Claudia Black

Claudia Lee Black (born 11 October 1972) is an Australian and American actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Aeryn Sun in Farscape (1999–2003), Vala Mal Doran in Stargate SG-1 (2004–2007) and Sharon "Shazza" Montgomery in the film Pitch Black (2000).

Black has appeared in numerous television series, particularly those in the science fiction genre. Her roles include Dahlia in The Originals (2015), Dr. Sabine Lommers in Containment (2016), and Klothow in Ahsoka (2023). She has also had prominent voice roles in video games, including Admiral Daro'Xen and Matriarch Aethyta in Mass Effect, Chloe Frazer in Uncharted, Morrigan in Dragon Age, Whitney Chang in The Amazing Spider-Man, Tess Everis in Destiny, and Samantha Byrne in the Gears of War series.

Early life

Black was born and raised in Sydney, New South Wales. Her father Jules Black is a gynaecologist, and her mother Judy Black (née Henry) is a professor of pharmacology at the University of Sydney. She has an older sister named Georgina. Black is Jewish, and a descendant of German Jews who escaped the Holocaust. She studied at the Anglican Kambala School in Sydney. She has lived in numerous countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.

Career

Film and television

Black began her acting career in her native Australia. Her first leading role was as Claire Bonacci in A Country Practice. She had a main role in the New Zealand soap opera City Life, playing the Greek lawyer Angela Kostapas.