SHE’S BACK: 7 Things to Know About General Hospital’s Tamara Braun

Tamara Braun is rejoining the cast of General Hospital (GH) in a mysterious new role.

Rumor has it the actress, who played Carly Corinthos from 2001 to 2005, will be portraying Oscar’s (Garren Stitt) mother, Kim. But no matter who the character turns out to be, one thing’s for sure — she’ll be a formidable part of Port Charles.

Since her daytime debut, Braun has become one of the most respected actresses in the industry. Here’s a crash course on what you should know about her.

Name Game
The Evanston, Illinois native was born Tamara Eve Braun and goes by Tamara. That’s pronounced, “Tam ra.” And please don’t call her Tammy.

Psyched Up
The daughter of a psychiatrist and a psychologist, Braun majored in psychology at the University of Madison in Wisconsin. In time, she realized she couldn’t deny her calling to act and ended up taking a summer course at The Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

Bye-Bye Hollywood
During a two-year dry spell in Hollywood, Braun came to the decision to forsake acting and move on. But fate had other plans. Her manager soon phoned with news that General Hospital wanted her to audition for a key role. It led to her four-year stint as Carly on the show.

Golden Girl
In 2004, Braun garnered her first Daytime Emmy Award nomination, as Outstanding Lead Actress, for her role as Carly. Four years later, she took home the gold for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her portrayal of unstable mob princess Ava Vitali on Days of Our Lives.

Breaking Barriers
Braun created the role of Reese Williams on All My Children in 2008 and became part of the popular Reese and Bianca (Eden Riegel) pairing. The couple hold the distinction of having had the first legal same-sex marriage on soaps, when they exchanged vows on February 13, 2009.

Double Time
GH won’t be the first soap where Braun’s starred as two different characters. In addition to playing Ava on DAYS, Braun also had a short stint as Nicole’s (Arianne Zucker) sister, Taylor Walker. She actually replaced Natalia Livingston (ex-Emily/Rebecca, GH) in the role.

Charity Cases
Over the years, Braun has lent her support to a few charities. Among those closest to her heart is the Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind. The non-profit group develops life changing programs for people challenged by developmental disabilities and blindness.

Braun also works with sick and injured animals through The REAL Bark and Dharma Rescue.

General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes.