Clea DuVall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clea DuVall
DuVall in 2019
Born	Clea Helen D'Etienne DuVall (1977-09-25) September 25, 1977 (age 47) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress director writer
Years active	1996–present

Clea Helen D'Etienne DuVall (born September 25, 1977) is an American actress, director, and writer. She has appeared in many movies and TV shows. Some of her well-known films include The Faculty (1998), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), Girl, Interrupted (1999), and Argo (2012).

On television, DuVall has starred in shows like Carnivàle (2003–2005), Heroes (2006–2007), American Horror Story (2012–2013), and The Handmaid's Tale (2018–2022). She also lent her voice to the animated show HouseBroken (2021–2023), which she helped create.

Beyond acting, DuVall has directed movies such as The Intervention (2016) and Happiest Season (2020). She also created, wrote, and produced the TV series High School (2022).

Early Life and Beginnings

DuVall was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Her first name, Clea, comes from a novel called Clea. When she was a teenager, she worked in a coffee shop. She also studied at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where she developed her creative skills.

Career Highlights

Starting Out: 1996–2000

Clea DuVall began her acting career in 1996 with a small role in the horror film Little Witches. After this, she appeared in several independent movies and had guest roles in popular TV shows like ER and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Her big break came in 1998 with the sci-fi horror movie The Faculty. She played "Stokes" Mitchell, a high school student, and critics praised her performance. That same year, she also had a supporting role in the teen comedy Can't Hardly Wait, which became a fan favorite over time.

In 1999, DuVall appeared in several films. These included the drama Girl, Interrupted, where she played Georgina Tuskin. She was also in the romantic comedy She's All That, which was very popular at the box office. Another notable film from this period was But I'm a Cheerleader, a satirical comedy. For her role in Wildflowers, a drama about a teenager searching for her birth mother, DuVall received excellent reviews. One critic noted her "deep, round, chestnut eyes" and her ability to show both wisdom and innocence.

Film and TV Roles: 2001–2015

In the early 2000s, DuVall took on many different film roles. She appeared in Ghosts of Mars (2001), a sci-fi Western, and the drama Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001). She also starred in The Laramie Project (2002), a film based on a true story, and the sports drama The Slaughter Rule (2002).

In 2003, she was in the mystery thriller Identity and the psychological drama 21 Grams. A critic from The New York Times described 21 Grams as a deep look at life after loss, praising the actors for their strong performances.

From 2003 to 2005, DuVall was a regular cast member on the HBO drama series Carnivàle. Her portrayal of Sophie, a tarot card reader, was highly praised. During this time, she also starred in the TV movie Helter Skelter (2004), which earned her an award nomination. She also appeared in the horror film The Grudge (2004), which made a lot of money at the box office.

Later, she had guest roles in shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2005) and Lie to Me (2009). She also played a recurring character, Audrey Hanson, in the sci-fi series Heroes (2006–2007). In film, she was in David Fincher's acclaimed movie Zodiac (2007).

DuVall in 2016

After appearing in thrillers like Anamorph (2007) and Passengers (2008), DuVall co-starred in Ben Affleck's Argo (2012). This political thriller was based on the real-life Iran hostage crisis. For her role as Cora Amburn-Lijek, one of the American diplomats rescued from Iran, DuVall and her co-stars won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. In 2012, she also had a recurring role in the TV series American Horror Story, playing Wendy Peyser.

In 2014, DuVall starred as Emma Borden in the TV movie Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, alongside Christina Ricci. She played the role again in the series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles the following year. Critics praised the strong performances of both actresses in these shows.

Directorial Work and Recent Projects: Since 2016

Clea DuVall made her debut as a feature film director with The Intervention (2016). She also wrote, starred in, and produced this comedy-drama. The movie received positive reviews after it premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. That same year, she appeared in other independent films and had guest roles in the TV show Better Call Saul.

From 2016 to 2019, DuVall played Marjorie Palmiotti in the HBO political comedy Veep. For her work on this show, she and her fellow cast members were nominated twice for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, winning in 2018. She also played Sylvia in the dystopian drama series The Handmaid's Tale between 2018 and 2022. One critic called her performance in this show "the best work of [DuVall's career]".

In 2020, DuVall wrote and directed the romantic comedy film Happiest Season. The movie was well-received by critics and won a GLAAD Media Award in 2021. She is also the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of the drama series High School, which started in October 2022. Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the best shows of the year, saying it perfectly captured the "thrilling, horrifying, profoundly uncomfortable experience of adolescence."

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Recognitions

Clea DuVall has received several awards and nominations for her acting and directing work.

See also

In Spanish: Clea DuVall para niños

• List of female film and television directors