She may look stunning on the January 2014 cover of Glamour, but award-winning actress Claire Danes gets much more raw on her hit Showtime series Homeland. In fact, her character, bipolar CIA officer Carrie Mathison, breaks down so much that fans and critics have created a “crying face” meme commemorating (and mocking) her many sobfests.
“Well, it is true, she gets emotional a lot,” Danes told Glamour, laughing. “There is that. But I actually think feelings are really hard for people. I think people are made uncomfortable by uncensored expressions of emotion. But, you know, that’s my job. I don’t have those fears. I really have never been concerned about being beautiful on-screen. I’m concerned about it if I’m playing a beautiful character. But it’s not relevant for Carrie. I don’t need to worry about that, and I think that’s really great.”
Danes, 34, also admires another lead actress (and fellow New Yorker) for her fearlessness on screen — Girls creator, director, and star Lena Dunham.
“I am a feminist,” she revealed. “And I’m so glad that Lena Dunham exists, because she is one too, and she’s quite vocal about it. Yes, women have more freedom and more influence than ever, but it’s hardly equal. It’s just not. It’s really f–king crazy. I’m sorry I’m cursing. But it’s wild that women are underrepresented [in Hollywood].”
And while she has strong feelings about women’s rights and females in the entertainment industry, Danes is married to a quite the dreamboat — British actor Hugh Dancy, 38. The couple welcomed son Cyrus, 11 months, in December 2012 after getting married in 2009, but Danes admits she can still admire her handsome spouse.
“Well, it’s true that you often kind of forget to see the person you’re most intimate with, but occasionally I’ll come to and sort of think, Oh my God! You’re really, really good-looking!” she continued laughing. “I’m embarrassed now! It’s nice to occasionally have that flash.”
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