Claudia (TV series)

This article is about Claudia from the AMC adaptation. You may be looking for Claudia from the novel or film.

Claudia is a main character on the AMC gothic horror drama, Interview with the Vampire. She is portrayed by Bailey Bass in Season 1, and Delainey Hayles in Season 2^[2].

Claudia is a young vampire who was turned by Lestat after being rescued by Louis from a house fire.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Claudia was born in 1903, in New Orleans. Her mother died during childbirth, and her father gave her away to her aunt, who beat her for no apparent reason. That is, until she was severely injured in the house fire from which Claudia was rescued by Louis in 1917. She was merely 14 years old.^[3]

Rescued by Louis[]

Chaos arose following Alderman Fenwick's death. During this time, Storyville was on the receiving end of attacks and vandalism. Businesses were torched and homes set ablaze. It was a tumultuous period filled with violence. Included in the house attacks was Claudia's own residence, whose unfortunate walls were engulfed with fire. She was trapped inside and rescued by Louis, cowering in the corner as the deadly flames neared her.^[1]

Turned by Lestat[]

IWTV-SE1-E04-Promo-The-Ruthless-Pursuit-of-Blood-with-All-a-Childs-Demanding-15-Claudia — Claudia being turned into a vampire

Rescued from an inferno by whom she initially took to be two angels, Claudia realized she was actually in the presence of vampires - Louis and Lestat. Intending to save her life, they changed her into a vampire. Louis watched as Lestat performed the necessary actions and displayed great concern and no small amount of compassion as Lestat moved quickly to preserve her existence. The older vampire drank from her and allowed Claudia to consume blood dripped from his wrist. The young girl’s features, damaged by the fire, flowed together as they healed and she arose with her characteristic vivid red eyes. Immediately following her transition, Claudia began to experience all the heightened sensations that came with being an immortal. Her hunger was insatiable and led to Claudia attacking a law man on her first hunt, much to Louis and Lestat's disapproval. She quickly became acquainted with her new vampiric life as well as her new family. Claudia began referring to the pair as her, “uncles.” She put pen to paper and chronicled much of her experiences in her diaries. After getting a coffin of her own, Claudia joined Louis on a fishing trip out on the lake, where she inquired about Lestat and how love worked between two men.

IWTV-SE1-E04-Promo-The-Ruthless-Pursuit-of-Blood-with-All-a-Childs-Demanding-11-Claudia-Charlie — Claudia killing Charlie

Following Louis' mother's wake and her and Lestat's vicious slaughter at Lover's Lane, Claudia received a new perspective on life given that she'd already been 18 years old for seven months. She decided to walk Liberty Street, where she crossed paths with a carriage driver named Charlie. He offered her a ride home and in the days that followed, she would see the unwitting boy more and more. Claudia eventually went on a date with him, which led to the two of them hooking up in the back of Charlie's carriage until Claudia's urges overwhelmed her. In a single, horrifying moment, she killed him. Claudia brought his body home and pleaded with them to save Charlie. Instead, Lestat forced her to burn the body and watch, teaching her a cruel but vital lesson: this was the reason vampires never got attached to mortals. Charlie's death resulted in a profound crisis upon the realization for Claudia that her body was eternally frozen within the grasp of adolescence. As her mind and heart turned turned 19, 20, 25, 63, 358."^[3], she'd never be anything more than the same "flat chested, hairless-crotched 14-year-old baby doll body. Her form and features would never change, yet with that came all the longing she felt for every type of love.

Searching for vampires[]

IWTV-SE1-E05-Promo-A-Vile-Hunger-for-Your-Hammering-Heart-12-Claudia-Lestat — Claudia outing Lestat's affair

For Claudia, all humans died with Charlie, yet it came as a surprise when she began killing indiscriminately and in large numbers. When she returned from her hunt, she was confronted by Louis and Letsat for her absent-minded killing. Claudia reluctantly admitted that she buried the bodies in Chalmette, which was three feet below the river line, meaning the bodies would certainly be uncovered during the next storm. It was exactly what happened, ultimately resulting in their home being raided. Afterward, she was scolded and called a mistake by Lestat in a fit of rage, driving young Claudia to take off and explore the world on her own to search for the Louis to her Lestat.

IWTV-SE1-E05-Promo-A-Vile-Hunger-for-Your-Hammering-Heart-21-Bruce-Claudia — Claudia meets another vampire

Claudia was leaving a college campus library when she was confronted by a male student, who accused her of being a thief until a handsome vampire named Bruce came to her defense and offered her a ride. Later that night, set up around a fire meant to burn the body of their victim, Claudia and Bruce exchanged tales. However, what started out as a pleasant encounter quickly became something more devious. The charming Bruce revealed that he'd been following Claudia, and when she attempted to leave, he broke her leg. Ultimately, Claudia got away and returned to New Orleans where she reunited with Louis, who she wanted to bring with her on her journey across the world for other vampires. Angered, Lestat attacked Claudia, and Louis came to her defense. However, Louis was outmatched and nearly killed by Lestat.^[4]

IWTV-SE1-E06-Promo-Like-Angels-Put-in-Hell-by God-08-Claudia — Claudia helping Louis

In the wake of the brutal fight between Louis and Lestat, Claudia took care of the wounded Louis, who she slowly nursed back to health. Over the next six years, Lestat would shower them with gifts in hopes of forgiveness, but each one they refused. But after he sent Louis a heartfelt song he composed himself, they considered accepting Lestat back into the family. This, however, did not come without stipulations…such as killing Antoinette. Claudia also declared that he would no longer be her uncle or father, only her companion. Lestat agreed to their terms. Although they forgave him, neither could forgot what had been done. Nevertheless, they hunted as a family, during which point, they agreed to only hunt humans and Louis begged Claudia to give Lestat a chance. The mistakes of their past remained fresh in Claudia’s mind and she was doubtful his intentions were genuine. In spite of her well-founded concerns, Lestat did follow through with at least one promise by killing Antoinette, whose finger he gifted to Claudia as proof given her affinity for souvenirs. At least, it appeared as though he had fulfilled his obligation. But all was not as it initially seemed, for Lestat kept his own secret. Antoinette lived.

IWTV-SE1-E06-Promo-Like-Angels-Put-in-Hell-by God-20-Louis-Claudia — Claudia saying goodbye

After learning that Lestat lied and that Antoinette was still alive, Claudia began devising an escape plan with a few destinations in mind, namely Prague, Bucharest, Varna, Silistra, and Ploiesti. All were ancient towns known for vampire inhabitants. When the night of her departure finally arrived, she begged Louis to join her, but Louis encouraged Claudia to go without him. She did so reluctantly, but not without embracing the vampire who had loved and protected her as his own fiercely, one last time. And so, Claudia, all by her lonesome, leaped aboard a train headed out of New Orleans, concealing herself in the luggage cart.

Despite her plan, Claudia was tracked down by Lestat. He forced her to return home, claiming that Louis needed them both by his side. Later, whilst playing another game of chess with Lestat, Claudia telepathically revealed to Louis her plans to kill Lestat and rid them of his devious narcissism. Not only did Claudia want to kill him, she suspected that Louis wanted to kill him too. Realizing that Claudia had nearly won, he encouraged her to finish the game, but she simply got up from her seat and headed upstairs, infuriating Lestat. Sweeping around, he knocked over the chess pieces and sent them flying in a moment of rage.^[5]

Killing Lestat[]

IWTV-SE1-E07-Promo-The-Thing-Lay-Still-12-Claudia — Claudia buying laudanum and arsenic

With Lestat insisting they be together at all times, Claudia and Louis were forced to plot telepathically, though she shared few details with her counterpart, reasoning that she did not want Lestat to learn of their plotting. For the time being, all she needed from Louis was to keep Lestat distracted whilst she tried to convince him to throw a Mardi Gras ball as one last hurrah before leaving New Orleans, where they had overstayed their welcome. On the night of the ball, Claudia and Louis plucked a few select individuals from the party to come back with them to the Rue Royale for a final feast, including the Macphail brothers, one of whom Claudia had poisoned with laudanum and arsenic for Lestat to feed from, leaving him in a weakened state.

IWTV-SE1-E07-Promo-The-Thing-Lay-Still-08-Chief-Bardeen-Claudia — Claudia killing the chief

However, Lestat was well aware of their plan as he had been working with Antoinette, who he turned into a vampire. Whilst Lestat retrained Louis, Antoinette forced Claudia to drink from the Macphail brother, though it was Lestat who suddenly fell ill and dropped to the ground. After stabbing Antoinette with a poker, Claudia explained how not only was she aware that Antoinette had been watching them but that she also poisoned Tom Anderson with the laudanum and arsenic, who Lestat had drank from moments earlier. After Louis slit his throat, Claudia dabbed the tip of her pen in his blood and wrote in a journal Lestat's final words: "Mets-moi dans mon cercueil, Louis, Louis," which translated to "Put me in my coffin, Louis, Louis." After burning the bodies of the dead, all that remained was Lestat, who Claudia sought to burn as well, but Louis refused. So instead they put him in a trunk and left him out with the garbage before getting in their car and driving away, heading for a boat with sails set for Europe.^[6]

Powers and abilities[]

After being turned by Lestat, Claudia gained all of the traits and abilities associated with being a vampire; such as immortality, superhuman strength and speed, heightened senses, the ability to read minds and an overwhelming bloodlust. Despite her physical age, Claudia is considerably stronger and faster than adult humans, however she seems to be at a disadvantage to more physically mature vampires. As noted by Lestat, due to her physical age when made, her larger appetite and stronger bloodlust is the result of her now permanently fast metabolism as an eternal teenager.^[3]