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), The Grudge (2004), Zodiac (2007), and Argo (2012).

On television, Clea 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 helped create and voiced a character named Elsa in the animated show HouseBroken (2021–2023).

Clea DuVall has also directed movies such as The Intervention (2016) and Happiest Season (2020). She is also the creator, writer, and producer of the TV series High School (2022).

About Clea DuVall

Early Life and Education

Clea 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.

Starting Her Acting Career (1996–2000)

Clea DuVall began her acting career in 1996 with a small horror film called Little Witches. After that, she had small parts in several independent movies. She also appeared as a guest on popular TV shows like ER and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Her big break came in 1998 when she starred in the sci-fi horror movie The Faculty. She played a high school student named "Stokes" Mitchell and received good reviews for her performance. In the same year, she had a supporting role in the teen comedy Can't Hardly Wait.

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 and independent films like Wildflowers and But I'm a Cheerleader. Wildflowers earned her praise for her strong acting.

Film and TV Roles (2001–2015)

In the early 2000s, Clea DuVall took on many different film roles. She was in Ghosts of Mars (2001), a sci-fi Western, and the drama Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001). She also appeared in The Laramie Project (2002), a film based on a true story. Other notable films include the mystery thriller Identity (2003) and the drama 21 Grams (2003).

From 2003 to 2005, DuVall was a regular cast member on the HBO show Carnivàle. She played Sophie, a tarot card reader, and her performance was highly praised. During this time, she also starred in the TV movie Helter Skelter (2004) and the horror film The Grudge (2004).

Later, she made guest appearances on shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2005) and Heroes (2006–2007), where she had a recurring role as Audrey Hanson. She also appeared in David Fincher's movie Zodiac (2007).

In 2012, Clea DuVall co-starred in Ben Affleck's movie Argo. This political thriller was based on a true story about American diplomats rescued from Iran. For her role as Cora Amburn-Lijek, she and her co-stars won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Also in 2012, she had a recurring role in the TV series American Horror Story.

Clea DuVall in 2016

In 2014, DuVall played Emma Borden in the TV movie Lizzie Borden Took an Ax. She played the sister of Lizzie Borden, who was played by Christina Ricci. She returned to this role in the limited series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles in 2015. Critics praised the performances of both actresses.

Directing and Recent Work (Since 2016)

Clea DuVall made her debut as a feature film director with The Intervention in 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. In the same year, she appeared in the movies Zen Dogs and Heaven's Floor. She also guest-starred in the TV show Better Call Saul.

From 2016 to 2019, DuVall played Marjorie Palmiotti in the HBO comedy series Veep. For her work on this show, she and her fellow cast members were nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series twice, winning in 2018. She also played Sylvia in the TV series The Handmaid's Tale from 2018 to 2022.

In 2020, Clea DuVall wrote and directed the romantic comedy film Happiest Season. The movie was well-received 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. This show was named one of the best shows of the year by Rolling Stone magazine.

Personal Life

Clea DuVall is married and lives in Los Angeles. She is good friends with actresses Melanie Lynskey and Natasha Lyonne, with whom she has worked on several projects.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Clea DuVall para niños

• List of female film and television directors
• List of lesbian filmmakers
• List of LGBT-related films directed by women