Claire Danes reveals she didn’t need to make extra effort to embody her character in My So-Called Life, as it closely mirrored her life experiences.
In a group interview with People alongside her co-star Wilson Cruz and creator Winnie Holzman, the 45-year-old actress reflected on her experience working in the ABC teen drama.
“I don’t think I had ever read a more accurate account of the experience that I was having at that moment,” she said of her time making the short-lived but widely influential series.
“I was just so thrilled to have my internal life articulated for me,” Danes explained. “It’s just an astonishing piece of writing…It was very intuitive. I didn’t have to reach very far.”
At age 14, Danes starred as Angela Chase, the lead character who narrated all but two episodes of My So-Called Life.
Throughout the series, Chase navigated the complexities of adolescence, juggling tricky friendships portrayed by Devon Odessa and A.J. Langer, as well as a lasting crush on Jared Leto’s Jordan Catalano.
My So-Called Life debuted on ABC on Aug. 25, 1994. Its 19-episode first season failed to capture an audience despite airing in the coveted 8 p.m. slot and eventually was cancelled.
