Tara Thornton

Fictional biography

Tara Mae Thornton is a Louisiana native in her twenties and lifelong friend of the main protagonist, Sookie Stackhouse.

The books establish that Tara's parents were abusive alcoholics. The television show expands Tara's family to include her cousin Lafayette Reynolds and his mother, Ruby Jean Reynolds.

The Southern Vampire Mysteries

Tara has two siblings, a brother and a sister. They left Bon Temps and Tara behind as soon as they were able to. In Living Dead in Dallas, Tara is engaged to "Eggs" Benedict Talley, but this relationship ends when a secret sex party they attend goes awry. She then opens up a clothing store called "Tara's Togs" and briefly dates the vampire Franklin Mott. He dumps her and gives her to the vampire Mickey, a sadist, from whom Sookie and the vampire Eric Northman must rescue her.

During the events of All Together Dead, Tara and JB du Rone elope. Tara confides to Sookie that she's pregnant, and though did not plan on having a baby, feels she should try to be the great mother that she never had. Claude reveals that Tara is having twins, a boy and a girl. She gives birth to a daughter named Sara Sookie and a son named Robert Thornton, with help from Sookie. She and JB go through financial problems after the birth of the twins. To Tara's annoyance, JB starts work as a stripper at Hooligans, a bar owned by Claude. After the events of Dead Ever After, Tara and JB divorce. Tara becomes successful in her business, opening a series of clothing stores.

True Blood

In the HBO series True Blood, Tara is portrayed by actress Rutina Wesley. Actress Brook Kerr was originally cast in the role but was replaced after the pilot episode. She first appeared in the BloodCopy.com's video “Maxine & Tara Thornton interview”.

At the beginning of the television show, Tara lives with her mother Lettie Mae, who is described as an alcoholic turned fundamentalist who makes Tara's life miserable. As a child, Tara would run to Sookie's house to get away from her mother's beatings. Because of this, and Tara's acceptance of Sookie as a telepath, they became best friends. Despite enduring years of abuse, neglect, and disappointment from her mother, Tara still cares about Lettie Mae's well-being. Tara is depicted as a very angry and wounded individual.

Tara leaves her mother's house and moves into Lafayette's home. The discovery of a hidden webcam in his bathroom results in her moving out into her own apartment. After her mother undergoes an exorcism, Tara briefly moves back in with her, but is then arrested for driving under the influence, so Lettie Mae kicks Tara back out. Tara is bailed out by the mysterious social worker Maryann Forrester, and she takes up residence at Maryann's estate.

Tara and Sam Merlotte, her boss, explore a romantic relationship. Before they can give it another try, Tara meets "Eggs" Benedict Talley, who also lives with Maryann. Sensing that something is not right with Maryann, Tara moves in with Sookie, who goes to Dallas and leaves Tara alone. Tara succumbs to the draw of Maryann and Eggs, but instead of moving in with them, Tara invites the pair to move into Sookie's. Tara falls in love with Eggs, and the relationship ends when Eggs is killed by Jason Stackhouse.

Tara crosses paths with the sociopathic vampire Franklin Mott. Franklin glamours, bites, and kidnaps her, keeping her bound in a bathroom. He takes her to the Mississippi mansion of Russell Edgington. Franklin mixes romantic talk of turning her into a vampire with coercive actions, while Tara attempts to soothe him with compliance while plotting her own escape. She escapes him on her second attempt and makes it back to Bon Temps, where she seeks help in a rape survivors' group. Franklin confronts her in the parking lot of Merlotte's Bar and Grill a few nights later and attempts to kidnap her again. Jason Stackhouse arrives and kills Franklin.