Claire Catherine Danes, a renowned New Yorker, was born in Manhattan to Carla (Hall),a dedicated day-care provider and artist, and Christopher Danes, a skilled computer consultant and photographer. She is the younger sibling of Asa, her older brother. Her paternal grandfather, Gibson Andrew Danes, held the esteemed position of Dean of the Yale School of Art and Architecture, and Claire's ancestry is predominantly German and British Isles descent.
Claire's educational journey took her to Dalton School in New York, The New York City Lab School for Collaborative Studies, The Professional Performing Arts School, and Lycée Français de Los Angeles. She then attended Yale University from 1998, majoring in psychology, but eventually dropped out after two years to focus on her burgeoning acting career.
Claire first gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of "Angela Chase" in the critically acclaimed television series My So-Called Life (1994),earning an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe award. This success paved the way for a thriving film career, including her iconic role as "Juliet" opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996). She went on to appear in a diverse range of projects, such as The Hours (2002),Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003),and Stardust (2007).
In 2010, Claire starred in the HBO production Temple Grandin (2010),bringing the title character to life. Her performance received widespread critical acclaim, and she won an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for her outstanding portrayal. Since 2011, Claire has starred in the SHOWTIME series Homeland (2011),receiving widespread critical acclaim and winning numerous Emmys and Golden Globes.
