Tamara Braun

Tamara Braun (born April 18, 1971)^[1] is an American actress known for her work on daytime television. She portrayed the role of Carly Corinthos on General Hospital from 2001–2005 and Reese Williams on All My Children from 2008 to 2009. In 2009, Braun won the Daytime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Ava Vitali on Days of Our Lives. She departed the series in 2008, briefly returning in the role of Taylor Walker during 2011. In 2015, Braun resumed the role of Ava as part of the series' 50th anniversary commemoration, remaining until 2016.

In 2017, 12 years after exiting her role as Carly on General Hospital, Braun returned to the soap as Kim Nero, the single mother of Oscar, the boyfriend of Carly’s daughter Josslyn. In 2020, Braun received her second Daytime Emmy for her work as Kim. That same year, Braun transitioned to Days of Our Lives to reprise the role of Ava, which she left again in late 2022.

Early life and education

Tamara Braun was born in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, to a family of Jewish descent.^[2][3] She attended Evanston Township High School. She was a psychology major at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and took a summer course in Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England before backpacking throughout Europe.

Career

Braun is well known for her win at the 2009 Daytime Emmy Awards, receiving the accolade of Outstanding Supporting Actress for the role of Ava Vitali on Days of our Lives. She is also well known for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of Carly Corinthos on the ABC soap opera General Hospital, a role she played from 2001 to 2005. As Carly, Braun was featured very prominently as a romantic partner of characters Sonny Corinthos, portrayed by Daytime Emmy winner Maurice Benard, and Lorenzo Alcazar, portrayed by Ted King.

After leaving General Hospital, Braun played the female lead in the independent movie Little Chenier, which was filmed in Louisiana in August 2005. Braun worked with a dialect coach to perfect a Cajun accent, and she altered her appearance by getting a bronzed tan and darkening her hair. Tamara appeared as pastry chef Rose on four episodes of the ABC sitcom Freddie as a romantic interest of both lead male characters. Tamara has also starred in the independent film Limbo Lounge, directed by Tom Pankratz. In 2006 and 2007 respectively, Braun appeared on the CBS hit shows Cold Case and Ghost Whisperer; in the former she portrayed a country singer who helped cover up the murder of a fellow singer in order to protect her career. Additionally, she appeared in the 2007 season premiere of Without a Trace.

In 2008, Braun joined the cast of the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives in the Emmy-winning role of Ava Vitali, a woman from long-time veteran Stephen Nichols' character Steve Johnson's past. She left the soap in August 2008, but would go on to win a Daytime Emmy award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Ava Vitali.

Later that year she joined the cast of All My Children as Reese Williams, her second soap opera role since leaving General Hospital in April 2005.

In July 2009, she landed the recurring role of Renee Ellen on the TNT show Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter.

On February 15, 2011, Soap Opera Digest announced Braun would return to Days of Our Lives, in the new role of Taylor Walker, replacing actress Natalia Livingston.^[4][5][6] On June 7, 2011, Braun was let go from Days of Our Lives; she made her final appearance as Taylor on September 22, 2011.^[7] In July 2015, it was announced that Braun would reprise her portrayal of Ava on Days of Our Lives, in celebration of the soap's fiftieth anniversary.^[8] She departed the role in March 2016.^[9]

In October 2017, Entertainment Weekly announced Braun would return to General Hospital once again, this time in a new role.^[10] She made her first appearance as Kim Nero on November 22, 2017.^[11] She left the role in 2019. The following year, it was announced she would return to Days of Our Lives as Ava. She returned to the role in November 2020.^[12]

In April 2025, Braun announced she had wrapped filming as Ava in July of the previous year;^[13] she departed the role that same month on April 3.^[14] That August, it was announced she had joined the cast of The Young and the Restless.^[15] She made her first appearance as Sienna Bacall on October 14.^[16]

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ "Almanac: Today's Birthdays". Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. April 18, 2024. p. A3. Actor Maria Bello is 57. Actor Mary Birdsong is 56. Actor David Hewlett is 56. Rock musician Greg Eklund (The Oolahs) is 54. Actor Lisa Locicero is 54. Actor Tamara Braun is 53. TV chef Ludovic Lefebvre is 53. Actor Fredro Starr is 53. Actor David Tennant is 53.. See also: *"Today in History: Today's Birthdays". Charleston Gazette - Mail. April 18, 2019. p. D4. Actress Maria Bello is 52. Actress Mary Birdsong is 51. Actor David Hewlett is 51. Rock musician Greg Eklund (The Oolahs) is 49. Actress Lisa Locicero is 49. Actress Tamara Braun is 48. TV chef Ludovic Lefebvre is 48. Actor Fedro Starr is 48. Actor David Tennant is 48.
2. ^ "Celebrity jews". J. 14 November 2003.
3. ^ Bloom, Nate (2003-11-14). "Celebrity Jews". The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California. Archived from the original on 2013-01-26. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
4. ^ "Comings and Goings". Soap Opera Digest. Vol. 37, no. 22. March 8, 2011. pp. 12, 13.
5. ^ "Huge DAYS Casting Change!". Soap Opera Digest. Soap Opera Digest.com. April 4, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
6. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (February 15, 2011). "Natalia Livingston out, Tamara Braun to rejoin DAYS". Soapcentral. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
7. ^ Fairman, Michael (June 7, 2011). "BREAKING NEWS: Nadia Bjorlin, Tamara Braun, Bren Foster OUT at DAYS!". On-Air On-Soaps. United States: Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
8. ^ SOD (July 6, 2015). "TAMARA BRAUN BACK TO DAYS!". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc.. Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. Archived from the original on 2015-07-07. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
9. ^ "Comings and Goings: Tamara Braun (Ava Vitali)". Soap Opera Digest. (Vol. 41, No. 10). March 7, 2016. p. 15.
10. ^ Rice, Lynette (October 25, 2017). "General Hospital is bringing back Tamara Braun". Entertainment Weekly. United States: Time Inc.. Archived 2017-10-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
11. ^ SOD (November 17, 2017). "Exclusive First Interview: Tamara Braun On New GH Gig". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc.. Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. Archived from the original on November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
12. ^ SOD (September 2, 2020). "Exclusive! Tamara Braun Back to DAYS". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc.. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
13. ^ Rice, Lynette (April 1, 2025). "Days of Our Lives Sends Tamara Braun Packing Again". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived April 1, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
14. ^ Di Lauro, Janet (April 1, 2025). "DAYS Casting Shocker: Tamara Braun Out as Ava". Soap Opera Digest. United States: A360media. ISSN 0164-3584. Archived April 1, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
15. ^ Blackwelder, Carson (August 26, 2025). "Tamara Braun Is Joining The Young and the Restless: Find Out Who the Soap Legend Is Playing (Exclusive)". People. United States: Dotdash Meredith. ISSN 0093-7673. OCLC 794712888. Archived August 26, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
16. ^ Sloane, Stephanie (September 29 – October 19, 2025). "Soap Scoop". TV Guide. Vol. 73, no. 39 (3820-3822). p. 4. ISSN 0039-8543
17. ^ "Daytime Emmy Awards 2020 Nominations: The Complete List". emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 21, 2020.
18. ^ Montgomery, Daniel (September 2, 2020). "1st Annual Soap Hub Awards decided by fans honored 'Days of Our Lives,' Steve Burton, Sharon Case and more". Gold Derby. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
19. ^ Montgomery, Daniel (September 2, 2020). "1st Annual Soap Hub Awards decided by fans honored 'Days of Our Lives,' Steve Burton, Sharon Case and more". Gold Derby. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved September 3, 2020.

External links

• Tamara Braun at IMDb