• Completed 2 years at Yale University pursuing a degree in psychology but never finished (2002)

• Dated actor Matt Damon. [1996]

• Chosen by “People” magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1997]

• Flew to L.A. for the casting of Schindler’s List (1993), after she was discovered for the role in “My So-Called Life” (1994). Steven Spielberg finally gave her the role but had to turn it down, because they weren’t willing to give her tutoring in Poland.

• Was banned from the Philippines in Sept 1998, for making derogatory remarks about the country. The President of the Philippines condemned her publicly.

• Auditioned for the role of Lisa in Girl, Interrupted (1999).

• Was considered for the title role in Lolita (1997).

• Auditioned and was the first choice for the role of Rose in Titanic (1997).

• Once said in a Vanity Fair article that at university, she is interested in psychology, philosophy, and art history.

• The most frequently used title for articles about her has been “Great Danes”.

• Has at least 4 songs written about her. The Ataris’ “My So Called Life” (album: “Look Forward to Failure” EP), Size 14′s “Claire Danes Poster” (self-titled album), The Five Mile Line’s “Claire Danes” (“Busride Home” demo) and “Claire Danes”, a low fi indi ballad by John Parker Music which was released on Subversive Records Limited in 2004.

• Parents are Chris & Carla Danes.

• Attended the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute.

• Is the younger of 2 children.

• Has an older brother, Asa.

• Attended the Professional Performing Arts High School in New York City. Other alumni include singer/dancer/actress Britney Spears, actor Lee Thompson Young and actor/singer/dancer Chris Trousdale.

• Her letter of recommendation to Yale University was written by Oliver Stone, her director on U Turn (1997).

• Grew up in SoHo.

• Her mother is an artist while her father is a photographer.

• Her mother ran a daycare center out of their Soho loft called Danes Tribe.

• Started studying modern dance at the age of six.

• She and Billy Crudup became a couple during the filming of Stage Beauty (2004).

• Broke up with Ben Lee after beginning a relationship with Billy Crudup

• Loves watching “The Golden Girls” (1985) reruns.

• Her older brother is a corporate lawyer.

• Is mentioned in actor Canyon Prince’s song “Life” from his 2003 album “Live and Funked Up”.

• She turned down the role of “Rose” in Titanic (1997) as she had just finished working with Leonardo DiCaprio on Romeo + Juliet (1996). Though she described working with him on that film as a “treat”, she admitted in an interview later that if she had accepted the role in Titanic (1997), she would not have been able to get away from him.

• Very close friends with actor Jason Schwartzman.

• Baz Luhrmann, Danes’ director for Romeo + Juliet (1996), referred to her as “the Meryl Streep of her generation”.

• Briefly attended the junior high section of the New York City Lab School from 1991-1992. Nick Valensi (guitarist, The Strokes), Charlie Hofheimer (actor, Black Hawk Down (2001)), and Max Lugavere (self, Current TV) graduated from the high school section of the same school in 1998, 1999, and 2000, respectively. It is a small public school.

• Awarded the Nova Award at the 2007 Maui film Festival.

• Got roles in Stardust (2007) and Romeo + Juliet (1996), after actress Sarah Michelle Gellar turned both roles down.

• As of Fall 2008 is the exclusive model for Gucci Jewelry, succeeding Drew Barrymore.

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