Claire Danes

Birthday: 12 April 1979, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name: Claire Catherine Danes

Height: 166 cm

New Yorker Claire Catherine Danes was born in Manhattan, the daughter of Carla (Hall), a day-care provider and artist, and Christopher Danes, a computer consultant and photographer. She has an older b ...Show More

Once you get over that peak of puberty, you hit a nice stride. Once you get over that peak of puberty, you hit a nice stride.

I was a very confident child. I knew I wanted to be an actress from the age of 5. Madonna was my ori Show more I was a very confident child. I knew I wanted to be an actress from the age of 5. Madonna was my original muse -- around 5, I saw her perform on television, and I realized that performing could be one's vocation. Then, at 7 or 8, I realized that most actors don't make a lot of money, and I amended my plan. But at 9, I seized my destiny. I made a formal announcement to my parents that I had to be true to my art. Money or no money, acting is my calling. Hide

But I don't know if people are meant to be together. You have to have a lot in common, choose well a Show more But I don't know if people are meant to be together. You have to have a lot in common, choose well and be really fortunate. It's not like you're sprinkled with fairy dust. You have to believe that love will be there when you need it. Hide

I live in an adult world, but I'm a kid. I love the work. But I no longer have a group of friends to Show more I live in an adult world, but I'm a kid. I love the work. But I no longer have a group of friends to hang out with regularly. Hide

I don't know if people are meant to be together. You have to have a lot in common, choose well and b Show more I don't know if people are meant to be together. You have to have a lot in common, choose well and be really fortunate. It's not like you're sprinkled with fairy dust. You have to believe that love will be there when you need it. Hide

[on Stage Beauty (2004)] I was intimidated. There was the accent, the period of the film, and I had Show more [on Stage Beauty (2004)] I was intimidated. There was the accent, the period of the film, and I had to act badly. I kept laughing during those scenes because I was god-awful. I've worked so hard to be good, and now I had to work even harder to be bad. Hide

I think people confuse fame with validation or love. But fame is not the reward. The reward is getti Show more I think people confuse fame with validation or love. But fame is not the reward. The reward is getting fulfilment out of doing the thing you love. Hide

I never thought of myself as a child actor. I knew I was a kid, but they weren't related. There was Show more I never thought of myself as a child actor. I knew I was a kid, but they weren't related. There was nothing I could do about being a kid, and meanwhile I was an actress, and I had something to say in my acting. Hide

[on husband Hugh Dancy] He's such a cutie patootie. While relationships are work, this just didn't f Show more [on husband Hugh Dancy] He's such a cutie patootie. While relationships are work, this just didn't feel like it. It's the kind of work that feels energizing rather than enervating. I find it very freeing to know that, okay, it takes constant nurturing and attention, but I can also stop looking for the one. Hide

[what she gained from working on Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)] It made me realize I'm a Show more [what she gained from working on Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)] It made me realize I'm a professional actress. Hide

It's very difficult to judge yourself. Extreme self-doubt is only attractive when it's fictionalized Show more It's very difficult to judge yourself. Extreme self-doubt is only attractive when it's fictionalized. Which is why people love the movies. They are so reassuring. Hide

Acting is the greatest answer to my loneliness that I have found. Acting is the greatest answer to my loneliness that I have found.

[on Lena Dunham's series "Girls" and its central character, Hannah] Lena's power lies largely in her Show more [on Lena Dunham's series "Girls" and its central character, Hannah] Lena's power lies largely in her self-awareness and wit. Like all great comics, she has a joke ready to deflect any jeer. Hannah's pathetic declaration that she could at least be "a voice for a generation" invites and thwarts many a poisoned arrow. Lena's true power, though, lies in her transparency. She is unflinchingly, unnervingly honest. She exposes, beneath all that bare skin, a multitude of shortcomings... as vivid and raw a portrait as we have seen. Hide

[on Steve Martin] He's a great, great fucking weirdo. [on Steve Martin] He's a great, great fucking weirdo.

Growing up, I wanted desperately to please, to be a good girl. Growing up, I wanted desperately to please, to be a good girl.

[on co-star Kate Beckinsale and hoping to become friends] That was wrong. We didn't. She's complicat Show more [on co-star Kate Beckinsale and hoping to become friends] That was wrong. We didn't. She's complicated. She's prickly. Hide

[on education vs. career] I was told that my going to college wouldn't be good for my career. I thin Show more [on education vs. career] I was told that my going to college wouldn't be good for my career. I think that's nonsense. It's good to empower yourself by cutting yourself off from this business every once in a while. Hide

I had an unwavering focus. My parents never condescended to me. As a child, I always sat at the head Show more I had an unwavering focus. My parents never condescended to me. As a child, I always sat at the head of our dinner table. I was always given a lot of responsibility. It was all rather amazing when I think about it now. Hide

[December 21, 2005, on having children] I would like to have a family, but I'm trying not to make an Show more [December 21, 2005, on having children] I would like to have a family, but I'm trying not to make any plans, because when I do, everything goes wrong. Hide

[on her non-stop work schedule] Usually, my social life and my sanity and my health are the things t Show more [on her non-stop work schedule] Usually, my social life and my sanity and my health are the things that are sacrificed. Hide

If you do something that you're not genuinely passionate about, it is a little soul-crushing. Just n Show more If you do something that you're not genuinely passionate about, it is a little soul-crushing. Just not worth it. Hide

My line about Arnold Schwarzenegger is that he doesn't get in his own way. He is not apologetic abou Show more My line about Arnold Schwarzenegger is that he doesn't get in his own way. He is not apologetic about achieving his goals. And when you have that attitude, it's amazing what one can accomplish. He wanted to give me relationship advice. I was having trouble with a female friend, and he said, "Be really forthright and do not accommodate her needs excessively." I took his advice and we're not friends anymore. So there you go. Hide

This business can be very erratic. You can be the subject of great attention, both positive and nega Show more This business can be very erratic. You can be the subject of great attention, both positive and negative. You really do have to tether yourself when you're a teen star. If you don't have that tether, than you're really lost. Hide

I think that everybody wants to create, to do something that feels genuine and kinetic and spontaneo Show more I think that everybody wants to create, to do something that feels genuine and kinetic and spontaneous. I think actors want to surprise themselves. When it's really good, you kind of transcend yourself, and that happens infrequently. Very, very rarely. You might get one or two of those moments on a film, say, and sometimes they don't even use the takes where that happens. And I'm not really that moralistic about how you get there. Hide

The point of acting is to share, to connect. That's why I act. Acting is the greatest answer to my l Show more The point of acting is to share, to connect. That's why I act. Acting is the greatest answer to my loneliness that I have found. Hide

They had written Carrie [from Homeland (2011)] as bipolar without even knowing it. At first, I was c Show more They had written Carrie [from Homeland (2011)] as bipolar without even knowing it. At first, I was concerned that it would just be a gimmick. I still am because it's fun to see crazy Carrie. Hide

I have a huge, active imagination, and I think I'm really scared of being alone; because if I'm left Show more I have a huge, active imagination, and I think I'm really scared of being alone; because if I'm left to my own devices, I'll just turn into a madwoman. Hide

[on her notorious swimsuit scene in To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996)] I'll never wear a thong Show more [on her notorious swimsuit scene in To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996)] I'll never wear a thong again. I'm a Speedo gal. Hide

Claire Danes's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (114)

Master of None - Season 2

The Daily Show - Season 22

Stage Beauty

Romeo And Juliet 1996

Finding Your Roots - Season 4

Saturday Night Live - Season 26

Finding Your Roots - Season 9

Conan - Season 10

Saturday Night Live - Season 44

Jeopardy - Season 37