, film director
, and film producer
. 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). She is also co-director with Adam Busch
of Drones.
Benson was born in Birmingham, Alabama
to Edward Benson, a psychiatrist, and Diane Benson. She has a younger sister, Danielle, who is an artist.
I saw them in the grocery store [...] sitting benignly in their spinning racks, their technicolor faces looked like a not very girl-friendly amalgam of muscles, testosterone and pulpy, bloody flesh.
"No more talk of gloomy Angel, though. Only happy thoughts. Sunshine, picnic, that spell we did last night. With the oil?" ~ Tara
Seeing Red (6.19)" (2002)
Willow: Hey, clothes.
Tara: Better not get used to 'em.
Older and Far Away (6.14)" (2002)
Spike: I had a muscle cramp. Buffy was, uh, helping.
Tara: A muscle cramp... in your pants?
Spike: What? It's a thing.
I Was Made to Love You (5.15)" (2001)
Tara: Well, I go online sometimes, but everyone's spelling is really bad. It's depressing.
Family (5.6)" (2000)
Willow: Tell me a story.
Tara: Okay. Once upon a time, there was, um... a kitty. She was very little, and she was all alone, and nobody wanted her.