Clea DuVall was born on September 25, 1977, in Los Angeles, to Rosemary (Hatch) and actor Steph DuVall. As a teenager, DuVall faced numerous challenges, including her parents' divorce when she was 12 years old. After her mother remarried, DuVall felt disconnected from the newly formed family and decided to move out, dropping out of high school and getting her own apartment at a young age.
As an only child, DuVall found solace in movies and television programs, consuming a vast amount of content and memorizing entire scenes. Despite being a shy person, DuVall was determined to become an actress and returned to high school, this time attending the prestigious Los Angeles High School of the Arts. However, the demands of independent living, including working to support herself, left her with limited time for academics, resulting in poor performance in school.
Undeterred, DuVall persevered, and her natural talent, intensity, and commitment soon led to a stream of guest spots and small roles in television programs and films. Her breakthrough role came in Robert Rodriguez's 1998 film, The Faculty, alongside a talented young cast, including Elijah Wood and Josh Hartnett. DuVall played the enigmatic and edgy Stokely, a Goth Girl with a unique style.
DuVall's subsequent roles, such as her portrayal of a tattooed lesbian in But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) and a mental patient in Girl, Interrupted (1999),showcased her ability to embody complex characters. Her versatility as an actress earned her a reputation as a popular casting choice, with a range of performances in films like Identity (2003),Carnivàle (2003),and 21 Grams (2003),which received critical acclaim.
In her personal life, DuVall is a soft-spoken and friendly individual who is also tough and independent. She is a chain smoker and a close friend of director Jamie Babbit. Notably, she is not related to veteran actors Robert Duvall or Shelley Duvall.
