Claire Danes Shocks Fans As She Says Her Hit Drama: “Shouldn’t Have Been Made”

Claire Danes is looking back at one of her most famous roles with a surprising take. The actress recently said that her 1990s teen drama My So-Called Life almost did not make it to TV, and in her view, maybe it never should have.

Danes shared her thoughts during a new interview on the Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast. While talking about why the show still connects with viewers today, she said, It’s still radical. It’s ahead of its time. It shouldn’t have been made. It almost wasn’t made many times, and it kind of forced its way into existence. Her comments quickly caught attention because the series is now seen as a classic.

The show aired on ABC in 1994 and followed high school student Angela Chase. Danes played Angela, a quiet teen who shared her inner thoughts through voiceovers. The series also helped introduce Jared Leto and Wilson Cruz to audiences. Even though it only ran for one season and ended after 19 episodes, it left a strong mark on TV history.

Danes explained on the podcast that what made the show special was how deeply it focused on a teenage girl’s inner world. She said reading the script before her audition felt personal and intense. It was powerful to see someone put words to thoughts I didn’t know how to explain, she said. She credited creator Winnie Holzman for writing a character who felt real and honest.

In early 2025, reports confirmed that the two are working together again on a new HBO drama called The Applebaum Curse. Danes is set to star and also serve as an executive producer. Holzman is writing the series and acting as showrunner. Holzman previously said that working with Danes again would feel meaningful. It’s not a reboot, but us together again feels like a version of that, she said in an earlier statement.

Outside of this project, Danes has stayed busy with recent TV roles and family life. Holzman has also remained active, including her work on the Wicked films. Their reunion has become one of the more talked-about TV projects in development.

Danes is being honest about how rare and risky that show was at the time. It feels less like regret and more like respect for how unlikely it was to exist. Sometimes the best stories are the ones that barely make it through. What do you think about her comments and the idea of a new project instead of a reboot? Share your thoughts in the comments.