Claire Danes

Published August 19th, 2000 - 03:00 GMT

Date of Birth: April 12, 1979

Place of Birth: New York, NY, USA

Sign: Sun in Aries, Moon in Libra

Relations: Companion: Ben Lee (musician); Father: Chris (Computer Consultant); Mother: Carla (artist);Brother: Asa

Education: Completed high school diploma with tutor; has deferred enrollment to Yale

CLAIRE DANES EPITOMIZES the sexy innocence that made various women stars in the early and late 50’s. Her beauty combined with an innocence beyond description and of course, the great acting talent have made this young woman a star from childhood.

Even as a wife she played the innocent victim in Francis Ford Coppola's production of John Grisham's The Rainmaker with Matt Damon. Okay, she finally slummed it and played white trash in Oliver Stone’s U-Turn, but who saw it? Claire's pristine piety is safe.

But not for long.

In 1998, Claire stepped into The Mod Squad, filling some seriously big platform shoes left by Peggy Lipton, who created the slick, sexy role in the 1960s television series. Proving her versatility, she also held her own opposite Liam Neeson and Uma Thurman in the straight, no-big-Broadway-numbers version of Les Miserables. 1999 is allowing her to showcase her broad acting range even further; Danes' performance as one of two young women held in a foreign prison has some people whispering "Oscar." In the hands of a lesser actress, the role – and the film – would've been schlocky exploitation of young babes in prison. That Danes manages to make it a human drama despite her beauty is a true nod to her ability.

Movies:

2000 Flora Plum

2000 Monterey Pop

2000 Mornings with Dr. T

1998 Brokedown Palace

1998 Mod Squad

1998 Monterey Pop

1998 Polish Wedding

1998 Les Miserables

1997 The Rainmaker

1997 U-Turn

1996 Romeo and Juliet