Claire Danes SaysMy So-Called LifeWas an ‘Accurate Account’ of Her Teen Experience (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Claire Danes in ‘My So-Called Life.'.Photo:Mark Seliger/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Mark Seliger/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Fact mirrored fiction onMy So-Called Life, according toClaire Danes.The actress, 45, speaks to PEOPLE in this week’s issue inhonor of the show’s 30th anniversary, where she creditsMy So-Called Lifefor featuring accurate portrayals of being a teenager in the 1990s.Recalling the moment when she read the script for the pilot episode of the series, Danes says, “I was exactly Angela’s age, maybe even a slight bit younger, but I don’t think I had ever read a more accurate account of the experience that I was having at that moment.““I was just so thrilled to have my internal life articulated for me,” she continues. “It’s just an astonishing piece of writing, and I don’t quite know how [series creator] Winnie [Holzman] did that, how she time traveled as thoroughly as she did, and reentered her 14-year-old self, or some version of that.“Adds Danes: “It was very intuitive, and I didn’t have to reach very far. There was no sensory exercise that I had to perform. It was all immediately available to me.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The cast of ‘My So-Called Life.'.Mark Seliger/Disney General Entertainment Content via GettyMy So-Called Lifecentered on Danes’ character Angela and her family and friends as they navigated high school in a fictional suburb of Pittsburgh.Challenging subjects were featured on the show, including teen sex, guns in school and drug and alcohol use.For more onMy So-Called Life, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now, or subscribehere.Despite only lasting one season, which debuted over 30 years ago on Aug. 25, 1994, the coming-of-age show achieved cult status and has a passionate base of fans.Others who starred opposite Danes in the series includedJared Leto,A.J. Langer,WilsonCruz, Devon Odessa and more.Claire Danes at a screening of “Sophie’s Choice” at The Museum of Modern Art on Feb. 6, 2024 in New York.Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty ImagesBeing so young while filmingMy So-Called Life, Danes tells PEOPLE, was different from her other acting experiences, given the strict rules that were set in place for child stars.“I was only able to work 10 hours a day, because I was a minor,” she says. “And three of those hours had to be in my trailer with my tutor.““So every second spent on that set was really precious,” continues the star. “… But it was great. It was just an amazing introduction to television and film.““I feel very blessed that that was my entry point and that I was working with such gifted, creatively ambitious, and also very thoughtful, caring, sane, nurturing people,” adds Danes. “It was a really good group, and we’re all still very close, which is amazing. It’s wonderful.“All 19 episodes ofMy So-Called Lifeare available to stream on Hulu.

Fact mirrored fiction onMy So-Called Life, according toClaire Danes.

The actress, 45, speaks to PEOPLE in this week’s issue inhonor of the show’s 30th anniversary, where she creditsMy So-Called Lifefor featuring accurate portrayals of being a teenager in the 1990s.

Recalling the moment when she read the script for the pilot episode of the series, Danes says, “I was exactly Angela’s age, maybe even a slight bit younger, but I don’t think I had ever read a more accurate account of the experience that I was having at that moment.”

“I was just so thrilled to have my internal life articulated for me,” she continues. “It’s just an astonishing piece of writing, and I don’t quite know how [series creator] Winnie [Holzman] did that, how she time traveled as thoroughly as she did, and reentered her 14-year-old self, or some version of that.”

Adds Danes: “It was very intuitive, and I didn’t have to reach very far. There was no sensory exercise that I had to perform. It was all immediately available to me.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The cast of ‘My So-Called Life.'.Mark Seliger/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

My So-Called Lifecentered on Danes’ character Angela and her family and friends as they navigated high school in a fictional suburb of Pittsburgh.

Challenging subjects were featured on the show, including teen sex, guns in school and drug and alcohol use.

For more onMy So-Called Life, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now, or subscribehere.

Despite only lasting one season, which debuted over 30 years ago on Aug. 25, 1994, the coming-of-age show achieved cult status and has a passionate base of fans.

Others who starred opposite Danes in the series includedJared Leto,A.J. Langer,WilsonCruz, Devon Odessa and more.

Claire Danes at a screening of “Sophie’s Choice” at The Museum of Modern Art on Feb. 6, 2024 in New York.Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images

Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images

Being so young while filmingMy So-Called Life, Danes tells PEOPLE, was different from her other acting experiences, given the strict rules that were set in place for child stars.

“I was only able to work 10 hours a day, because I was a minor,” she says. “And three of those hours had to be in my trailer with my tutor.”

“So every second spent on that set was really precious,” continues the star. “… But it was great. It was just an amazing introduction to television and film.”

“I feel very blessed that that was my entry point and that I was working with such gifted, creatively ambitious, and also very thoughtful, caring, sane, nurturing people,” adds Danes. “It was a really good group, and we’re all still very close, which is amazing. It’s wonderful.”

All 19 episodes ofMy So-Called Lifeare available to stream on Hulu.

source: people.com