Who is Claire Forlani?
Claire Antonia Forlani was born on 1 July 1972, in Twickenham, London, England. She is a British actress who gained international recognition for her roles in films such as “Mallrats” (1995), “Meet Joe Black” (1998), and “Boys and Girls” (2000). She has also had recurring roles on television shows such as “CSI: NY”, and “NCIS: Los Angeles”.
Early Life and Education
Claire was born to Barbara Dickinson, an English woman, and Pier Luigi Claire, an Italian music manager. She grew up in a multicultural household, which helped her become fluent in both English and Italian. Claire has an older brother named Sean.
Claire showed an early interest in acting, and began taking dance lessons at the age of 11. She attended the Arts Educational School in London, where she honed her acting and dancing skills, then at the age of 19, she moved to the United States with her parents to pursue her acting career.
Roles in Movies
Claire made her film debut in the British crime thriller “Gypsy Eyes” (1992), directed by Vinci Vogue Anzlovar. However, her breakthrough role came in the 1995 American comedy film “Mallrats” in which she portrayed the character Brandi Svenning. This role garnered her international attention and paved the way for more significant parts in Hollywood.
In 1996, Claire landed a role in the action film “The Rock”, directed by Michael Bay, playing Jade, the love interest of Nicolas Cage’s character.
Two years later, she starred opposite Brad Pitt and Sir Anthony Hopkins in the award-winning romantic fantasy drama “Meet Joe Black”. Her portrayal of Susan Parrish, the daughter of a wealthy businessman who falls in love with Death, played by Pitt, was widely praised by critics and audiences alike. The film’s success established Claire as a leading lady in Hollywood.
#FlashbackThursday #JackieChan #Thailand #Medallion pic.twitter.com/i8ELiks2NH
— Claire Forlani (@ClaireAForlani) June 15, 2018
Claire also starred in the 2001 thriller “Antitrust”, directed by Peter Howitt, playing the love interest of Ryan Phillippe’s character, who becomes embroiled in a high-stakes game of corporate espionage.
In 2003, she played one of the leads in the action comedy “The Medallion”, alongside Jackie Chan and Lee Evans, directed by Gordon Chan. The movie follows a Hong Kong detective who gains superhuman powers after a near-fatal incident involving an ancient medallion.
In the following years, she appeared in critically-acclaimed dramas “Green Street Hooligans” (2005), and “Hallam Foe” (2007), and also played a supporting role in the comedy “For Your Consideration” (2006).
In 2011, she played the female lead in “Love’s Kitchen”, a romantic comedy about an up-and-coming cook who falls in love with a famous food critic.
In 2018, Claire took on the lead role in the independent drama “Crystal Inferno”, directed by Eric Summer and which also starred Jamie Bamber, Riley Jackson and Isaac Rouse. The movie follows a group of people who get trapped in a giant crystal maze during a fire at a science museum. As they try to find a way out, they realize that the maze is designed to challenge their intellect and courage in order to escape.
Her latest movie role was in the 2020 family drama “Black Beauty”, written and directed by Ashley Avis. In 2023, Claire is set to star alongside Skeet Ulrich and Thomas Jane in the thriller “Salvation”.
Roles in TV Series
Claire made her TV series debut in 1991, in an episode of the popular British sitcom “Press Gang”. She also appeared in two episodes of the biographical mini-series “J. F. K Reckless Youth” in 1993, before taking a break from TV to focus on her career in film.
In 2006, she returned to the small screen with her appearance in the anthology horror drama “Nightmares & Dreamscapes”, based on various short stories written by Stephen King. In the same year, she joined the cast of “CSI: NY”, taking on the role of recurring character Dr. Peyton Driscoll, the love interest of Gary Sinise’s character.
Claire also had a recurring role in the 2011 fantasy drama “Camelot”, a retelling of the King Arthur legend, playing Queen Igraine, the wife of King Uther Pendragon and mother of Arthur.
One of Claire’s most notable TV roles came in the same year, when she joined the cast of the hit TV series “NCIS: Los Angeles” as Lauren Hunter, the new operations manager; she appeared in seven episodes, leaving the show in 2012.
Four years later, she appeared in another highly popular crime series, “Hawaii Five-0”, centered on a Hawaiian police officer who solves crime while investigating the death of his father. In the series, Claire played the recurring character Alicia Brown, and appeared in six episodes.
In the 2019 series “Departure”, Claire played Kendra Malley, the lead investigator in the disappearance of a plane over the Atlantic Ocean.
Since 2021, she’s been playing the recurring role of Octavia, the eldest sister of the Roman Emperor, Augustus, in the historical drama series “Domina”.
Awards and Nominations
Claire’s talents as an actress haven’t gone unnoticed – her first major recognition came in 1999, when she was nominated for the prestigious Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Meet Joe Black”. Ten years later, she was nominated for Best Guest Actress in a TV Drama by the Australian Film Insitute, for her appearance in the Australian TV action movie ”The Diplomat”. In 2019, she recieved the Icon Award at the Riviera International Film Festival in Sestri Levante, Italy.
On a less pisitive note, also she earned the title of Worst British Actress at 2011 Irina Palm d’Or, for her work in “Love’s Kitchen”.
Personal Life
Claire has always maintained a relatively low profile when it comes to her personal life. In 2007, she married Scottish actor Dougray Scott, perhaps best known for his roles in “Mission: Impossible 2” (2000) and “Hitman” (2007). The couple has a son named Milo Thomas Scott, born in December 2014.
Partly through her acting career, Claire is widely known for her beauty. In 2001, she became a brand ambassador for L’Oreal, and has been included on multiple lists of most beautiful women in magazines such as “Stuff”, “FHM”, and “Loaded”.
Claire is an avid supporter of charitable organizations and causes. She’s worked with several non-profit organizations, including Save the Children, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Net Worth
As of May 2023, Claire’s estimated net worth is around $7 million, primarily from her successful acting career, which spans over two decades, during which she’s starred in numerous commercially successful films and TV series, consistently contributing to her wealth.
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