Alanna Masterson was just as surprised about her character Tara getting killed off The Walking Dead as you were. “I got a phone call from (showrunner Angela Kang) about two weeks before I shot the episode,” Masterson told Entertainment Weekly in regards to her character getting beheaded by Whisperer leader Alpha in this season’s penultimate episode. “I was caught off guard for sure, but also excited for what the future holds. Tara has been extremely fun to bring to life,” she said.
Tara first came on the scene in Season 4. Back then, she was on the Governor’s side, but soon joined our heroes following the fall of the prison. Although Tara has continued to evolve as a character, her most drastic evolution came in Season 9 when she was thrust into Hilltop’s leadership position following Jesus’ death. She had to quickly deal with Lydia’s arrival, Alpha’s trade negotiations, and her community’s role at the Fair. “It was really fun to explore that side of Tara. I wish we had gotten to explore that more, but I’m excited to see where the story goes from here,” Masterson said of her character’s recent turn.
After all these years, which moments from The Walking Dead stood out to Alanna? “My favorite scenes are still with Glenn,” Masterson told EW. “(Steven Yeun and I) had such a good time filming together. We just shot a short film called Naysayer, so it was exciting to work together again.”
Asked what she’ll miss about the show she’s been on for the past six years, Masterson said, “I’ll miss the cast and crew the most. They’ve become my home away from home, and I will forever cherish the bonds we formed. This show is impossible to make, and day after day we did it. I did it for 6 years, and I will miss the heat, the hours, and the challenges.”
Make sure to catch the rest of the interview over at Entertainment Weekly and keep up with Alanna by following her on Instagram! Which Tara moments were your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
I love Alanna’s Character Tara!! Gonna miss her a lot!
Happy shes gone…hopefully luke, kelly and siddiq are next in line….
Bruh ur dark
I can’t freakin believe it!! And Henry too? Sheesh, every character I fall in love with on TWD get killed off now. And faster and, faster with everyone. :'(
As an actor I would never sign on to TWD because of the fact you have assholes running the show and killing main cast left and right. I would not trust the producers as far as I could spit. As an actor Id stay far far away from that show.
Ok then.
Yeah better stick with all those roles that made you famous instead. Who are you again?
I understand that they kill off big characters from the show for shock purposes but two weeks before filming isn’t that long. They shouldn’t say, “You ARE going to die.” they should say, “We are planning on writing your character off The Walking Dead, are you happy with this or shall we choose to kill someone who wants to leave?”
No too boring The fact that they’d say “Ur Going to die” is totally rad but Tara not mah girl Tara
Tara turned TWD. Thanks to her there were great moments of humor. It was and is necessary in the series, I do not know what we are going to do now without her. So far it’s the death that has hurt me the most, (I thought nothing would surpass Glenn and Carl’s). It is the first time I feel a huge void when I think about what will come in the new seasons. I‘m broken 💔.
Alanna thank you very much for everything you have given us, you deserve the best. And by the way, come to Spain whenever you want hahaha. 🔜🇪🇸
I will miss Tara. She is young, fearless, open minded, kind.
I liked Tara as a character because she grew so much. From the start (season 4) to end (season 9) she was a totally different person. To all you Trolls out there, we don’t need your negativity and obviously you like her or else you wouldn’t have read the article!!
Karl G.
Did not care about anyone on those spikes except for Tara. Uncool for the older lady that just got the baby, Henry had it coming from being a stupid spoilt horny teenager putting everyone in danger and disobeying everyone. Would have been shocking for Alannah to just shoot scenes where she is now the new leader only to be killed off shortly after . It’s like your character is being promoted joks she dead. I enjoyed the character of Alpha she was creepy and unlike the governor or megan style of protagonist.