series by Raven Belasco, Blood Ex Libris [23] and Blood Demands.[24]
Activism
During the 2008 campaign season, Benson was featured in a Barack Obama advertisement sponsored by MoveOn.org.[25]
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.[26]
Personal life
As of 2007, Benson resided in Los Angeles. She described herself as a "lapsed vegetarian".[27]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Cheyenne | |
| 1993 | King of the Hill | Ella McShane | |
| 1994 | S.F.W. | Barbara 'Babs' Wyler | |
| 1994 | Imaginary Crimes | Margaret | |
| 1995 | Bye Bye Love | Meg Damico | |
| 1998 | Can't Hardly Wait | Stephanie | |
| 2000 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Batgirl | |
| 2001 | Don's Plum | Amy | |
| 2001 | Hollywood, Pennsylvania | Mandy Calhoun | |
| 2002 | Taboo | Piper | |
| 2002 | Chance | Chance | Also writer and director |
| 2003 | Latter Days | Traci Levine | |
| 2005 | Intermedio | Barbie | |
| 2005 | Race You to the Bottom | Maggie | |
| 2006 | Lovers, Liars & Lunatics | Justine | Also writer and director |
| 2007 | Gryphon | Princess Amelia Of Lockland | |
| 2007 | Simple Things | Sally | |
| 2007 | Kiss the Bride | Elly | |
| 2008 | Strictly Sexual | Donna | |
| 2008 | One-Eyed Monster | Laura | |
| 2009 | The Blue Tooth Virgin | Jennifer | |
| 2009 | Tripping Forward | Gwen | |
| 2010 | Drones | Co-director | |
| 2010 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Noreen | |
| 2010 | Another Harvest Moon | Gretchen | |
| 2011 | Act Your Age | Julia | |
| 2012 | Dust Up | Ella | |
| 2015 | Desire Will Set You Free | Jayne | |
| 2016 | Apartment 407 | Chloe | originally titled Selling Isobel |
| 2018 | House of Demons | Maya | |
| 2018 | Glossary of Broken Dreams | Pfefferkarree McCormick | |
| 2018 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Tiny | |
| 2019 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Samantha Rand | |
| 2024 | I Saw the TV Glow | Johnny Link's Mom |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Jack Reed: Badge of Honor | Nicole Reed | TV film |
| 1994 | Jack Reed: A Search for Justice | Nicole Reed | TV film |
| 1995 | Jack Reed: One of Our Own | Nicole Reed | TV film |
| 1996 | Partners | Pam | Episode: "Follow the Clams?" |
| 1998 | Promised Land | Amy Farnsworth | Episode: "Out of Bounds" |
| 1999 | Cracker | Amy | Episode: "The Club" |
| 1999–2002 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Tara Maclay | Recurring role (seasons 4–6), main (season 6.19) |
| 2001 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Abby | TV miniseries |
| 2004 | Cold Case | Julia Hoffman | Episode: "Volunteers" |
| 2005 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Allison Davis | Episode: "The Perfect Couple" |
| 2006 | Holiday Wishes | Danni Hartford | TV film |
| 2006, 2011 | Supernatural | Lenore | Episodes: "Bloodlust", "Mommy Dearest" |
| 2008 | 7 Things to Do Before I'm 30 | Lori Madison | TV film |
| 2008 | Long Island Confidential | Liz | TV film |
| 2009 | Private Practice | Jill Avery | Episode: "Finishing" |
| 2010 | Grey's Anatomy | Corinne Henley | Episode: "That's Me Trying" |
| 2011 | Count Jeff | Colleen | Episodes: "Pilot", "Sucks to Be Me", "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" |
| 2011 | Strictly Sexual: The Series | Donna | Episode: "Laugh, Cry, Say Goodbye" |
| 2011 | Ringer | Mary Curtis | Episode: "That's What You Get for Trying to Kill Me" |
| 2012 | Futurestates | Laura Keller | Episode: "Laura Keller: NB" |
| 2012 | Husbands | Angry Mom | Episodes: "Appropriate Is Not the Word", "The Straightening" |
| 2013 | Shelf Life | Raggy Ann | Episode: "Powered Up" |
| 2013 | Twisted Tales | Dhianna | Episode: "Shockwave" |
| 2014 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Tinkerbell | Episodes: "Think Happy Thoughts", "The Pixie Chicks" |
| 2014 | Morganville: The Series | Amelie | TV miniseries |
| 2016 | Sunday Morning | Marcy | Episode: "Marcy and Cliff" |
| 2016 | Red vs. Blue | Female Grif (voice) | Episode: "Get Bent" |
| 2016 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Grace | TV film |
| 2017 | Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer | - | TV film; Writer of screenplay |
Video game
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds | Tara Maclay | [28] |
Bibliography
Books
Ghosts of Albion
with Christopher Golden
| # | Title | Also In | Publication Date | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Astray[29] | 2004 | Subterranean Press | |
| 1.1 | "Legacy" | Short story, available on the BBC website[30] | ||
| 2 | Accursed | 2005 | Del Rey | |
| 3 | Witchery | 2006 | Del 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 | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "sort". | January 6, 2015 | Ace Books | Script error: No such module "sort". | Template:ISBN Template:LCCN Template:Catalog lookup link |
[31] [32] [33] | |
| 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) Template:Isbn
Anthologies and collections
| Anthology or Collection | Contents | Publication
Date |
|---|---|---|
| 21st Century Dead | Antiparallelogram | Jul 2012 |
| An Apple for a Creature | Callie Meet Happy | Aug 2012 |
| Life Inside My Mind[34] | Therapy: 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)[35]
- Clueless: Senior Year (with Sarah Kuhn)[36]
- Clueless: One Last Summer (with Sarah Kuhn)[37]
Other media
- Illusions (with Christopher Golden. Animated feature, directed by Benson, available on the BBC website)[38]
- 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
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Rose, Mike (January 8, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 8, 2023 includes celebrities Noah Cyrus, Sarah Polley". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Stafford, Nikki (2007). Bite Me!: The Unofficial Guide to 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. Toronto: ECW Press. p. 104. ISBN 9781550228076.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Amber Benson Biography (1977–)". Retrieved October 27, 2014.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Amber Benson on Buffy, Tara and Willow, Husbands & more..." Den of Geek. November 4, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
Amber Benson: "My dad was Jewish, and my mom was raised by Southern Baptists so I saw both ends of the spectrum."
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Interviewly – Amber Benson January 2015 – reddit AMA". interviewly.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Byrnes, Lindsey (June 8, 2010). "An interview with Amber Benson". AfterEllen. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."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.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bloom, Nate (June 6, 2003). "Celebrity Jews". Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."TLA Releasing presents Latter Days" (PDF). TLA Releasing. p. 16. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Benson, Amber (2009). Death's Daughter. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-441-01694-5.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Benson, Amber (February 23, 2010). Cat's Claw. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-441-01843-7.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Benson, Amber (2012). How to be Death. National Geographic Books. ISBN 978-1-937007-28-7.
- ^ Roedel, Jeff. "So, you work with an alien" Script error: No such module "webarchive"., 225batonrouge.com, September 25, 2008
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Vary, Adam B (June 28, 2012). "'Husbands': EP and star on season 2 of their gay-marriage web series – EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Mangani, Josephine (June 17, 2013). "'Buffy' Star Amber Benson Joins 'Morganville' Web Adaptation". Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Caine, Rachel (June 11, 2013). "Morganville: The Web TV Series". Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Scalzi, John (July 2, 2014). "The Lock In Audiobook: Two Versions, Two Narrators. Pre-Order and Get Both". Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ^ The Witches of Echo Park
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Audible's "Slayers: A Buffyverse Story" Set to Premiere on October 12 | About Audible". www.audible.com. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Thompson, Jaden (September 13, 2023). "'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Cast Reuniting for Spike-Focused Series". Variety. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ Amber Benson to narrate Raven Belasco’s first audiobook Blood Ex Libris
- ^ Amber Benson To Narrate Raven Belasco’s Blood Demands, Second In Blood & Ancient Scrolls Series
- ^ '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.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Le, Athena (February 10, 2021). "Amber Benson Calls Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Set A Toxic Environment". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ Benson, Amber (January 29, 2009). "art vs. commerce". Amber Benson's Official Blog, Script error: No such module "webarchive".
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds". Behind the Voice Actors.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Cult – Ghosts of Albion – Astray". BBC. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Cult – Ghosts of Albion – Legacy". BBC. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.The witches of Echo Park. Library of Congress. 2015. ISBN 9780425268674. Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Witches of Echo Park". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.The witches of Echo Park. WorldCat. OCLC 933453334.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Life Inside My Mind. Simon Pulse. September 27, 2019.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Among the Ghosts » Blog with Pictures". Sinagrace.com. March 23, 2010. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Clueless: Senior Year's Amber Benson & Sarah Kuhn Continue the Gen-X Classic in Comics". August 23, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."'Clueless' Continues with 'One Last Summer' Graphic Novel". The Hollywood Reporter. June 22, 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Benson, Amber. "Cult Vampires – Ghosts of Albion: Illusions by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden". BBC News. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
External links
Page Module:Side box/styles.css has no content.Page Template:Sister project/styles.css has no content.
Page Module:Side box/styles.css has no content.Page Template:Sister project/styles.css has no content.
- Template:Twitter
- Template:Comicbookdb
- Amber Benson at IMDbTemplate:Edit at Wikidata
- Amber Benson at the Internet Speculative Fiction DatabaseTemplate:EditAtWikidata
- Bean, Krista (May 6, 2012). "Podcast #5: Amber Benson". Scripts & Scribes.
- http://www.amberbenson.tv/
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Authority control/config' not found.
