Claire Holt
Who was Claire Holt?
Australian actress known for her roles in the supernatural drama series 'The Originals' and 'The Vampire Diaries' as well as films like 'Aquaman'.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Claire Holt (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Claire Rhiannon Holt, born on June 11, 1988, in Brisbane, Australia, attended Stuartholme School. She started acting as a teenager by playing Emma Gilbert in the Australian fantasy series H2O: Just Add Water, which ran from 2006 to 2008. The show, about teenage mermaids, was her first major role and gained her international fans due to its wide reach.
After H2O, Holt moved to the United States to explore more film and TV opportunities. She debuted in an American film in 2009 and later appeared in Mean Girls 2 and the early seasons of Pretty Little Liars in 2011. These roles helped her gain attention in the U.S. entertainment scene. However, her role in the CW's supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries was a significant milestone. Starting in 2011, she played Rebekah Mikaelson, a centuries-old vampire, earning critical acclaim and a Teen Choice Award nomination.
Rebekah's popularity led to a spinoff, The Originals, where Holt played the role from 2013 to 2018. She also returned in Legacies from 2021 to 2022. Alongside her TV work, Holt starred in the survival thriller 47 Meters Down in 2017 as a woman trapped in a shark cage. The film was well-received and successful, expanding her range beyond supernatural dramas. She also starred in NBC's period crime series Aquarius from 2015 to 2016, gaining more praise for her acting.
Besides acting, Holt became an executive producer for the comedy horror film Untitled Horror Movie in 2021, where she also starred. The film was praised by critics and showed her growing role behind the scenes. Her personal life has drawn interest as well; she is married to film producer Matt Kaplan. Throughout her career, Holt has successfully moved from Australian children's TV to key roles in American network and streaming productions, building a diverse body of work.
Before Fame
Claire Holt grew up in Brisbane, Queensland, and went to Stuartholme School, a Catholic girls' school in the city. She started her acting career in the Australian TV industry, landing the role of Emma Gilbert in H2O: Just Add Water while still a teenager. This series was a big part of Australian children's television and was shown in many other countries, giving Holt early experience with a project that had international reach.
Her work on H2O prepared her for her move to the United States. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, more Australian actors were finding opportunities in American TV and film. Holt, like many of her peers, used her Australian TV success to audition for American shows, building a list of roles that led to her big break in The Vampire Diaries.
Key Achievements
- Earned a Teen Choice Award nomination for her portrayal of Rebekah Mikaelson in The Vampire Diaries
- Starred in the commercially successful survival thriller 47 Meters Down, which grossed over $44 million worldwide
- Reprised the role of Rebekah Mikaelson across three interconnected CW series: The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Legacies
- Executive produced and starred in the critically acclaimed Untitled Horror Movie in 2021
- Successfully transitioned from Australian children's television to prominent roles in major American network dramas
Did You Know?
- 01.Holt's debut role as Emma Gilbert in H2O: Just Add Water required her to spend considerable time filming underwater sequences in a purpose-built tank in Queensland.
- 02.Her character Rebekah Mikaelson in The Vampire Diaries is established in the show's mythology as over a thousand years old, making her one of the oldest vampires in the fictional universe.
- 03.47 Meters Down, in which Holt starred alongside Mandy Moore, was originally planned for a direct-to-video release before being picked up for a theatrical run after strong test screenings.
- 04.Holt served as executive producer on Untitled Horror Movie, marking a significant step into production work beyond her acting career.
- 05.She attended Stuartholme School in Brisbane, a school run by the Society of the Sacred Heart, before pursuing her acting career full time.