Amber Nicole Benson was born on January 8, 1977 in Birmingham,
Alabama. As a young girl she studied singing, dancing as well as acting.
While still in her teens she was involved in productions at the local
community theatre. Her family moved to Los Angeles soon afterwards
so she could pursue a career in acting. She has been steadily working
ever since.
In 2000, Amber had her first audition for Buffy. Initially, according to
producer Marti Noxon, 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. However,
as she was travelling up to see her father the same weekend, Amber nearly
never got the call for her second audition. It was by sheer chance that while
stopping at a gas station that she checked her messages and was close enough
to rush back and make it in time.
However, luck was not the only thing that Amber had on her side when
auditioning. She also had the support of Alyson Hannigan. Amber and Alyson
had met at a party five years previously and were good friends. When Alyson
found out that Amber was up for the role the redhead rushed to tell Joss to hire
Amber, only to be told that they already had.
The role of Tara Maclay was only intended to be a two or three episode stint.
But when audiences and producers saw the chemistry between Hannigan and
Benson, they made her into a cast regular. Amber, however would first have
to endure emotional attacks by disgruntled fans who felt she wasn’t good enough
for their favourite red head. She was called fat, ugly and ridiculed her at every
turn, prompting her to defend herself on the Buffy Posting Board.
In 2001, at the age of just 24, Amber directed, wrote, produced and starred
in her own movie called Chance. It was presented at the Sundance Film Festival
in 2002.
Amber was to return to "Buffy" in the 7th season, either as Tara brought back
from the dead, or as The First masqueradeing as Tara in the episode
"Conversations with Dead People." however negotiotions fell through and Amber
was unable to return. Instead, Iyari Limon came in as Willow's new girlfriend,
Kennedy and Azura Skye reprised her role as Cassie Newton ("Help" Sea 7
Ep 4).
