Biography
From a dry-witted teenager with a dark sense of humor navigating her parents' divorce, to portraying a notable former member of Charles Manson's commune, to playing a 16-year-old girl who embarks on a nationwide killing spree targeting the country's most annoying celebrities, Tara Lynne Barr has rapidly gained recognition in the entertainment world for her portrayal of complex characters on both film and television.
Tara is best known for her lead role in Hulu and Lionsgate Television’s original comedy series Casual (2015). Executive produced by Jason Reitman, Tara shines as Laura, the sarcastic yet insightful and witty daughter of Valerie (Michaela Watkins). The series centers on a bachelor brother (Tommy Dewey) and his newly divorced sister (Watkins) as they navigate dating, cohabitation, and raising a teenager. Premiering in October 2015 to critical acclaim, Casual was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical. Alongside Hulu, Tara appeared in NBC’s 1960s thriller-drama Aquarius (2015) during the summer of 2015. She starred opposite Golden Globe winner David Duchovny, who plays a Los Angeles police sergeant investigating cult leader Charles Manson undercover. Tara portrayed Katie, a character based on real-life Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel.
Tara’s feature film debut came with the acclaimed independent film God Bless America (2011), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, Tara captivated audiences as Roxy, a 16-year-old girl who partners with terminally ill Frank (Joel Murray) on a mission to eliminate society’s most repugnant citizens. The film has since become a cult favorite, earning a nomination for the Audience Award at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival. Tara also received a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film for her performance. In 2014, she made an impact again in the indie scene with the lead role in Dawn, Rose McGowan’s directorial debut short film set in the 1960s. The dark, dramatic piece premiered at Sundance and was nominated for the Short Film Grand Jury Prize.
Born and raised in Orange County, California, Tara began her theater journey at age seven. Drawn immediately to the stage, she loved embodying diverse characters. While acting became her passion, she also valued normalcy and recognized early on that commuting between Orange County and Los Angeles consumed much of her school time. She explored opportunities with Disney and Nickelodeon and appeared on several series but chose to wait until after high school graduation to pursue acting seriously. Shortly before graduating, Tara landed the role in God Bless America (2011), and she has been steadily working since.
In addition to her acting career, Tara has a strong passion for music. She sings, is a self-taught guitarist, and hopes to learn bass soon. A lover of the arts, she enjoys plays, musicals, supporting local theater, and reading crime mystery novels. Tara is also an avid fan of horror films, from classic to modern, striving to watch as many as possible. She currently resides in the Los Angeles area.
