Tamara Jane Kingsley is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Kelly Paterniti. Tamara debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 1 October 2012. Originally a guest cast member, Paterniti was promoted to the show's regular cast. Tamara is a country girl, characterised as a "strong-willed and feisty female". Paterniti has described her as "very bold and quite pragmatic". Paterniti filmed her final scenes as Tamara in late 2013 and made her screen exit on 21 May 2014.
Tamara's storylines are heavily associated with the Braxton family, particularly through her romance with Casey Braxton (Lincoln Younes). Tamara is introduced during the show's storyline set in the Australian outback desert. She finds Casey stranded after his brother, Kyle Braxton (Nic Westaway), tries to kill him. Upon moving to Summer Bay, Tamara testifies in court for Casey, competes with Sasha Bezmel (Demi Harman) for his affections and begins a relationship with him. Other stories include Kyle falling in love with Tamara and being abducted by Adam Sharpe (Martin Lynes). Vanessa Williams from The West Australian said that Tamara "made her mark" on Home and Away. A Brisbane Times reporter described Tamara and Casey as the show's hottest couple.
Casting
Paterniti's first scenes were aired during 1 October 2012. Paterniti relocated from Western Australia to Sydney for filming. She revealed that she was initially nervous about joining Home and Away, saying "there is the fear that at some point you are going to be in a bikini, and that did play on my mind. You can't obsess over it, though. I think once you rip the bandaid off, it's fine." In February 2013, it was revealed that Paterniti had been promoted to the show's regular cast. She told Vanessa Williams of The West Australian that "Tamara is going to be around for a while but who knows just yet how long."
Development
Characterisation and introduction
Tamara is characterized as strong-willed and feisty. Partneriti told Erin Miller from TV Week that "I'm not as bold as Tamara, but I certainly would like to be. Tamara is a tough nut and she's got guts. She's very bold and quite pragmatic - a true bush girl." She is described on the show's official website as being "industrious, practical and lives her life in the knowledge that it can be taken from you in a heartbeat." She is emotionally strong and has a strong sense of social justice.
Tamara is introduced during a storyline in which Casey Braxton (Lincoln Younes) is kidnapped by Kyle Braxton (Nic Westaway) and left for dead in the Australian desert. Darryl Braxton (Steve Peacocke) and Natalie Davison (Catherine Mack) also feature in the storyline. In an interview with Kylie Gillies on The Morning Show, Westaway said that the episodes are action packed and Peacocke added that there were helicopters, stunt men and an explosion carried out on set. Executive producer Lucy Addario told Miller that such a stunt could only be filmed in a remote location in the outback. Younes told Erin Miller of TV Week that halfway through his ordeal a "mystery woman" appears and he is unsure if she wants Casey or Kyle. Mack added that "we really don't know anything about her the whole time". However, it soon becomes apparent that Tamara is an ally and gives Casey water. Kyle, who left Casey for dead, returns to the scene after Brax's car chases him. He recaptures Tamara and Casey. She throws a flaming petrol can at Kyle, causing an explosion, and then attempts to shoot him. Brax and Natalie locate them, bringing the ordeal to an end.
Casey was due to attend court when Kyle kidnapped him. Casey is taken to trial once again and he needs Tamara to testify for him. Younes told an Inside Soap reporter that without Tamara's help Casey would have been sent to prison. But she complicates the scenario because, as Younes explained, "Tamara has an aversion to authority, so she's reluctant to take on the responsibility." However, Tamara changes her mind and testifies in court.