THE NATURAL

“My So-Called Life” series rests on the very talented shoulders of 15-year-old Claire Danes, who was all of 13 when she shot the pilot. “She’s from New York and started acting about eight months before we did the pilot,” Herskovitz says. “She is one of those rare individuals who emerges completely full grown as an artist.”

“What she knows can’t be taught,” adds Zwick.

Holzman believes Danes is one of the most “incredible actresses I have ever seen of any age. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that what I write she can embody. I can write the most complex multi-layered stuff for her and she’s just able to deliver it and more. She brings so much to the role.”

Danes believes the series is an accurate depiction of teen life today--”as honest as TV can be. I mean being a teen-ager is different for everyone. I think Angela is withdrawing from her parents and rebelling in her own way.”

The actress says she’s different from her small-screen alter ego. “Of course, there’s a little bit of me (in her) because I need to relate to her in some way. It’s very funny. In episodic TV, you see your character grow because every week she is doing something new. So I’m living my life and I’m living Angela’s life.”

Some episodes have been easier for Danes than others. “We did one called ‘The Pimple,” which was really easy to relate to because beauty and vanity are issues which have been in my life. There was another called ‘The Substitute,’ which was harder for me. It’s about Angela being inspired by this man. You just have to wade through the ones that you don’t quite get, because you probably won’t get them.”

Danes, a 10th grader, is very excited about doing the series. “It’s everything I ever wanted and all of a sudden, it’s here,” she says. “It’s a lot of stress, but I love it.”