Dani Clayton

## CHARACTERISTICS

**Danielle "Dani" Clayton** is the main protagonist in *The Haunting Of Bly Manor*. She is an American teacher who moves to London and is the current Governess of Bly Manor; by extension, she is the pseudo-parent and teacher to the Wingrave children, Miles and Flora.

## Biography

### Early History

Dani experienced loss very young as she lost her father around the age of eight, and her mother became absent because of it. This accounts for her autonomy and independence, as she states that she has had to be her own parent. As a child, she became friends with Edmund O'Mara, who would eventually become her fiancé. She was very close to Edmund's family, which she somewhat saw as a substitute for her own dysfunctional family.

In addition, right before she moved to London and began her job as the Governess of Bly Manor, Dani originally worked as a fourth grade school teacher in America.

Prior to 1987, she became engaged to her childhood best friend and sweetheart, Edmund O'Mara. During a dinner in which Edmund prompted her about the wedding planning, Dani admits that she does not want to get married. After leaving the restaurant and entering the car, Dani explains that she can not marry him because she doesn't feel the way she's "supposed to". In his anger, he stepped out of the vehicle, into the path of an oncoming truck that darkened his face and features whilst illuminating his glasses. Dani blamed herself for his death as a result, and in her trauma she repeatedly envisions a dark Edmund with lit glasses in any mirror she sees. It was this that caused her to leave the United States in the search for something more. On the day she was set to leave for England, she was given Edmund's broken glasses by his mother.

### Life At and After Bly Manor:

Shortly after arriving in London, Dani saw Henry Wingrave's request for a live-in governess for his orphaned niece and nephew, Miles and Flora Wingrave. After seeing the ad listing available for the next 6 months, she eventually applied for and received the position at Bly Manor. Originally, she seemed impressed by the children's manners and charms, and started to befriend the help around the house, such as the cook Owen Sharma, housekeeper Hannah Grose, and gardener Jamie. However, after the children locked her inside of a closet, she began to take notice of just how strange their behaviour was and would continue to be.

After learning the backstory of their previous nanny, Miss Rebecca Jessel, she adopts a firmer style of caring for Miles and Flora, who were coddled more under the care of Miss Jessel. She does continue to bond with the children, but gives out punishments as necessary, which upsets the children but provides benefit for the adults of the Manor. After a confused and stunned Miles passes out during a storm, she sees the face of Peter Quint, a thief to the Wingrave family, in the window. After calling the police, she is informed through Hannah and a photo inside of Charlotte Wingrave's, the mother of the two children, jewelry box, that he was the lover of Miss Jessel and a thief who was considered missing nearly six months prior.

Eventually, Dani is encountered by the spirit of Viola Lloyd, angered at the misfortunes she suffered in Bly nearly four centuries prior, and takes Flora into the lake back underwater. Dani saves her by uttering the words, "It's you, it's me, it's us", which allows Viola to pass into Dani's body, allowing for any spirits who died on Bly's premises following Viola's death to ascend. Dani then moves to America with Jamie. She later proposes to Jamie and they enter a civil-union as they cannot legally marry. As the years go on, Dani becomes increasingly aware of Viola's spirit inside of her, and in turn she leaves Jamie to protect her. Heartbroken, Jamie returns to Bly Manor for the last time, and sees Dani's body at the bottom of the lake, showing that Dani is no more and has broken Viola's curse.

However, she can be seen, years later, her hand resting on Jamie's shoulder, signifying that "dead doesn't mean gone".

## Personality

Dani is a very sweet and compassionate woman, but can be stern to Miles and Flora when she sees fit. She is also very emotional, as seen in her constant envisioning of Edmund due to her belief that she was the cause of his death.

Dani is primarily seen as being extremely selfless and empathetic throughout the series. She abandons her own independence to nurture promising futures for the Wingrave children. She abandons her tranquil life with Jamie and commits suicide to protect her. Her ultimate selfless act is allowing Viola to enter her body and consciousness in order to save Flora Wingrave, this decision ultimately costing her her life.

She is also deceptively assertive which the viewer is reminded of throughout the series, beginning with her confrontation of Henry Wingrave in the bar. She values her agency and independence deeply.

**Appearance**

Dani has long blonde hair and light blue eyes. Once possessed by Viola, her left eye becomes brown. When she drowns herself in the lake, her eyes return to blue.

## Relationships

### Jamie

Dani becomes close with Jamie quite soon after her arrival at Bly Manor. Despite having their reserves, Dani makes a move towards Jamie, and the two eventually start a relationship together. Despite this, there are challenges, notably because of Dani's internalised guilt. Jamie is aware of Dani's past and helps her process it. Jamie eventually becomes Dani's first — as far as we are aware — girlfriend. The two eventually leave Bly Manor together and move to Vermont, where they own a flower shop and spend 13 years together before Dani is forced to go back to Bly.

## Quotes

**Dani**: *"Your parents loved you so, so much that, in a way, they’ll always be here."*
-- *The Way It Came*
**Dani** (to **Miles**): *"The kids like us, like you and me and Flora, we’re special. We grow up faster than other kids. And even more special, we really get to choose the grown-ups that we keep in our life."*
-- *The Way It Came*
## Trivia

* Dani is said to be from Iowa, although it's never confirmed in the show.
* Her favorite color is purple.
* Dani is a lesbian, as she is unable to pursue a relationship with Edmund and ends up falling in love with Jamie.
* Dani's last name "Clayton" is a direct reference to the british film director Jack Clayton (1921-1995), who directed *The Innocents* (1961), an adaptation of Henry James' *Turn of The Screw*. Both the film and the novel were instrumental in the inspirations of the show.

1. ↑ -- The Way It Came