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 Claudia
was born on the 10th August 1965 in Glendale,
California. At an early age she set her sights on a
career in show business and by the age of 16, she
left school and was on her way to 'Hollywood'. Her
first professional acting role came in 1994, she
had a small appearance in the soap DALLAS. Soon
after came a role in the TV movie THE CALENDAR GIRL
MURDERS.
Sticking with
night time soaps, Claudia next popped up in a
recurring role on the short-lived BERRENGER'S,
which also starred Jeff Conaway (also of B5 fame -
and Grease). Guest appearances in such shows as LA
LAW, MURDER SHE WROTE, QUANTUM LEAP, MATLOCK and
THE HIGHWAYMAN followed. Her major break came when
she was cast in the cult science fiction / horror
film THE HIDDEN. She played an exotic dancer whose
body becomes host for an alien being. Her
character, Brenda, doesn't say much but sure does
make her presence felt!! As a result Claudia soon
found herself cast in the leading role in various
low budget films, including MANIAC COP 2, HEXED
(one of my personal favorites!), ARENA and THINK
BIG.
Claudia is best
known for her four year stint as Commander Susan
Ivanova on the syndicated sci-fi series, "Babylon
5'. A role which she molded into one of the most
popular characters on B5. At first, Ivanova was
cold, serious and standoffish. Claudia managed to
inject some of her own humor (which by tales from
the crew of B5 is pretty wicked), and lightened the
character up. Some of the best lines of the show
are delivered by Ivanova. Due to an unfortunate
contractual dispute, Claudia did not return for the
final season of B5. I was disappointed and barely
watched Season 5 at all. I don't think that JMS and
WB knew just how popular the character of Ivanova,
and Claudia, were. Anyway, because of her
popularity Claudia is really starting to be seen
more and more these days.
She didn't let
leaving B5 stop her from working. She filmed a move
for cable, A WING AND A PRAYER, did manage to
squeeze in two B5 movies (before she left of
course), worked on SNIDE AND PREJUDICE, THICK OR
THIN (opposite Robert Townsend), LANCELOT: GUARDIAN
OF TIME (with V's Mark Singer), FLYING BLIND, THE
FLYING BOHEMIANS, TIME SERVED and GHOSTLY RENTAL
(opposite Michael York filmed in Galloway, Ireland
and based on a Henry James story). She also
appeared in an episode of HIGHLANDER. My personal
opinion - she would have done a much better job
than E.G.. Now, don't get me wrong, I like
Highlander: Raven, but E.G. just can't carry the
show herself. Claudia on the other hand, owned it
when she was in that one episode. Ce la vie! And
finally, Claudia is providing the voice for the
leading character in the new Disney film, ATLANTIS,
which will be released in the year 2001.
Not one just to
sit around twiddling her thumbs, Claudia also
appeared in a computer game, SOLAR ECLIPSE, and has
launched a singing career. She has two CDs, TABOO
and CLAUDIA SQUARED. Along with fellow B5'rs she
also recorded a CD entitled THE BE FIVE. And if
that wasn't enough she also writes! Claudia has
written several children's books.
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