Catching Up With Tamara Braun

This week’s guest is Tamara Braun, who currently plays Ava Vitale on Days of Our Lives, but has also played Carly Spencer and Kim Nero on General Hospital.

Tamara starts by talking about her childhood in Chicago and the Chicago suburbs, where Steve and Bradford just appeared on their comedy holiday tour. She admits to not being a big baseball fan but she did once wear a White Sox hat to a Cubs game not realizing the faux pas.

The actress grew up in Evanston where she learned to love the arts. It helped that her mother exposed her to musicals in Chicago.

Tamara didn’t even realize until high school that she could major in theater in college, but still originally chose psychology.

A College Revelation

Eventually, she realized theater was her calling during her sophomore year when she knew if she didn’t give acting a shot she’d regret it for the rest of her life.

She wanted to study acting as a kid but felt she’d be a burden on her parents. Finally, she knew it was what she had to do. Her mother supported her because she regretted not pursuing dance when she was younger.

Changing Her Life

Tamara then left the University of Wisconsin to focus on studying acting in Chicago. She even spent some time studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

She was encouraged by an acting teacher in Chicago who wanted her to learn more about Shakespeare and the classics. His wife even helped her get in after missing the audition deadline.

Tamara Hits LA

After another year in Chicago, Tamara finally decided to move to LA and start her career. Her Chicago agents immediately got her an audition when she was just visiting and booked the job without a callback. Sadly, she lost the job the next day because she wasn’t yet a blonde.

However, the casting director she read for helped her find an LA agent when she finally moved. In the end, she found an agent on her own.

Waiting To Land Carly

It was 1994 when Tamara moved to LA, but it was 2001 when she finally got her big break replacing Sarah Joy Brown as Carly on GH. She landed small roles here and there but also had restaurant jobs to pay the bills.

Bradford pointed out that actors might be seen on TV regularly, but often need another job to help make ends meet. Tamara even played Carly for a year before she finally quit working at The Four Seasons. All three acknowledged that soap jobs are not a guarantee.

Auditioning For Carly

Steve asks Tamara what she thought about being a recast and she confesses she didn’t even know who she was auditioning for in the beginning. She thought it was a character named Sarah.

She eventually learned from a fellow worker at The Four Seasons that GH casting director Mark Techner was looking for her. When she auditioned for him previously, he wrote himself a note that she would make a great Carly if Sarah Brown ever left the role.

Steve and Tamara both praise Techner and Marnie Saitta, the casting director at DAYS.

After six months’ worth of auditions, Tamara finally landed the role and her soap life began. Steve relays that he also tested six or seven times when trying to land the iconic role of Jason.

How Tamara Almost Didn’t Become Carly

For her final audition, she bought an expensive blouse at Nordstrom’s and stuffed her bra to look like a soap actress, but when she saw what she looked like, she was disgusted. After she got home, she was in tears and ready to quit the business until she got a call that GH wanted to screen-test her.

She even said no at first but her manager encouraged her and the rest is soap opera history.

All About Acting

Tamara explains how she never saw herself as a leading lady but instead as the goofy sidekick. Steve points out that on soaps, Tamara gets cast as mafia princesses, referring to Carly on GH and Ava on DAYS.

To get to know Carly and play her well, Tamara sat down with GH writer Elizabeth Korte to get to know the character rather than watch Brown’s portrayal.

When she was cast as Ava, Tamara was told she was a cross between Glen Close in Fatal Attraction and Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted. Ava was also only supposed to be a six-month role.

Back On DAYS

Steve admits that soap stars know their contract is always up every 13 weeks so job security is tenuous. However, once you’re there long enough you get a whole 26 weeks.

Tamara was happy to sign on to play Ava for just six months because she worried what the story would do to her mentally. In the end, the role lasted much longer and she is back for another stint in 2023.

Steve explains how he ended up on DAYS to do Beyond Salem and was then offered a six-month contract. He was later thrilled to hear that Tamara was returning to the show to play his love interest after working together as Carly and Jason on GH.

Show Notes:
Catching Up With Tamara Braun-1:00
A College Revelation-12:35
Changing Her Life-16:40
Tamara Hits LA-21:09
Waiting To Land Carly-24:30
Auditioning For Carly-28:30
How Tamara Almost Didn’t Become Carly-36:30
All About Acting-45:02
Back on DAYS-48:40