Amber Benson - Biography

Last Editor: myra7us				Amber Benson Biography -   Name : Amber Benson Birth Date : January 8 1977 Birth Place : Birmingham, Alabama, USA Full Name : Amber Nicole Benson Height : 5' 4 Hair Colour : Blond Eyes : Blue Nationality : American Occupation : Actress Claim to fame : as Tara McClay in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1999)

Amber Benson Trivia -

Amber has had roles in movies with actors whom she would later join on the cast of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997): Lindsay Crouse and Eliza Dushku in Bye Bye Love (1995) and Seth Green in Can't Hardly Wait (1998). She is most proud of her work in the film King of the Hill (1993), her appearances as 'Tara' on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) and her own movie project Chance (2002). Loves to read and spends a lot of her "down time" on set reading. Lists some of her favourite authors as Ray Bradbury, Susan Cooper, Marion Zimmer Bradley, J.K. Rowling (the 'Harry Potter' series) and Christopher Golden (the 'Body of Evidence' series). Lives in Los Angeles with her mother, her dog Pennsylvania (aka Penny) and her cat Benneton (aka Benny). She traveled to Romania to film the movie Taboo (2002). In 2001, at the age of just 24, Amber directed, wrote, produced and starred in her own movie called Chance (2002). It was presented at the Sundance Film Festival in 2002. She was born on Elvis Presley's birthday (January 8th) in 1977 (the year of Elvis' death.) Is a vegetarian. Wrote a comic book based on the characters of Willow and Tara as part of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic books series. Amber was to return to "Buffy" in the 7th season, (following Tara's death) playing a being posing as Tara Maclay. However, negotiations with the show fell through. Her decision not to return was at least in part because creator Joss Whedon wanted her to play a villain masquerading as her slain character, Tara. Knowing how Tara's death had upset so many of her fans, Amber did not want to further traumatize them by having the character seemingly return from the grave, but being evil. The character was retooled and the role went to Azura Skye reprising her role of Cassie Newton instead. Amber Benson arrived late at a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" convention in June, 2003, because a deer ran into her mother's car in upstate New York. According to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) producer Marti Noxon, series creator Joss Whedon originally rejected her for the role of "Tara", feeling she wasn't the proper physical type. But Noxon insisted that she be allowed to read for the part again, and it was at the second audition that Whedon realized she would be perfect for the part. Has a publishing deal along with author Christopher Golden to write a series of original novels based upon their animated BBCi film, "The Ghosts of Albion". Wrote a vignette for Dark Horse Comics' "Tales of the Slayer" graphic novel, with Joss Whedon and other Buffy TV and comic writers. Benson wrote about a vampire slayer from The French Revolution period, who accidentally killed a man. At age 6, she danced in the Alabama Ballet Company's production of "The Nutcracker." She was also a member of the Birmingham Children's Theater. Parents are Ed and Diane Benson. Her younger sister, Danielle, is an artist. She suffered a badly broken foot in early 2004 when landscapers left a barrel full of discarded sod in her yard, and she tried to move it to the curb and it fell on her foot. She had to film her part in Intermedio (2005) on crutches as a result. Joss Whedon originally wanted to resurrect Amber's character, Tara, in the series finale of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997). Buffy was to be given one wish, which she would agonize over for the entire episode. Finally, she would step aside to reveal Tara for the final shot. Shares a birthday with director Francesco Roder and actress Sarah Polley. She sang on two tracks of fellow "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997) co-star, Anthony Head's solo CD project, "Music for Elevators". As a young teenager, co-anchored (along with A.J. McLean, later of the Backstreet Boys) the pilot for a proposed television news program aimed at kids. However, the pilot was not picked up. Has a three-book deal with Penguin Publishing. Her first original novel has been announced as "Death's Daughter," the story of a young career woman in New York who finds out her dad is actually the angel of death. Played in a band called Rhodestar with Hayley Taylor. Lives in Los Angeles with her boyfriend, actor/singer Adam Busch. Had a mixed Christian and Jewish upbringing. Attended the same grade in the same high school as Joey Fatone - Dr. Philips in Orlando, Florida.

Amber Benson Detailed Biography -

Pretty blonde performer Amber Benson racked up numerous film and television credits before rising to fame on the popular supernatural series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Benson moved with her family to Los Angeles at age fourteen in 1991. By 1993 she had made the first of three "Jack Reed" TV-movies, "Jack Reed: Badge of Honor", appearing as the daughter of the titular Chicago cop in this NBC entry as well as its 1994 and 1996 follow-ups. 1993 also saw the actress make her big-screen debut with featured roles in the teen thriller "The Crush" and Steven Soderbergh's coming-of-age drama "King of the Hill". Her relatively small but memorable parts in these very different features helped to launch the young performer's career. The following year she was featured in Anthony Drazan's period drama "Imaginary Crimes" and had a pivotal supporting role in the social satire "S.F.W.". Playing determined, pure-hearted and somewhat wise characters seemed to come easy to Benson, who brought a palpable intelligence to her powerful performances. She essayed the charmingly innocent daughter of divorced dad Randy Quaid in "Bye Bye, Love" (1995) and guest starred on an episode of the Fox series "Partners" the following year. Though her role as 'Stoned Girl' in the teen comedy "Can't Hardly Wait" was drastically cut to earn a PG-13 rating, Benson soon became a familiar presence to the film's target audience when she began appearing on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (The WB) the following year. Her 1999-2001 recurring role as the good witch who becomes more than just a friend to fellow enchantress Willow (Alyson Hannigan) saw the actress taking on controversial topics and earning the esteem of the notoriously hard-to-please "Buffy" fan base. When the series moved to UPN in 2001, Benson's role was upgraded to that of a regular. In connection with "Buffy", the actress sought to broaden the scope of her talents, co-writing with novelist Christopher Golden the comic book WannaBlessedBe, based on her character on the supernatural series. Back on the big screen, Benson was featured in the festival-screened, controversy-plagued "Don's Plum" (2001; filmed 1995-96) which was barred from domestic release as per a legal agreement mandated by the film's stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, who allege the project was misrepresented. Taking over her own project, Benson proved a multitalented filmmaker and avid do-it-yourselfer as writer, producer, director and prime financer of "Chance" (lensed 2001), a dark comedy in which she also starred.