Claire Danes has mastered playing strong women with a seemingly innocent disposition. Danes started acting when she was just six years old, and her love of acting enabled her to continue studying the art for a long time; she was only 15 when she first earned Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations (for My So-Called Life). By the time Danes started landing bigger roles she was already a magnificent actor due to her lifetime of practice.
Today, Danes is famous for her roles in classic book to film adaptations and original shows like Homeland. Her roles in some of the biggest fan favorite movies of the 90s like Romeo + Juliet and Little Women have made her an unforgettable actress in Hollywood. She recently starred alongside Tom Hiddleston in The Essex Serpent, a moody and acclaimed Apple TV+ show. If you are in the mood for a movie with a strong female role-model, here are the best Claire Danes films ranked.
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9 The Hours (2002)
Paramount Pictures
Three women from different time periods search for deeper meanings in their lives in The Hours. The stories seem unrelated, but come together in a surprising way by the end. Despite this film’s high praise and phenomenal Philip Glass score and great acting, we kept it lower on this list because Claire Danes only acts in the supporting cast. Even though she isn’t the star of the show, Danes shows her ability to hold her own next to award-winning actresses like Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore. Danes’ sincere performance helps build the background and atmosphere that enables the star characters (Meryl Streep, playing her mother, in particular) to shine.
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8 Me and Orson Welles (2008)
Warner Brothers
Today, Orson Welles is remembered as a revolutionary writer and director who left a big mark on the film industry. Me and Orson Welles
shows the early career (late 1930s) of the artist from the eyes of another actor getting his start in the business. Welles offers Richard (Zach Effron), a young and hungry actor, a part in the play. The film focuses on Richard’s admiration for Welles’ genius simultaneously with his disdain for Welles’ polarizing personality. While the main character is fictitious, the film is praised for its accurate depiction of the famed Citizen Kane director. Claire Danes plays the leading lady who earns the affection of both Orson Welles and Richard. Danes pulls off all the charm, strength, and craftiness it takes to make it in such star-studded company (both on and off the stage).
7 Stage Beauty (2004)
Lions Gate
In Stage Beauty, Claire Danes plays the brave actress Maria Hughes, who decides to be one of the first women to preform in the theater. Meanwhile, a man who has made his living by performing female parts steps in as her mentor, saboteur, and potential lover. This film is loved for its ironic and irreverent sense of humor, and while the film’s plot leaves something to be desired, Claire Danes’ on screen magnetism and performance makes up the difference. Doubly impressive is the fact that Danes worked on another great film the same year, headlining the underrated Steve Martin romantic dramedy Shopgirl.
6 The Rainmaker (1997)
When a straitlaced lawyer fresh out of school (Matt Damon) starts working for an old ambulance chaser (Danny Devito) in The Rainmaker, the two disagree on most of their cases. But when a new case hits close to home, they find themselves going toe-to-toe with one of the most powerful and deceitful lawyers around. Even though the story of this fine, late Francis Ford Coppola movie focuses on Rudy Baylor, the green lawyer, Claire Danes is the heart of The Rainmaker by playing the romantic lead. Her performance raises the emotional stakes and adds to the likability of the movie.
5 Romeo + Juliet (1996)
20th Century Fox
Shakespeare’s classic has been adapted numerous times, and practically everyone is familiar with Romeo and Juliet’s timeless and tragic story of star-crossed loversy. The 1996 version from Baz Luhrmann, Romeo + Juliet, stands out for putting the Shakespearean dialogue and story into a modern setting. Swords are replaced with guns and tights are replaced with biker jeans. Claire Danes was only 17 when she played the role of Juliet (as opposed to her 21-year-old costar Leonardo DiCaprio), but even at a young age she showed a remarkable ability to perform such sophisticated material. Danes set a standard for anyone else studying the role, as few performances pull off the sweet and utterly-in-love character that is shown here.
4 Temple Grandin (2010)
HBO Films
As mental health science has improved and problems have gained more attention in the United States, people have become more tolerant towards those needing mental help. Temple Grandin would one day play an important role in humane animal slaughtering practices but struggled in school due to her autism. The film follows her story as she shows her intellectual talents and overcomes her social challenges in becoming a controversial pioneer of animal rights.
Claire Danes masterfully portrays an autistic woman in every detail of her mannerisms; she displays both the awkward and unusual challenges as well as the unique moments of brilliance and surprising sensitivity. It might not be the most politically correct performance now, but she brings a great deal of humanity and compassion to it.
3 Little Women (1994)
Columbia Pictures
Little Women follows Louisa May Alcott’s story of four sisters as they grow into adults. Claire Danes stars in another classic adaptation as the humble and good-natured Beth. Beth doesn’t cause quite the same stir as all of her other sisters, but her goodness and maturity help ground the foursome and move the story along in important ways. Danes plays Beth in such a genuinely kind way that audiences can’t help but love her.
2 Les Misérables (1998)
Sony Pictures
Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables has come alive on the movie screen in a seemingly endless number of adaptations, but the 1998 version remains a favorite for many. The film successfully constructs a simple yet detailed narrative out of the infamously long novel. Claire Danes stars as Cosette, Jean Valjean’s surrogate daughter. The role of the sweet and optimistic girl can easily be played as flat or naive. However, Danes manages a heartfelt performance that makes Cosette sincere and likable. With equally stunning performances by Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, and Uma Thurman, this film is a must-watch classic.
1 Stardust (2007)
How often does an actress get the chance to play a star? A literal star? In the high-fantasy adventure Stardust, Tristan goes in search of a fallen star to win the heart of the prettiest girl in town. However, when Tristan arrives at the star’s crash site, he finds that the star is actually a beautiful woman, Yvaine. Clair Danes maintains the kind heart of her other roles while stepping into a more emblazoned one. Yvaine has no problems standing up to authority or taking matters into her own hands. We love this film for its setting and grand sense of adventure as well as the cast of interesting characters. Stardust is a must-watch for any fantasy fan.
