Amber Tamblyn Facts: Celebrities Who Started on Soaps

Amber Tamblyn is a film and television actress who has been in many huge projects from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants films to The Ring and 127 Hours. She also got her start on a soap.

While she stays busy as an actress, Tamblyn is a political activist and an author, as well. From her first television role to facing her biggest fear, here are five fast facts about the star.

Who Is Amber Tamblyn?

Tamblyn was born on May 14 in Santa Monica, California, which is where she also grew up. Her father, Russ Tamblyn, is also an actor who appeared in iconic musicals like West Side Story and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, as well as the TV series Twin Peaks. Tamblyn attended the Santa Monica Alternative School House and began acting in a school play when she was 10.

Soap Beginnings
Tamblyn’s first television role was as Emily Bowen (later Quartermaine) on General Hospital. She won the part when she was just 12 years old and stayed on the show for six years before leaving to pursue other acting opportunities.

Conquered Her Biggest Fear
Tamblyn suffered from a bad case of arachnophobia. In fact, her fear of spiders affected her so much she asked the writers on General Hospital to change a scene so that her character wouldn’t have to pick up a tarantula. As an alternative, she suggested she pick up a rat instead. Tamblyn eventually got over her fear of spiders thanks to hypnotism.

Published Author

Tamblyn has published many books of poetry, but she released her first novel — called Any Man — in June 2018. The book is about a serial female rapist who preys on men. She then released her second book, a memoir, called Era of Ignition in March 2019.

Getting Personal With Amber Tamblyn
Tamblyn started dating actor David Cross, almost 20 years her senior, in 2007. The couple became engaged in August 2011 and tied the knot on October 6, 2012, in a beautiful outdoor wedding. They announced the birth of their first child, daughter Marlow Alice Cross, in February 2017.