It took 16-year-old Claudia Lee (“Zeke and Luther” and “Hart of Dixie”) just two years to go from Hoosier teen to Hollywood starlet and rising country music singer. Although the journey has not always been easy, it’s one she hopes will continue for a very long time.
Originally from West Lafayette, Indiana, Claudia attended a performing arts camp in Vermont, where she met a friend who introduced her to talent agent Harry Abrams. He recommended that Claudia move to Los Angeles, where she could audition for film and TV projects.
With mother accompanying her, and father commuting between Indiana and California, Claudia moved to Hollywood to “test the waters.” Shortly after arriving, she landed a role in a national Comcast commercial with Zachary Levi from the TV series “Chuck” and in the short dramatic film “Circus Girl.” Next came Disney’s “Zeke and Luther,” in which Claudia plays Bridget, the romantic-interest of Luther (Adam Hicks).
“Adam is truly a nice person, and a lot of fun,” Claudia says. “Zeke and Luther was my first television job, so I had a lot to learn about the lingo and camera angles.”
Following “Zeke and Luther,” Claudia was cast in the CW series “Hart of Dixie” as Magnolia Breeland, the younger sister of Lemon Breeland (Jaime King). In that role, she is a bit of a rabble-rouser, something she is not in real life.
“I don’t think Magnolia is really bad,” Lee said. “She’s just trying to be independent, while also trying to uphold the image that her family expects. She’s no different than a lot of kids my age.”
While auditioning for TV shows and movies, Claudia also started recording songs with producer and composer Max Di Carlo. Max had previously worked on pop-music projects for Elton John, Donna Summer and the two-time Latin Grammy-nominated group RBD, but he had always wanted to produce a country music album, and with Claudia he found the right opportunity. The result is Claudia’s debut album “Here Right Now,” which contains 12 songs, four of which she co-wrote.
“I am very proud of ‘Here Right Now’,” Claudia says. “It allowed me to express my inner thoughts and feelings about friendship, family, following dreams and believing in myself.”
Claudia’s major musical influences include Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Johnny Cash, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Carole King, Gwent Stefanie, Pink and Patti Smith. Her dramatic influences include Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock and Gwyneth Paltrow, as well as two of her costars on “Hart of Dixie,” Rachel Bilson and Jaime King.
“I am truly so blessed to work with them and to be able to grow in their presence,” Claudia says.
More information about Claudia Lee is available at www.ClaudiaLeeLive.com.
An extra special thanks goes out to Claudia for supporting the Jennifer Smart Foundation’s Find Your Voice program.