Claire Danes, born Claire Catherine Danes on April 12, 1979, in New York City, is an acclaimed American actress. She first gained recognition for her role as Angela Chase in the teen drama series My So-Called Life (1994–1995), which earned her a Golden Globe Award. Her film debut was in Little Women (1994), and she later starred in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996) alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.

Danes has showcased her versatility in films like The Hours (2002), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), and Stardust (2007). She also portrayed Temple Grandin in the HBO biopic Temple Grandin (2010), earning an Emmy and Golden Globe for her performance. From 2011 to 2020, she starred as Carrie Mathison in the critically acclaimed series Homeland, winning multiple awards for her portrayal of the complex CIA agent.