Birthday: 19 May 1972, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height: 166 cm
Claudia Karvan is one of Australia's most recognized actresses, having achieved popular success and critical acclaim through her work in film and television.Having begun work at 14, Karvan has an extensive filmography. She first appeared in Gillian Armstrong's High Tide (1987) with Judy Davis, then in Phillip Noyce's Echoes of Paradi...
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Claudia Karvan is one of Australia's most recognized actresses, having achieved popular success and critical acclaim through her work in film and television.Having begun work at 14, Karvan has an extensive filmography. She first appeared in Gillian Armstrong's High Tide (1987) with Judy Davis, then in Phillip Noyce's Echoes of Paradise (1987). Since this time Karvan has captivated audiences with her remarkable talent and beauty.Although celebrated for her dramatic prowess, Karvan first exhibited her gift for comedy in The Big Steal (1990). Then - amongst other projects - she appeared in the romantic-drama The Heartbreak Kid (1993), for which she won an Australian Film Critics Circle award for Best Actress. In 1996 Karvan starred in the film that she is probably best known for, Dating the Enemy (1996), opposite Guy Pearce. Karvan delighted audiences in this romantic-comedy with her charming portrayal of a man trapped in a woman's body. She later went on to star in another romantic comedy, with another Australian favorite Hugh Jackman - in Paperback Hero (1999).Karvan's other features include Broken Highway (1993) (official selection for the 1994 Cannes International Film Festival), Exile (1994), Lust and Revenge (1996), Strange Planet (1999) with Naomi Watts and Hugo Weaving, and _Risk_ with Bryan Brown. But it was her part as Dr Alex Christensen on the popular Australian television series The Secret Life of Us (2001) that was the most significant turning point in her career. Karvan has credited this role, as well as her occasional turn in the director's chair, with allowing her to gain more control of her work - something for which she has always strived.In 2004, Claudia began work on the highly popular Foxtel/Southern Star series, Love My Way (2004), as creator, producer and star and in 2007, she has just completed filming the show's third series. Love My Way (2004) has won the Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Drama Series and the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Television Drama Series for the past two years. Claudia has won the 2005 AFI Award for Best Lead Actress in Television and the Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series two years running for her role in the show.Between 1987 and 2004 Karvan was nominated for twelve more Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards, winning her category - Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama - in 1996 for her role in G.P. (1989). In 1998 she received The Palm Springs Short Film Festival Audience Favourite Award for Two Girls and a Baby (1998). Show less «
"I was always loyal to my parents, but I was a Saffy from Ab Fab (BBC television series Absolutely F...Show more »
"I was always loyal to my parents, but I was a Saffy from Ab Fab (BBC television series Absolutely Fabulous (1992)). I watched that show and thought, 'Oh yeah, I can relate to that daughter'". - on her upbringing with parents who owned a trendy nightclub in Kings Cross, Sydney. Show less «
"I need a stiff Vodka just to settle my nerves - I find it a very difficult process. It's exciting o...Show more »
"I need a stiff Vodka just to settle my nerves - I find it a very difficult process. It's exciting once you're in there, but the build up is the killer, not to mention the horrible wait". - on auditioning. Show less «
"Peope are always going, 'How do you do sex scenes? How do you kiss people that you don't know?' Cry...Show more »
"Peope are always going, 'How do you do sex scenes? How do you kiss people that you don't know?' Crying in front of people is a lot harder and a lot more confronting...You feel a lot more vunerable". Show less «
"Most of my decisions are based on relationships. It's one of the reasons I never went to America an...Show more »
"Most of my decisions are based on relationships. It's one of the reasons I never went to America and tried to carve out a career over there. I've been in love with my partner since I was 22, I've been a stepmother since I was 22, I've had a daughter for the past three years, I've got close ties with my family and the other families I've inherited. That defines who I am". Show less «
"I don't know what it is about working overseas. Whether I'm too afraid or maybe I don't like it ove...Show more »
"I don't know what it is about working overseas. Whether I'm too afraid or maybe I don't like it over there. I don't think it's something that's essential for me to do at this stage. But it is something people expect of Australian actors now: it seems like the inevitable thing to do". Show less «