The Broadway Investigation of Tamara Tunie

By Christopher Moore, Broadway Magazine

For nine years, audiences have come to know Tamara Tunie as the brilliant Dr. Melinda Warner on the hit NBC series Law & Order: SVU, a character who can help solve crimes, perform surgery, and even fire a gun when needed. "It's a great gig. I love it. I love the role because it's a really smart role. I actually learn a lot playing it," says Tamara talking about her SVU alter-ego. What most SVU fans may not know is that Tamara has deep connections to the Broadway stage, not only as performer in hits like the Broadway revival of Julius Caesar starring Denzel Washington, but also as a producer and investor. Actor, singer, producer, dancer, Broadway Renaissance woman Tamara Tunie took time to talk exclusively with Broadway.tv during the recent Fashion Week events at Bryant Park in New York City.

The successful SVU star got her start studying at the prestigious Drama school at Carnegie Mellon University. After getting her training, Tamara came to New York. "I did a lot of off-off-off-off-Broadway Theater. I did a lot of musical theatre, when I first got here, because I had those skills." she recalls. In fact it was as a musical theater performer where Tamara found her earliest success. However, afraid that she was being pigeon-holed as a musical theatre performer, she made a bold choice. "I closed the door on musical theater," she remembers with a smile, "and interestingly enough as soon as I did that, I booked my first movie."

Having had a successful run on the soap opera As The World Turns, and numerous other television series, including hits like 24, NYPD Blue, and a memorable turn on Sex and the City, Tamara has found immense success on television, but her heart is admittedly in the theatre. "My heart and soul is the stage," she confesses to Broadway.tv. Her passion for theater inspired Tamara to move from on-stage to behind the scenes. She became a producer. Tamara is one of the Tony Award winning producers on the hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening..."which is just one of the most fantastic theatrical pieces in history. I feel that strongly about it," Tamara says unequivocally.

In addition to Spring Awakening, she is also one of the investors of the hit Broadway musical Legally Blonde. Her involvement in that Broadway hit almost never happened. A self-confessed "theatre snob" who advocates for "authentic, fresh, new work on the stage," Tunie at first had little interest in the project. Then, she listened to the CD and read the script and she knew she had to be involved. On the serious side, Tamara was also a producer of the accomplished American playwright August Wilson's play Radio Golf when it played on Broadway.

With her ability not only to transition her career successfully between television, movies, and stage, but also her ability to find success both as a producer, investor, and performer, Tamar Tunie has accomplished what few artists in history ever achieve. She shares her definition of success with Broadway.tv: "being happy in your life...following your heart and following your passion." Tamara Tunie is a television star, but she is also a true Broadway success story. Case closed.

Watch more exclusive footage of our interview with Tamara, including the story of how she almost missed out on SVU altogether, her involvement with Legally Blonde, and much more right here on www.Broadway.tv.