Tamara Braun Plays Same-Sex 'House' in Pine Valley

A SheWired Exclusive!

by Tracy E. Gilchrist | Article Date: 10/24/2008 12:02 AM

Tamara Braun Plays Same-Sex 'House' in Pine Valley

She’s played Carly, daughter of Bobbie, a former teen prostitute on General Hospital, and Ava, Days of Our Lives’ phsycotropic-ally disadvantaged captive at the mercy of her father. Now, Emmy-nominated soap star Tamara Braun is settling into a happy, committed relationship in All My Children’s Pine Valley, with the show’s lovable, ever-returning resident lesbian Bianca.

Since 2001, Eden Riegel’s Bianca Montgomery has dated, dabbled and even kissed a few of Pine Valley’s Sapphic-leaning ladies, but Braun’s smart, sexy architect Reese Williams has finally won Bianca’s heart. When Braun turns up as Reese on Oct. 30, the smitten couple will have already indulged in a whirlwind Parisian romance for the better part of a year.

And Braun and Riegel are slated to make daytime television history as a happy, devoted, lesbian couple raising, not only Bianca’s daughter Miranda, but also, a new baby together. And if soap opera art imitates life and election-day politics, there could even same-sex wedding bells ringing near Pine Valley soon.

A seasoned soap star, 37-year-old Braun has also appeared in CSI, The Ghost Whisperer, Cold Case and House, as well as the feature film Little Chenier and the upcoming Limbo Lounge. But has all that experience prepped Braun to do emotional battle with the residents of Pine Valley, including possibly, Bianca’s diva mom, Susan Lucci’s Erica Kane?

And while Braun’s Reese arrives on AMC, content, settled and relatively normal by soap standards, anything can happen. Braun chatted with SheWired.com about landing the coveted role of Bianca’s love interest, the lesbian fans who will inevitably fall for her, the possibility of tangling with Lucci, her insta-chemistry with Riegel, and their characters' "very" affectionate relationship.

Tracy E. Gilchrist: Hi Tamara, thanks for talking with SheWired. I must confess. I’m not a soap opera aficionado. I have followed Bianca’s storyline tangentially but, you and I are good to go because my gay male co-worker, an All My Children devotee, coached me.

Tamara Braun: (Laughs) Really?

TG: Yes. Even to the point of placing his Erica Kane doll on the wall between us.

TB: No. So are you looking at Erica Kane right now?

TG: He took her back. I think he’s afraid of exposing her too much. Oh. He’s putting her back now.

TB: Okay. Good. It’ll make the interview better now.

TG: Absolutely! So now we can get down to business.

TB: Well let’s do it.

TG: You recently moved to New York right?

TB: I did. I just moved a week ago Wednesday.

TG: From where?

TB: From Los Angeles.

TG: Ooh, That's a big one. I should get on to the issue at hand and why all the lesbians in the country are going to be absolutely crazy for you in a few weeks. But first, let’s talk about some of your soap background. You played Carly on General Hospital who is the daughter of a teen prostitute… is that correct?

TB: Alright. She was but she wasn’t…Well, yes, that is true. Yes…yes she was a hooker. She was just tying to get by.

TG: (Laughs) a hooker with a heart of gold.

TB: Absolutely a hooker with a heart of gold. She gave Carly up for adoption. When Carly actually met her mother, Bobbie was no longer a hooker. She was a nurse. She had made a wonderful life for herself.

TG: And yet, Carly still came back to wreak havoc on her mother’s life.

TB: Yeah.

TG: …and then on Days, you kidnapped your ex-lover?

TB: Yeah. Um… are you just bringing up bad things that I’ve done?

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HHH	view my profile
Friday, October 24 2008 \| 02:32:28
GOOD LUCK!!!!
Tamara Braun on playing Reese. I can't wait for October 30 to come. It is going to be fun to see how the AMC writers portray this relationship. Go BAR!!!!

bean67	view my profile
Friday, October 24 2008 \| 20:40:08
So Hot!
I 'm so excited for Reese. Tamara was great on Day's! This is such a good match-up.

wickedgrrl	view my profile
Friday, October 24 2008 \| 23:47:24
Ms. Braun
I am so thankful that if we have to let go of whimper Maggie, that we have Tamara playing the new role. It is still infuriating that this couldn't have been Maggie's story, they are her family darn it. Okay, I'm getting off track. What I meant to say is, YEAH! Tamara rocks. Thank you for this interview. I look forward to Reese's first day next week. I never thought I'd be able to see TB as anyone but Carly. I think Reese will grow on me quickly. I trust her with this story, I wish I could say the same for the writers and producers.

Dawn	view my profile
Saturday, October 25 2008 \| 13:41:26
Tamara Braun Role On AMC
I love TB... She's a fantastic actress, but I'm sorry to say that Charles Pratt has already ruined the so-called ground breaking story for Reese/Bianca by turning it into a sperm donor story with the character of Zach as the bio-dad.. What could have been and should have been a ground breaking story about a same-sex couple that legions of us fans were so excited and ready, willing to embrace, has now turned into the reason fans are tuning out.. We applauded the return of ER/Bianca and cheered after hearing that TB was coming, but the excitment and elation has died and turned into anger, disgust, and hordes of fans refusing to watch.. This story isn't going to be about Reese/Bianca, it's about Zach the bio-dad and Kendall's reaction. The once beloved character of Bianca is now destroyed by what is playing out right now... and the beloved character of Zach isn't farring so well. Reese's entrance into PV is marred by this shock and sensationalism story... I truly wish Pratt had not added the disgusting sperm donor aspect to this story because now Reese/Bianca story is overshadowed by that.. They could have told the love-story of Reese/Bianca, but that is not what is going to happen or is happening. Tons of AMC fans are disgusted, angry, and sickened by this.. A lot of us see this as a cop out on the part of ABC/AMC in doing a "REAL" story about a same sex couple, deeply in love, and raising children.. Had they not added a man to the mix, especially the character of Zach....it would have been different. Charles Pratt has already destroyed this story... Again, the anger & disgust by the fans isn't about the Reese/Bianca love story, it's about the fact that this isn't a Reese/Bianca love story, but a story that destorys two characters, a wonderful sister relationship, and just another sperm story. Sperm stories seem to be the only thing AMC is willing to write about.. I turly wish TB & ER the best, but a lot of fans will not be watching due to the fact that the story is already tainted and ruined...

KatJ	view my profile
Saturday, October 25 2008 \| 15:33:35
Tamara Braun
I echo Dawn's comment. Most of us AMC viewers, gay or straight, were applauding a smart, socially conscious story about gay marriage and gay parenthood. We have always loved Bianca. But rather than portray a realistic lesbian relationship, Pratt has decided to have the two women go behind Bianca's beloved sister's back to create a baby with the sister's husband. This is not the way I wish to see gay relationships portrayed on television. Ms. Braun is a good actress. I'm sorry she was sucked into this loser of a story line. Fans are despising it and are despising the former beloved Bianca for her betrayal of her sister. We want and need responsible stories about gay issues. Not the shock and awe garbage that Pratt puts out. Pratt is trying to destroy two of the most poplular characters in AMC history with one fell swoop. I fear cancellation of this iconic show is not far off. Ratings are already in the toilet and this story line will only make them worse. I hope the gay community will protest this irresponsible portrayal of their issues.

KatJ	view my profile
Saturday, October 25 2008 \| 15:33:52
Tamara Braun
I echo Dawn's comment. Most of us AMC viewers, gay or straight, were applauding a smart, socially conscious story about gay marriage and gay parenthood. We have always loved Bianca. But rather than portray a realistic lesbian relationship, Pratt has decided to have the two women go behind Bianca's beloved sister's back to create a baby with the sister's husband. This is not the way I wish to see gay relationships portrayed on television. Ms. Braun is a good actress. I'm sorry she was sucked into this loser of a story line. Fans are despising it and are despising the former beloved Bianca for her betrayal of her sister. We want and need responsible stories about gay issues. Not the shock and awe garbage that Pratt puts out. Pratt is trying to destroy two of the most poplular characters in AMC history with one fell swoop. I fear cancellation of this iconic show is not far off. Ratings are already in the toilet and this story line will only make them worse. I hope the gay community will protest this irresponsible portrayal of their issues.

hot4tk	view my profile
Saturday, October 25 2008 \| 19:19:26
Tamara Braun & AMC
I wasn't a big Carly fan, but I did admire Tamara's talent. I was also looking forward to the "ground breaking" story that Charles Pratt was going to tell. But istead of that story we get an uncledaddy storyline. This story is now all about Zach and the fact that the "sperm donation" was a sceret form his wife, Bianca's sister. Kendall is in a coma and we will get Reese and Bianca playing house with Zach his 2 sons,HIS daughter and her 2 mommies. With prop.8 on the ballet in Ca. I was hoping for a great story. As it is now Reese and Bianca can go back to Paris and have their life there.. I don't care about their story anymore.

Jane	view my profile
Saturday, October 25 2008 \| 19:43:38
Tamara Braun
I agree with wickedgrrl. I'm sure Tamara Braun will play Reese with the same integrity Eden, Liz and Olga have brought to their roles but I do not trust the writers of AMC to write what they claim to be another 'groundbreaking' storyline. The Zach/Bianca storyline is insulting. I guess fans will have to do what they always do- concentrate on the work of the actors and ignore the absurdity of the storylines. Don't get me wrong, I expect the crazy soap opera storylines but this one insults both the lesbian community and the character of Bianca.

Dawn	view my profile
Sunday, October 26 2008 \| 12:08:07
AMC
Jane, you are right not to trust TPTB, they've already proven with the start of this stroy that they are not delivering on what they promised to the viewers.. Making this about Zach/bianca baby is not only insulting, but disgusting, and it's turning legions of viewers against the character of Bianca right from the start. Again, so many of us were excited about the return of Bianca and the story about Reese/Bianca/Kids.... but adding Zach, Zach's baby, Kendall's reaction, it overshadows Reese/Bianca and that ticks me off. I remember watching the story about Bianca coming out and I applauded ER, SL, and the writers...but this is insulting on so many levels. Why is daytime, especially ABC/AMC, so afraid to tell a story about a same-sex couple, deeply in love, committed, and rasing kids... There are so many realistic issues here....Especially, peoples ignorance concerning same-sex couples... marriage, raising kids..without overshadowing it with this mess. They could have gone in so many other directions with this, but they choose the one that would push viewers away, tick them off, and turn them against one of the most amazing characters in daytime. I'm saddened by the level of hate across the board for this story.... Just weeks ago, when the announcement was made that ER was bringing Bianca back and TB was coming on board in the role of Bianca's partner, fans where cheering, but they went for shock & sensationalism, instead of telling a great story. I'm more than positive TB & ER will shine, but the story stinks on all levels, and Reese/Bianca love story will not be told.... It's all about Zach's baby, Kendall's reaction, and Bianca/Reese will be lost in the mix. Shame on Charles Pratt.... Shame on Brian Frons Shame on ABC/AMC... Bait & Switch... that is what they are giving viewers....and that is why no one should tune in... Not until they give TB, ER, and the viewers the ground breaking story they promised, not this Zach is the sperm donor story... JMHO

Jane	view my profile
Monday, October 27 2008 \| 00:57:31
AMC
Good point, Dawn. I think that aside from the horror of this storyline, the effect this has already had (and will continue to have) on Bianca's popularity is really a shame. That daytime's only lesbian character has managed to keep the level of popularity she has had considering her previous storylines is remarkable but I do think this will be the last straw for this character. I haven't been surprised at the response of lesbian fans who have been rightly disgusted but it is a shame that the general response to ER's return has been negative due to the absurdity of this Zach thing. Instead of representing two women creating a loving family (which actually would be groundbreaking), this decision simply reinforces all of the ignorant ideas some people have about same sex families. While I expect it of TPTB, I hate to say that I'm a little disappointed that ER agreed to return for this storyline, particularly in the current climate. If there was ever a time this needed to be done right, it's now.

Dawn	view my profile
Monday, October 27 2008 \| 05:44:57
AMC
Jane, ITA... They should have done this story with integrity, respect,and in a responsilbe manner.. AMC used to tell wonderful socially relevant story with a positive outcome and a positive message, but now it's all shock & senationalism. You know, my husband and I went to a birthday party this weekend for the child of one of my best friends... She and her partner have been together for 15 years... They have 3 beautiful children and are more in love today, then they were when they first met.. I envy her children... Growing up with 2 amazing parents, in a loving, supportive, caring home. I used to feel so sorry for my friend because when she came out, her family disowned her. I remember them telling her that they would rather her be a murderer than gay... Unbelievable...sickening....disgusting...and sad that they are so closed minded. But today, I feel sorry for them because they've missed out on so much. They've missed out on a beautiful person, on the fact that she is loved completely by her partner. A partner who respects her and is devoted to her, and they've missed out on those 3 beautiful children. Only her mother has come around and that was because she watched AMC and watched the story of Bianca coming out... I couldn't believe that watching a soap opera could affect someone the way it affected this woman.... She wouldn't even talk to her own daughter because of her bias and ignorance. She said that watching those scenes with Erica/Bianca made her realize that she was wrong. She apologized to her daughter and after years, has finally embraced her partner as her other daughter. We were talking about AMC this weekend and my friends mother was angrier than anyone. I wonder if TPTB know what a mistake they've made or if they even care... Daytime is the place where people can learn....It's the place to tell a great eye-opening story. Bianca the beloved character is now getting close to being hated by a lot of viewers and that breaks my heart. I really wish TPTB would explain why they are so afraid to tell a beautiful love story for a same-sex couple without adding the shock & sensationalism. I really wish they would pick up that pen and rewrite this of dump it and focus on the story of Bianca/Reese... If my friends mother can be turned around and take off her prejudice blinders by watching Bianca/Erica coming out story, and get some understanding from that story, enough so that she learned to embrace her daughter, her choices, her partner, her beautiful children, imagine how many people might actually start understanding and do the same.. AMC has failed here and it's sad... very, very sad.... I wish the editiors of Shewired would contact TPTB and ask them why they did this.... Bianca is a hero to some... She was a role model to others..... doing this has hurt the character and the story is being overshadowed by this mess. I truly wish they would change this... It's time daytime told the story about a same-sex couple, deeply in love, committed, raising children and dealing with realistic, real life issues and not shock & sensationalism that hurts not only the show, but it's characters, and puts a negative out a negative message, instead of a positive one..

MaggietheCat	view my profile
Monday, October 27 2008 \| 23:19:03
yes but...
Hey guys, I realize you're all upset about this storyline but what about TB? She's a really funny interview. She sounds like a hoot to hang out with. Fingers crossed she and Eden are just fireworks on screen!

Dawn	view my profile
Tuesday, October 28 2008 \| 03:53:20
TB
MaggietheCat, I absolutely adore Tamara Braun.... I think she's an amazing actress, as is Eden Reigel, but even these two talented actress are being overshadowed by this disgusting turn in Pratt's plot driven, character destructive story.. Since Bianca's return, which I believe has been 4 days, we seen a different Bianca.... I don't recognize her at all and the are already shoving the character of Reese down the viewers throats with the 'Reese is Cool" crap.. Reese is so cool that Zach decided to spit on Kendall, his kids, and his marriage to give her a child. Something so OCC for Zach. Reese is so cool that Bianca decided to betray her sister and become someone we fans don't recognize. Reese is so cool that this stupid, disgusting sperm donation story is okay... Sorry, but many fans are already against Reese..and she hasn't shown up yet. That is what Charles Pratt has done with this.. He turned the large majority of fans against Bianca, against Zach, against Reese, and against Reese/Bianca love story.. A lot of us are angry because 2 amazing actresses (TB & ER) and 1 phenomenal actor (TK) characters are being ruined...for a plot device that should never have happened. There will be no Reese/Bianca love story... It's all about the sperm donation....and that ticks everyone off. Pratt made a mistake.... He's ruined Bianca for a lot of us, so who can root for her now.... Not me and not a large majority of viewers.... My sympathies go out to Tamara Braun, Eden Riegel, and Thorsten Kaye because they are forced to try and sell this garbage and no one is buying it...