Growing up in New York with artist parents – a very liberal environment, where we were always encouraged to challenge the status quo – I think for a long time I confused jingoism with patriotism. And that is a mistake. – Claire Danes
I was a serious kid to an absurd degree. I was overwhelmed with responsibility. You know, trying to play grown up. I overdid it. – Claire Danes
I took three years off. I differentiated myself from the industry. Found my identity – sort of… I haven’t graduated yet. I’m not legitimately educated yet, but maybe one day. – Claire Danes
When I was a kid, I was one of those really obnoxious ‘oooh oooh’ girls, with my hand up in the air constantly. I’ve learned over the years that that’s not so attractive, so I’ve censored that. – Claire Danes
I’ve always very earnestly tried to do my best, so I just have to trust that and forgive myself for being fallible. – Claire Danes
It just seems like the most successful, iconic love stories are not so easy or escapist. I think the ones that stay with us and resonate are full of conflict, discord and misunderstandings ’cause that’s what makes drama happen or tension even if it’s a comedy. – Claire Danes
Counterterrorism isn’t really about the nunchakus, the guns and gadgets. It’s about psychology. – Claire Danes
I get a little jealous of these actor boys. They walk into a club, and in two seconds flat there are swarms of girls who are wanting so badly to touch them or just say hello. That’s not the case with me, or any other girl I know. – Claire Danes
I’ve always had a really active imagination. Lots of kids have imaginary friends. Mine just took on a rather demonic form. – Claire Danes
You know, let a few years go by until I hit my midlife crisis. Then that can be documented on film. – Claire Danes
I think people who make movies and have invested a lot of money in them get frightened that if they challenge an audience they are going to repel them. And I think the opposite; it’s really true. – Claire Danes
I’m so impressed by Jennifer Lawrence and Carey Mulligan. They have this exquisite taste. They are very gifted in their ability to make great choices. – Claire Danes
I have a huge, active imagination, and I think I’m really scared of being alone; because if I’m left to my own devices, I’ll just turn into a madwoman. – Claire Danes
There was a solid year and a half, perhaps two years, after making ‘Temple Grandin,’ when I didn’t do anything. I just didn’t have much patience for roles that were silly, or light, or inconsequential. – Claire Danes
I was very driven to act from a very young age, and my parents were not only tolerant of that drive but also encouraging. – Claire Danes
Maybe philosophy – I love talking about ideas. Or maybe art history. I was thinking about psychology, then I got really afraid because everybody says it’s terribly boring. – Claire Danes
I have to expose myself and then accept the judgment that audiences and critics will have. And that’s okay. I appreciate the elliptical nature of it. Sometimes people are more in the mood to be nice to me than others, and that’s great. – Claire Danes
I’m just always learning lines. I’ve learned to flag the really crucial scenes, and I start figuring them out and committing them to memory as soon as I get them. – Claire Danes
I used to have nightmares when I was a little kid that I woke up prematurely and opened all the Christmas presents. And then I would be so relieved when I woke up and I realized that I hadn’t done it. – Claire Danes
The big question is always, ‘Eyes or lips?’ I tend to go with the eyes because I’ve got a lot more material to work with now – and it saves me from reapplying lipstick! I’m a pretty low-maintenance person and it’s too excessive to exaggerate both the eyes and lips. – Claire Danes
I like marriage. I feel very secure. It helps when you are in love with the person you are married to. – Claire Danes
Every time I make a movie, I’m prepared for it to become influential and career-defining – but I have no control over these things. – Claire Danes
If I hadn’t been an actress, I was thinking seriously about going into psychology. It’s just really what I’m interested in: the human psyche and how we process information. – Claire Danes
Yeah, there was the Flora Plum thing, where I trained for about a month and I had taken a semester off for that, and two weeks prior to filming, the financing collapsed. – Claire Danes
But I don’t know if people are meant to be together. You have to have a lot in common, choose well and be really fortunate. It’s not like you’re sprinkled with fairy dust. You have to believe that love will be there when you need it. – Claire Danes
