Claire Danes: Legend

Four compliments paid to Claire Danes in John Lahr’s New Yorker profile of the actress this week, in ascending order of how much they contribute overall to The Legend Of Claire Danes.

4. On 13-year-old Danes, in My So-Called Life:

“’She seemed to have been born fully grown, you know, out of a seashell,’ [Marshall] Herskovitz said.”

3. On adult Danes, in Temple Grandin:

“’There are scenes where she looks like a young Grace Kelly and scenes where she looks like an old horse-faced English duchess,’ [Mick] Jackson said.”

2. On adult Danes, in Homeland:

“President Obama, who was given an autographed boxed set of the series, told her when they met, ‘You’re a finer actress than I am President.’”

1. On 16-year-old Danes, in Romeo & Juliet:

“’She was the only girl that looked me in the eye in auditions,’ [Leonardo] DiCaprio said.”

16! [New Yorker]