United States of Tara

About United States of Tara

"United States of Tara" is an American television comedy-drama series which aired from 2009 to 2011. The show was created by Diablo Cody and produced by Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks Television. The series follows the life of Tara Gregson, a wife and mother who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder, resulting in a myriad of unique and quirky alter personas.

Making / Production

The series was predominantly shot on location in Overland Park, Kansas. Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Diablo Cody, Alexia Jones and Jill Soloway served as executive producers. The series employed a team of writers who worked collaboratively to bring the vibrant and diverse personalities of Tara and her alters to life.

Actors

• Toni Collette as "Tara Gregson" - She expertly navigates the complexities of playing multiple characters within one character, providing a nuanced and captivating performance throughout.
• John Corbett as "Max Gregson" - Plays Tara’s patient and caring husband, balancing strength and vulnerability.
• Keir Gilchrist as "Marshall Gregson" - Tara’s introverted son. He gives a sensitive performance, portraying Marshall's coming-of-age journey with precision.
• Brie Larson as "Kate Gregson" - As Tara's rebellious, independent daughter, she had a breakout role in the series.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show was created by Diablo Cody, who also wrote the award-winning film, "Juno".
• Toni Collette's performance was so versatile that she frequently played multiple characters within one episode.
• The series was one of the first to depict Dissociative Identity Disorder with depth and honesty.

Awards

For her performance in "United States of Tara", Toni Collette won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2009. The show also received multiple other nominations throughout its run.

Quotes

• "I'm not going to let anyone keep me from being me anymore." - Tara
• "As long as we're a family, we're a family." - Max
• "Did you miss the memo? We're weird." - Kate

Music, Soundtrack

• The opening theme song of the series, "You Have No Idea What You're Talking About", is performed by Tim DeLaughter.
• The music for the series was mainly composed by Craig Richey.
• The soundtrack boasts a range of indie tracks creating a quirky, upbeat backdrop to match the mood of the series.