Claire Holt

Biography:

Claire Rhiannon Holt (born 11 June 1988) is an Australian-American actress. She first gained recognition for her debut role as Emma Gilbert in the fantasy television series H2O: Just Add Water (2006–2008). After relocating to the United States, she made her film debut in 2009. She later appeared in Mean Girls 2 and the first two seasons of Pretty Little Liars in 2011. Holt achieved wider acclaim for portraying Rebekah Mikaelson in the CW supernatural dramas The Vampire Diaries (2011–2014), The Originals (2013–2018), and Legacies (2021–2022). Her performance earned critical praise and a Teen Choice Award nomination. She also starred in NBC’s period crime drama Aquarius (2015–2016), further strengthening her reputation.

In cinema, Holt featured in the comedy-drama Blue Like Jazz (2012) and the survival thriller 47 Meters Down (2017), both of which received positive responses. She later appeared in several less successful projects before starring in—and executive producing—the well-received comedy horror film Untitled Horror Movie (2021).

Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Holt attended Stuartholme School.

In 2006, she secured the role of Emma Gilbert in Network Ten’s children’s series H2O: Just Add Water, which won both a Logie Award and a Nickelodeon Australia Kids’ Choice Award. Although the show was renewed for a third season, Holt departed after the second season to take part in Messengers 2: The Scarecrow, a sequel to the 2007 film The Messengers. Filmed in Sofia in 2008 and co-starring Norman Reedus and Heather Stephens, the movie was released directly to DVD in July 2009. Her character on H2O was replaced by Indiana Evans’ character, Bella.

Beyond acting, Holt appeared in advertisements for Dreamworld, Sizzler, and Queensland Lifesaving. In 2011, BuddyTV ranked her 55th on its list of TV’s 100 Sexiest Women.

In August 2011, she was cast as Rebekah Mikaelson on The Vampire Diaries. In January 2013, The CW confirmed her involvement in the backdoor pilot for the spin-off series The Originals, where she reprised the same role. She exited as a regular cast member during the first season but returned for the finale and continued making guest appearances until the series concluded in August 2018.

In 2014, Holt was reportedly linked to CBS’s Supergirl but chose not to pursue the opportunity. She went on to star in NBC’s limited series Aquarius as Charmain Tully. In 2016, she appeared in the romantic comedy The Divorce Party. The following year, she starred in the ABC thriller pilot Doomsday and played Kate in the underwater survival horror film 47 Meters Down, alongside Mandy Moore and Matthew Modine.

In 2021, Holt starred in Untitled Horror Movie and collaborated with the brand Andie Swim to design a swimwear collection. That same year, she reprised her role as Rebekah Mikaelson in Legacies, returning again in 2022 for one final appearance as the character.

In October 2024, Holt partnered with VEE Collective to design a collection of handbags. In November 2024 and again in 2025, she participated in the New York City Marathon—her third and fourth marathons overall—in collaboration with Maybelline. In December 2025, she shared in an interview with E! News that she had stepped away from acting to focus on raising her three children.

In January 2023, Holt launched a personal website where she regularly shares content on beauty, fashion, motherhood, and lifestyle topics.

In November 2022, she ran the New York City Marathon to raise funds for Boston Children’s Hospital, successfully completing the 26.2-mile race and raising $162,000. In October 2024, she completed another marathon in Chicago, contributing over $100,000 toward a total of $250,000 raised for the same hospital.

Holt became engaged to television producer Matt Kaplan in July 2015, and they married in April 2016. Kaplan filed for divorce in April 2017, citing irreconcilable differences, and Holt subsequently requested to revert to her maiden name.

In December 2017, Holt announced her engagement to real estate executive Andrew Joblon. In March 2018, she publicly shared that she had experienced a miscarriage. The couple married in August 2018 and have three children: two sons, born in 2019 and 2023, and a daughter, born in 2020.

In November 2019, Holt became a naturalized citizen of the United States.