The first biography of the beautiful young star of William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, Brokedown Palace and My So-Called Life, Claire Danes.

Her remarkable early career lead her to become one of the most respected and sought-after stars in Hollywood. She was heralded as the best actress of her generation by Steven Spielberg, and counts her mentor Jodie Foster among her most ardent supporters. Claire Danes traces the first twenty years of this New York native’s enviable life and career — from her childhood growing up in New York City’s trendy Soho district with hippie-artist parents to her successful first year studying at Yale University. All this, and Claire Danes seems to have had a great romantic life as well — including long-term relationship with Australian rocker Ben Lee.

Offering much more than just a biography, Jennifer Ambrose pays special tribute to the show that gave Claire her big break: the critically acclaimed but short-lived television drama My So-Called Life. She includes commentaries on the characters, episodes, and critical and popular reactions to the show, as well as an account of the fans’ ongoing efforts to keep it on the air. Since that career-launching television role Claire Danes spent the rest of her twenties giving exceptional performances in several major Hollywood movies: Little Women, How to Make an American Quilt, Home for the Holidays, To Gillian on her 37th Birthday, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, U-Turn, The Rainmaker, Polish Wedding, Les Misérables, The Mod Squad, and Brokedown Palace. One critic has described her strength as the ability to offer “luminous characterizations of complex young women” (Entertainment Weekly) and she has developed this strength throughout her wildly successful career.

This biography will appeal not only to the millions of Claire Danes fans and movie buffs worldwide, but also to television memorabilia collectors and the scores of people who still adore My So-Called Life.