Clara Cleymans


Clara Cleymans is a Belgian actress, voice actress and musical theatre singer.
She began her career in 1997 by appearing in the Belgian TV series Samson en Gert. She made her film debut in the 1999 movie De Kabouterschat. After appearing in various productions, she portrayed one of the main characters in the TV series . She had leading roles in various TV series such as Thuis, Tegen de sterren op, Code 37, and De Ridder. Besides her television works, she had leading roles in films such as Kill Me Please, Groenten uit Balen, and Yummy.

Early years and education

She was born on January 5, 1989 in Wilrijk, as the second child of Karin Jacobs and Jan Cleymans. She has an older brother, named Jelle. She attended the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven, and then the philosophy department of the University of Antwerp.

Career

She began her acting career when she was 8 years old, and appeared as Klaartje in a 1997 episode of the Belgian television series Samson en Gert. Her film debut came in 1999 by appearing as Liese in De Kabouterschat. She had the same role in the following sequels as well, Plop in de Wolken and Plop en de Toverstaf.
After having minor roles in various television series, she had her first leading role in the one-season VTM series ' as Amber Claessens. Between 2010–2011, she portrayed Nina Oostvoghels, one of the main characters at that time of the Eén series Thuis. She imitated various celebrities and public figures, and had different characters in the VTM satirical series Tegen de sterren op between 2010–2018. For her performances in the series, she was awarded with the Rising Star award in the Vlaamse Televisie Sterren 2011, and nominated for the Best Actress in the 2012 edition of the awards. Cleymans continued her film career with Kill Me Please and Groenten uit Balen. She portrayed public prosecutor Helena De Ridder, the leading role of the four-season Eén series De Ridder. She was nominated for the Best Actress in the 2014 and 2015 editions of the Vlaamse Televisie Sterren, for the performances in De Ridder, and De Ridder and Tegen de sterren op respectively.
Between 2018–2019, she portraid Sarah Liebman, a Jewish girl that has a love affair with a non-Jewish guy Louis Segers in a dramatic musical theatre 40-'45 that sets during the World War II. In the Belgian comedy horror zombie movie Yummy'', she played the hospital director Janja, one of the leading roles in the movie.

Personal life

She married Jo Mahieu in 2014. The couple has two children, Jeanne and Romy.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999De KabouterschatLiese
2000Plop in de WolkenLiese
2003Plop en de ToverstafLiese
2008Happy TogetherJulie Daelemans
2010'SnowVoice of the Dutch version
2010Kill Me PleaseMlle Julia
2011HammertimeCherryShort film
2011Chit ChatAnnaShort film
2011Groenten uit BalenAnlice
2011The SmurfsSmurfetteVoice of the Dutch version
2013The Smurfs 2SmurfetteVoice of the Dutch version
2016Bottom-UpEefjeShort film
2019YummyJanja

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997Samson en GertKlaartjeEpisode: "De hamster van Octaaf"
1998HeterdaadClara PironSeason 3 episode 6
1999FlikkenCara GoffinEpisode: "Partners"
2002SpoedSandie VermeireEpisode: "Stadsplannen"
2004RupelRilke GoeminneEpisode: "De kroon"
2006F.C. De KampioenenLeentjeEpisode: "De eerste prijs"
2006AspeTania JanssenEpisode: "Kinderen van de nacht"
2006–2007De KavijaksEpisodes: "Marcella" and "Belinda"
2008VermistIsabelle MaesEpisode: "Baby Alisha"
2010F.C. De KampioenenFienEpisode: "Bella Africa"
2010'Amber Claessens12 episodes
2010WitseSiennaEpisode: "Klare Lijn"
2010–2011ThuisNina Oostvoghels159 episodes
2010–2018Tegen de sterren opVarious roles and imitations88 episodes
2011Mega MindyNatalia TkofschipEpisode: "De Bompiano"
2011Code 37Vicky Renders13 episodes
2011Zonde van de zendtijdInspecteur de BabeSeason 3 episode 8
2011Quiz Me QuickMonica10 episodes
2012AspeBrenda Schepens / Dorothy KahnEpisode: "Lüger"
2013–2016De RidderHelena De Ridder48 episodes
2018Connie & Clyde 2Wendy / WandaEpisode: "Wendy weet van Wanda"
2019–2020Dit zijn wijFiona Maas4 episodes

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999AssepoesterYoung AssepoesterMusical
2001Kuifje: De zonnetempelZorrinhoMusical
2011De Koepoort 15Sara
2011–2012Fiddler on the RoofChavaMusical
2013Diep in mijYasmine
2014Costa Blanca
2015FigaroRosine/Contessa
2016-2017Club 27
2017Our Mutual Friend Lizzie/Venuz
2017Kleinkunsteiland
2018CosìDespinaMusical
2018-2019'40-'45Sarah LiebmanMusical
2019Les Enfants du ParadisGarance

Awards and nominations