« Star's Marriage A Fake | Main | Outstanding Lead Actress Nominee »

Tamara Braun Carly Corinthos, General Hospital

Three years ago, General Hospital underwent a shift that rocked its very core. Core couple, that is. With the departure of fan fave — and three-time Daytime Emmy winner — Sarah Brown (soon to join As the World Turns), the Sonny-Carly saga looked to be headed the way of, well, most of Sonny's enemies. But when Tamara Braun stepped in to fill the shoes of the fiery femme, the sparks between her and Maurice Benard flew in the face of her naysayers, leaving us all hot and bothered. Now, armed with her first Daytime Emmy nod, the delightful, honey-voiced actress opens up about taking over the role, taking risks and not taking her fans for granted. — Damian J. Holbrook

First of all, let me say, the brunette hair? Fantastic.
You like it? Thank you so much! It certainly worked within the story. And I had been asking, or volunteering, for a while, since we had a whole lot of blondes on the show. They were all saying, "Everyone's so blonde!" So I said I would go back to brunette. Back then it was me, Faith (Cynthia Preston), Courtney (Alicia Leigh Willis), Felicia (Kristina Wagner), Summer (Brittney Powell)... there was a ton of us. And we all looked the same from behind!

And congratulations on your first Emmy nomination. It's about damn time! How excited are you?
Awww, thank you, so much. It feels so good to have that recognition.

Seriously. Sarah Brown was so beloved, yet over the last three years, you have made Carly yours. To get this recognition, do you feel that they're finally paying more attention to the work than the recast?
Yes, that's really nice. I don't think that even [not getting a nod] last year was so much a comment on the recast. I just think that I'm in a lead category and I put myself there... You put yourself in the appropriate category and see where the chips fall. So I think it's hard... I was still new then. You have to pay your dues, I think, in this business. In most businesses, really.

And to be going up against heavy hitters like Nancy Lee Grahn, (Alexis, GH), Kim Zimmer (Reva, GL), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R) and Maura West (Carly, ATWT)?
Oh, there are some incredible nominees. I think the nominees in all the categories are very well-deserved. And these are such good actresses. It feels really good, like we're all supposed to be there. Now, having said that, I think there are a lot of people who are much more deserving than I am who aren't even in the running.

Well, you have done great work, too. Don't deny what you've put out there this year. You deserve it!
[Laughing]OK, OK! I'm not denying myself this. But there are tons of people out there who haven't been recognized, but I guess there's only five that can be nominated. I mean, I think Kassie DePaiva (Blair, OLTL) is incredible. I thought for certain she would be there.

You could pretty much take any woman who has been shot by her lover in the past 12 months...
[Laughing] And they could be nominated! Isn't it interesting how all these women keep getting shot?

And they stick with the men! When you step away from the character, do you look at Carly and think, "Girlfriend needs help!"
Oh yeah! What is up with that? If you take everyone on our show and looked at their psychology and their psychosis, we need a therapist!! And I have been saying for years now that it would be hysterical, a great comedic break, to bring a therapist in. One that's really unconventional, who sticks it to you. Especially when the Alexis-Carly-Sonny triangle was going on? Put them into group therapy, [make them] role-play. It would be hysterical!

So what scenes did you submit this year?
The first pick, the one that got me the nomination, was when Carly woke up in bed with Ric (Rick Hearst). When she'd been drugged but didn't realize it. And it's so interesting, because that aired in February, so that was early on in the year. And for my second show, I really thought I would have followed that up with the one where Carly tells Sonny about the baby. First Courtney takes her home and she talks about the rape, what Ric did to her and how she can't remember, but she wishes that she could, because her imagination is so strong. I was really very proud of my work. But when I watched it, a lot of the scenes focused on another character, the way it was shot. The show, as a whole, didn't end up being as strong for me. And the scenes aired on two separate days, so you can't splice together scenes. If you could, wow, everyone would have insane tapes. But you have to find a single episode that pretty much focuses on you. So I ended up, for the second one, submitting the show where Carly stopped Sonny from shooting Alcazar (Ted King).

Which time?
Yeah, which time! After she comes back from the island, when Sonny finds Alcazar in the penthouse with Carly, then the cops show up and they end up shooting Sonny. That's the one I submitted because there was really strong, equal stuff going on ... and I was entertained. Whether it works or whether it doesn't, who knows, but that's how I ended up making my decision. Whatever happens, it's just so fantastic. It feels like a real validation.

Of course. And on top of the fan response...
Oh, the fans are amazing. I had no idea how many people [the show] touches.

That's everyone's dirty little secret. They all have their favorite soap but will never admit it.
They won't! I remember being at this party and I had four different guys come up to me and whisper in my ear, basically saying, "I love you on that show. Just don't tell anybody that I watch." [Laughs]

Some of my friends have fed me questions. When they heard I was talking to Carly, who I had to explain was just a character, they all wanted to know: Who do you think she should be with? Sonny or Alcazar?
Ha! I think Carly should make friends with herself right now. She needs a little alone time to sort things out.

When your ex puts a gun in your hand and orders you to kill your current lover, at what point does one start to think, "Maybe I should take some time off?"
Exactly! Time to go back to the trailer park in Florida! [Laughing] Like I've said, sometimes, it takes people a long time to learn their lessons in life.

Where you surprised how the fans took to Carly and Alcazar?
Hmmm. I'm never surprised by what certain fans will be drawn to. I think that every character on our show represents something different and touches people in different ways. It's like a piece of art or music. You can look at something and it can move one person, really speak to them. Then, the person standing next to them may be, "Ehhh. Can we go get some lunch?" So I never underestimate what may affect somebody. But I think one of the things the fans like about the Carly-Lorenzo story is that, as bad as he is, he still respects her. He lets her be who she is and doesn't want to change her. That's what I have heard from the fans. They love how he treats Carly. He doesn't put her down for who she is.

Are there any other storylines going on that you wish Carly could be a part of?
Carly needs a career. She needs to focus, to get her strength back. So I thought it would be great if she became the editor of a magazine or a publisher. It's a very powerful position for a woman, and it creates a wonderful opportunity for different [or new] characters to be involved. She could print something that may rub someone in town the wrong way. Not only for Carly would it be a great thing, but for the whole canvas...

And even for ABC. It could open the field for guest spots if you were to do celebrity interviews.
Yes! Exactly. So, I did talk to our [executives] about that, but I don't know. It's just a suggestion and it would be a fun thing, you know?

Folks also want to know about your future. You've had a good run and surely every other show would be ready to pick you up. Do you have plans to stay with General Hospital when your contract comes up?
Oh, you know, I have no plans to go to another show ... I have it good right now.

And speaking of having it good, now that you're up for your first Emmy, who are you going to wear?
[Laughing] Well, I'm not sure yet. You know, this is the dilemma: I have not picked out a dress yet...

Oh no!
I know! Last year I wore a Lloyd Klein gown and I was so in love with it. So this year, I've tried on a few more, and I've been fortunate, a few [designers] have called. I just have to try them on. But for me it's not about a designer, it's about how you feel when you're in it. Do you feel comfortable? I don't want to wear anything where I'm going to have to pull or worry. I just want to be comfortable. You want to be able to eat and watch and feel good.

Tv Guide Online May 18, 2004