Film: "Shopgirl"

Born: April 12, 1979 (New York)

Bio:
Born and raised in New York, Danes studied at the city's High School of Performing Arts and the Lee Strasberg Institute before moving on to Yale University. Early roles included her starring turn in the angsty TV series "My So-Called Life" and 1994's "Little Women," while her recent work has ranged from summer blockbusters ("Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines") to art-house sensations ("Igby Goes Down").

Credits:
"Shopgirl" (2005)
"Stage Beauty" (2004)
"Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" (2003)
"The Rage in Placid Lake" (2003)
"It's All About Love" (2003)
"The Hours" (2002)
"Igby Goes Down" (2002)
"Brokedown Palace" (1999)
"The Mod Squad" (1999)
"Les Misérables" (1998)
"Polish Wedding" (1998)
"The Rainmaker" (1997)
"U Turn" (1997)
"Princess Mononoke" (1997)
"Romeo + Juliet" (1996)
"To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday" (1996)
"I Love You, I Love You Not" (1996)
"Home for the Holidays" (1995)
"How to Make an American Quilt" (1995)
"Dead Man's Jack" (1995)
"The Pesky Suitor" (1995)
"My So-Called Life" (1994-95) (TV series)
"Little Women" (1994)
"Dreams of Love" (1990)

Notable:
Danes attained cult status among disaffected teens via her lead role in the critically lauded (but short-lived) series "My So-Called Life."