-> 

v

"People confuse fame with validation or love. But fame is not the reward. The reward is getting fulfillment out of doing the thing you love." Claire Danes has had a long and fascinating career. Originally brought under the spotlight as a child-actress, Danes has turned into one of the most decorated performers in the industry.

 -> 

v

Danes is currently holding down the leading role in the Golden Globe-nominated series, Homeland. She has also spent considerable time as one of the hottest leading actresses in Hollywood. With more than 40 credits to her name and a series of awards on her mantle, now is a great time to look back at how Danes got to this point in her career.

A Passionate Child Actor

Claire Catherine Danes was born in New York City, New York, on April 12, 1979. Danes was born to Chris and Carla Danes. Chris worked as a computer consultant while Carla worked as a textile designer. From an early age, Danes was in love with the theater. She began to pursue the stage while she was a young kid and her parents not only supported the idea, they embraced it completely. Danes says, "I was very driven to act from a very young age, and my parents were not only tolerant of that drive, but also encouraging."

 -> 

v

Danes began pursuing her career in earnest at the age of six. She began to study modern dance but soon fell in love with acting. Before long, Danes was enrolled at a prominent performing arts school where she would begin to sculpt the skills that she showcases today. While Danes worked hard, her career as an actress didn't happen overnight. Instead, it took years until Danes was happy with where she was as a performer.

Carving Out a Career in Hollywood

Claire Danes would make her debut in the 1990 short-film, Dreams of Love. Danes would follow that project with an appearance on Law & Order (1992) and Dudley (1993). Everything would change for Danes when she was cast as Angela Chase in the ABC show, My So Called Life (1994). While Danes was quick to get signed on for the role, it would take two years before the series premiered on television. Dances would earn a Golden Globe nomination for her work but the show was still pulled after a single season.

 -> 

v

Despite waiting for so long only to lose her show, Danes didn't let the industry get her down. Instead, Danes began to appear frequently on the silver screen. Danes would land a starring role in the Leonardo DiCaprio-led film, Romeo + Juliet (1996). Danes would then appear in The Rainmaker (1997) and Les Miserables (1998).

By this point in time, Danes was all but fed up with acting. So, instead, Danes chose to go pursue her undergrad degree at  Yale. Danes would go back to Yale for two years before slowly finding herself back in Hollywood. When the 00s rolled around, Danes would appear in The Hours (2002), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), and The Rage in Placid Lake (2003). While these films were successful, they weren't indicative of the greater work that Danes felt she was capable of. 

 -> 

v

Fortunately, Danes has never lacked for work when she has wanted it. She would score a leading role in the swashbuckling action film Stardust (2007) alongside Robert De Niro before landing an Emmy Award for her work on the HBO project, Temple Grandin (2009). Now firmly back in the driver's seat, Danes was a hot commodity once again. Fortunately, her free-time would become non-existent after landing a leading role in the series Homeland (2011).

Homeland would be where Danes found her second home as a performer. The series followed Dane's character, a CI agent, becoming increasingly suspicious of a marine played by Damian Lewis. The series has since gone on to become one of the most decorated television programs in the industry. The series also stars Mandy Patinkin. Danes would win the 2012 and 2013 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series. She would also win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for both of those years. The series is still active to today as it continues to rack up numerous high-profile awards.

 -> 

v

Clair Danes lives in New York City and has lived there since she was just 18 years old. Danes met Hugh Dancy in the early 00s and the two have been married since 2009. Dancy and Danes celebrated their marriage with a small ceremony in France. They had first met while filming Evening together. Since the two got married, they've welcomed two children into the world.

In her personal life, Danes is a devout feminist. She also is a proud supporter of therapy as a 'helpful tool' to 'self-reflect'. Danes also is a prominent supporter of Afghan Hands, a charity that helps women in Afghanistan to gain independence, fair pay, and education. Danes earned her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015.