Emmy-winning actress Claire Danes has offered a surprising reflection on the groundbreaking teen drama that launched her career, suggesting the critically-acclaimed series 'shouldn't have been made' despite its enduring legacy.
A Profound Experience That Almost Never Happened
In a candid conversation on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast, the 46-year-old actress opened up about her 'profound experience' starring as Angela Chase in the short-lived ABC series My So-Called Life. The show, which was cancelled after just one season in 1995, has since achieved cult classic status and is widely regarded as one of the most influential teen dramas ever produced.
'It's still radical!' Danes exclaimed when asked what continues to resonate with audiences about her angsty teenage character. 'It remains ahead of this time. It shouldn't have been made. It almost wasn't made many times, and it just wills itself into experience.'
The Groundbreaking Nature of Angela Chase's Story
Created by Wicked playwright Winnie Holzman, My So-Called Life followed Angela and her friends through her sophomore year of high school, with the series narrated entirely from Angela's perspective. Danes emphasised how unusual this approach was for television at the time, noting: 'It's not very often that we spend that much time, intimate time, with a teenage girl.'
The actress recalled reading the pilot script before her audition and experiencing a powerful connection to the material. 'I remember reading the pilot before the audition and just having a very profound experience,' Danes told Poehler. 'It was really powerful to have some woman, some writer person, so perfectly articulate my internal life.'
A Cast That Defined a Generation
The series, which aired from August 1994 to January 1995, famously starred Jared Leto as Danes' love interest Jordan Catalano, creating one of television's most memorable teen romances. The main ensemble cast also included Bess Armstrong, Wilson Cruz, Devon Odessa, and Tom Irwin, with the group reuniting on Zoom in 2020 to celebrate the show's 25th anniversary.
Despite competing against popular sitcoms like Friends and Home Improvement, which contributed to its low ratings and eventual cancellation, the show's 19 episodes received widespread critical acclaim for their authentic portrayal of adolescent turbulence.
Pioneering Social Commentary
My So-Called Life is now recognised as one of the first mainstream television shows to address serious social issues affecting teenagers, including homophobia, alcoholism, and homelessness. Danes highlighted this aspect of the series, telling Poehler: 'We're seeing the world from inside of her and really through her vantage point. And she's so earnestly wrestling with big stuff. It's just so well-balanced and it's so of her.'
The actress praised the show's exceptional writing, noting: 'There's some zingers, there are some really well-crafted lines. I feel wildly fortunate that that was my entry point.'
Launching an Award-Winning Career
Danes was just 13 years old when she filmed the pilot episode, and her performance earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Drama in 1995, along with an Emmy nomination. This early success paved the way for her subsequent acclaimed roles, including her first Emmy win for Temple Grandin in 2010 and two additional Emmys for Homeland in 2012 and 2013.
Reflecting on the show's lasting impact nearly three decades after its brief original run, Danes' comments underscore how My So-Called Life defied conventional television wisdom to create something genuinely groundbreaking. The series continues to find new audiences through streaming platforms, maintaining its reputation as a touchstone for authentic teenage storytelling that was truly ahead of its time.
