# Claire Holt

Claire Rhiannon Holt (born 11 June 1988) is an Australian-American actress. She made her acting debut playing Emma Gilbert in the fantasy series H$_2$O: Just Add Water (2006–2008), before moving to America and making her film debut in 2009. After appearing in the television sequel Mean Girls 2 and the first two seasons of Pretty Little Liars (both 2011), she had her breakthrough playing Rebekah Mikaelson in the CW supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries (2011–2014), The Originals (2013–2018) and Legacies (2021–2022). The role earned her acclaim and a Teen Choice Award nomination. She also starred in the NBC period crime drama series Aquarius (2015–2016), to further acclaim.
In film, Holt starred in the comedy drama Blue Like Jazz (2012) and the survival thriller 47 Meters Down (2017) to positive critical reception, followed by roles in a series of less-well-received projects, and later in the acclaimed comedy horror film Untitled Horror Movie (2021). The last of these she also executive produced.

## Early life

Holt is from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and she attended Stuartholme School.

## Career
### 2000s: Breakthrough and early recognition

In 2005, Holt won the role of Emma Gilbert in the Network Ten children's television show H$_2$O: Just Add Water, which premiered in July of the following year. The show has earned a Logie Award and a Nickelodeon Australia Kids' Choice Award. While the series was renewed for a third season, Holt left the show after season two after signing on for the sequel to the 2007 film The Messengers, titled Messengers 2: The Scarecrow. She was replaced by Indiana Evans' character, Bella. Filming of Messengers 2 took place in Sofia throughout 2008. Starring alongside Norman Reedus and Heather Stephens, the film was released 21 July 2009 straight-to-DVD.

### 2010s: Worldwide recognition

In addition to television and film roles, Holt has appeared in advertisements for Dreamworld, Sizzler, and Queensland Lifesaving. BuddyTV ranked her number 55 on its TV's 100 Sexiest Women of 2011 list.
In August 2011, Holt was confirmed to be in the TV series The Vampire Diaries as Rebekah Mikaelson. On 13 January 2013, The CW announced that Holt had joined the cast for the backdoor pilot of The Vampire Diaries spin-off The Originals, where she reprised her role as Rebekah Mikaelson. She exited the show as a series regular in the sixteenth episode of the first season, which aired in the U.S. on 11 March 2014. Holt returned to her role in the season one finale on 13 May 2014, and continued to periodically guest star on the series until its finale on 1 August 2018.
In 2014, Holt was linked to CBS' Supergirl, though she chose not to pursue it. She starred in NBC "event series" Aquarius as Charmain Tully. In 2016, she was cast in the romantic comedy film The Divorce Party, playing the role of Susan.
Holt had a starring role, Kayla, in the ABC thriller drama television pilot Doomsday in 2017. Also that year, Holt starred as Kate in the underwater survival horror film 47 Meters Down, opposite Mandy Moore and Matthew Modine, which was released in theaters on 16 June 2017.

### 2020s: Established actress

In 2021, Holt had a starring role in Untitled Horror Movie. She also collaborated with the brand Andie Swim to design a swimsuit collection. In November of the same year, she appeared in the Originals spin-off series Legacies as Rebekah Mikaelson.
In 2022, Holt appeared again in Legacies as Rebekah Mikaelson for one episode, playing the character for the last time.
In October 2024, Holt collaborated with business company VEE Collective to design her dream set of VEE bags.
In November 2024, Holt participated in her third marathon and her second in New York City, in partnership with Maybelline.

## Other projects
### Website

In January 2023, Holt announced that she had opened a website, in which weekly she would bring content to her fans such as make-up, fashion choices, maternity issues and much more.

### Advocacy

In November 2022, Holt decided to run the New York City Marathon to donate her fee to Boston Children's Hospital for a total of $162,000. Holt ran for 26.2 miles reaching her main goal.
In October 2024, Holt ran her second marathon in Chicago, raising over $100,000 to add to the $250,000 she had previously raised for Boston Children's Hospital.

### Other appearances

Podcast: Evergreen (2023), as Dagny Isaacs.

## Personal life

In July 2015, Holt became engaged to long-time boyfriend, television producer Matt Kaplan. The two were married on 28 April 2016. On 27 April 2017, Kaplan filed for divorce from Holt, citing "irreconcilable differences". Holt subsequently filed in response on 2 May 2017, also asking for her name to be changed from Kaplan back to Holt.
On 3 December 2017, Holt announced her engagement to real estate executive Andrew Joblon. On 5 March 2018, Holt revealed on Instagram that she had suffered a miscarriage. Holt and Joblon were married on 18 August 2018. They have three children: two sons (born 2019 and 2023) and a daughter (born 2020).
Holt announced that she became an American citizen in November 2019.

## Filmography

Film roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | Messengers 2: The Scarecrow | Lindsay Rollins | |
| 2012 | Blue Like Jazz | Penny | |
| 2017 | 47 Meters Down | Kate | |
| 2019 | The Divorce Party | Susan Brown | |
| 2019 | A Violent Separation | Abbey Campbell | |
| 2019 | Painted Beauty | Sasha | Unrealesed movie as of 2025 |
| 2021 | Untitled Horror Movie | Kelly | Also executive producer |
Television roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006–2008 | H$_2$O: Just Add Water | Emma Gilbert | Main role (seasons 1–2), 51 episodes |
| 2011 | Mean Girls 2 | Chastity Meyer | Television film |
| 2011 | Pretty Little Liars | Samara Cook | Recurring role (seasons 1–2), 5 episodes |
| 2011–2014 | The Vampire Diaries | Rebekah Mikaelson | Recurring role, 38 episodes |
| 2013–2018 | The Originals | Rebekah Mikaelson | Main role (season 1); Special guest star (seasons 2–5); 37 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Aquarius | Charmain Tully | Main role, 22 episodes |
| 2021–2022 | Legacies | Rebekah Mikaelson | Special guest star, 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Based on a True Story | TV writer | Episode: "Ted Bundy Bottle Opener" |
Music video roles :
| Year | Song | Artist | Notes |
| 2014 | "We Are Done" | The Madden Brothers | |
| 2017 | "Small Town Boy" | Dustin Lynch | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Refs |
| 2014 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy | The Originals | Nominated | |