<Tr> <Th> Occupation </Th> <Td> Actress, writer, director, producer </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1993--present </Td> </Tr> <P> Amber Nicole 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, but has also directed, produced and starred in her own films Chance (2002) and Lovers, Liars & Lunatics (2006). She also co-directed the film Drones with fellow Buffy cast member Adam Busch . </P> <P> Benson was born January 8, 1977 in Birmingham, Alabama, the daughter of Diane and Edward Benson, a psychiatrist . She has a younger sister, Danielle, who is an artist . Her father is Jewish and her mother was raised Southern Baptist; Benson grew up attending a Reform temple in Alabama . </P>

Who played tara in buffy the vampire slayer