Transformation

She might disagree, but we think Claire Danes is as beautiful and charming today as she was when she got her start playing the angst-ridden teenaged star of TV's My So-Called Life. "I learned how to hide my not-so-great features and accentuate the better ones," Danes has said of her time on set. But with her luminous skin and full lips, this talented beauty has nothing to hide. We've watched the Evening star cultivated a distinct look over the years—one that favors sleek hairstyles and subtle yet fun makeup. "Once you get over that peak of puberty," she has said, "you hit a nice stride." We think she's looked great all along.

—Betony Toht

1995: Danes stars in My So-Called Life wearing a simple auburn bob and bright red lipstick. "[I] only recently became aware of how I look because it's part of the job requirement," she told People.