Audiences familiar with Claire Forlani's work in films such as Mallrats (1995) and Boys and Girls (2000) -- movies in which she plays the young American to perfection -- may be surprised to learn that Forlani is British. Born July 1, 1972, in Twickenham, England, she appeared on several British TV shows before moving to San Francisco in 1993.

Forlani's American acting bow came in the TV miniseries JFK: Reckless Youth (1993), but it was her breakthrough role in Mallrats that led to her landing the part of the title character's waitress girlfriend in Basquiat (1996). With a delicate beauty that lends itself to playing downtrodden girlfriends, Forlani soon found herself cast in that mold in a series of films, including Meet Joe Black (with Brad Pitt, 1998) and Mystery Men (1999).

Among Forlani's later films of note are Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004) and Green Street Hooligans (2005). ... - from Netflix