Claudia Lee Black (born 11 October 1972) is an Australian and American actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Aeryn Sun in Farscape (1999–2003), Vala Mal Doran in Stargate SG-1 (2004–2007), and Sharon "Shazza" Montgomery in the film Pitch Black (2000).
Black has appeared in numerous television series, particularly those in the science fiction genre. Her roles include aunt Dahlia in The Originals (2015), Dr. Sabine Lommers in Containment (2016), and Klothow in Ahsoka (2023). She has also had prominent voice roles in video games, including Admiral Daro'Xen and Matriarch Aethyta in Mass Effect, Chloe Frazer in Uncharted, Morrigan in Dragon Age, Whitney Chang in The Amazing Spider-Man, Tess Everis in Destiny, and Samantha Byrne in the Gears of War series.
Early life Black was born and raised in Sydney, New South Wales. Her father Jules Black is a gynaecologist, and her mother Judy Black (née Henry) is a professor of pharmacology at the University of Sydney. She has an older sister named Georgina. Black is Jewish, and a descendant of German Jews who escaped the Holocaust. She studied at the Anglican Kambala School in Sydney. She has lived in numerous countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.
Career
Film and television Black began her acting career in her native Australia. Her first leading role was as Claire Bonacci in A Country Practice. She had a main role in the New Zealand soap opera City Life, playing the Greek lawyer Angela Kostapas.
In 1999, Black was cast to play Aeryn Sun in the science fiction series Farscape, a co-production between the United States and Australia. She gained international recognition for her role in the series, and was nominated for a Saturn Award in the Best Actress category in 2001, 2002 and 2005, winning in the latter. During this time she also appeared in the feature films Pitch Black and Queen of the Damned.
Despite being planned to run for five seasons, Farscape was cancelled after its fourth season in 2003. Black later reprised her role as Aeryn in the miniseries Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars in 2004, which concluded the series' plot. In the same year she appeared as Vala Mal Doran in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Prometheus Unbound". Her performance was well received and she was invited to reprise her role in a recurring capacity in the show's ninth season, after series regular Amanda Tapping left the series on maternity leave. Black appeared in eight episodes of the ninth season and returned to the series as a regular cast member for the tenth and final season. She also starred in Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum, two direct-to-video films that wrapped up the series' story lines.
In the NBC TV show Life (2007), Black was cast in the supporting role of Jennifer Conover for the initial pilot. Due to her second pregnancy, the part was recast and the role was given to actress Jennifer Siebel when the series was bought by the TV network.
Black has appeared in numerous television series in the United States, including recurring roles in The Originals and The Nevers. In 2016, she played the major role of Dr. Sabine Lommers in the CW miniseries Containment. In 2023, she portrayed the character Klothow in the first season of the Star Wars series Ahsoka. In 2025, she stated that she would not reprise her role in the second season. She starred as Cossutia in the Starz series Spartacus: House of Ashur. Black's film roles include Joan in the thriller film Time Now and Karla Grey in the science fiction film Deus, which she also produced.
Theatre Black has also performed in theatre. She played Portia in a tour of The Merchant of Venice. She has had parts in Spotlight on Women, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Loose Ends and Pick Ups for the Belvoir Street Theatre and Little Women and The World Knot for the Bicentennial Opera.
Voiceover work Since the early 2000s Black has been a prolific voice actress in video games. She has gained particular attention for her work with BioWare's Dragon Age and Mass Effect series. Her son Odin Thurkettle voiced her character's son in Dragon Age: Inquisition. She also played Chloe Frazer in the Uncharted series. In 2016, she appeared in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare as Engineer Audrey "Mac" MaCallum. She has narrated several audiobooks, including George R. R. Martin's Dreamsongs. In 2014, she had a voice-over role in Rick and Morty as Ma-Sha in the episode "Raising Gazorpazorp". She lent her voice to the character of Sheryl Goodspeed in the animated series Final Space.
Personal life Black married her husband, Jamie Oddie, in 2004. They have two sons. Black and Oddie divorced in 2016. Black resides in the United States and became an American citizen in 2020. She lives in Los Angeles.
Black has spoken at length about her experiences with personal trauma, which inspired her to become a trauma coach. Although raised Jewish, she has fallen out of touch with the religion and identifies as a lapsed Jew.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes2000Pitch BlackSharon "Shazza" Montgomery2002Queen of the DamnedPandora2007Stolen LifeKieru (voice)2008Stargate: The Ark of TruthVala Mal DoranDirect to videoWarGames: The Dead CodeR.I.P.L.E.Y. (voice)Stargate: ContinuumVala Mal Doran / Qetesh2011RangoAngelique (voice)2012Justice League: DoomCheetah (voice)Direct to videoStrange FrameParker C. Boyd (voice)The Alchemist AgendaAriel (voice)2013Rain from StarsDonna2021Time NowAunt Joan2022DeusKarla Grey 2023 Godspeed June (voice) Indie animated sci-fi short film and pilot
Television Year Title Role Notes1992Home and AwaySandra2 episodes1993Seven Deadly SinsExtraMiniseriesG.P.JoannaEpisode: "A Thousand Flowers"Police RescueJuliaEpisode: "Double Illusion"1993–1994Claire Bonacci34 episodes1996–1998City LifeAngela KostapasMain role1997Amazon HighKarinaTelevision filmWater RatsBeth WilliamsEpisode: "All at Sea"1997–1998Hercules: The Legendary JourneysCassandra2 episodes1998Good Guys, Bad GuysJill MayhewEpisode: "Naughty Bits"1999A Twist in the TaleMorganaEpisode: "Obsession in August"1999–2003FarscapeAeryn SunMain role2000Xena: Warrior PrincessKarinaEpisode: "Lifeblood"2001BeastMasterHunaEpisode: "Wild Child"2002Steel Angel KurumiSteel Angel Mikhail(voice)English dub2004Farscape: The Peacekeeper WarsAeryn SunMiniseries2004–2007Stargate SG-1Vala Mal DoranMain role2007The Dresden FilesLiz FontaineEpisode: "The Other Dick"2008MoonlightThe CleanerEpisode: "Sonata"2010NCISVelvet RoadEpisode: "Borderland"201190210Guru Sona3 episodes2012HavenMoiraEpisodes: "Magic Hour" Part 1 & 22014–presentRick and MortyMar-Sha, Ventriloquiver (voices)2 episodes2015The OriginalsDahliaRecurring role 2016ContainmentSabine LommersMain role2019–2020Roswell, New MexicoAnn EvansRecurring role2019–2021Final SpaceSheryl Goodspeed (voice)Main role 2021–2022The Nevers Stripe 4 episodes 2023 Ahsoka Klothow 3 episodes 2024 Transformers: EarthSpark Terratronus (voice) 4 episodes 2025–2026 Spartacus: House of Ashur Cossutia Main role
Video games Year Title Role Notes2002Farscape: The GameAeryn Sun2003Lords of EverQuestLady Briana2005God of WarArtemisNeopets: The Darkest FaerieFauna2006Project SylpheedNarrator2007ConanA'KannaCrysisHelena2009Uncharted 2: Among ThievesChloe FrazerDragon Age: OriginsMorrigan2010Mass Effect 2Admiral Daro'Xen vas Moreh, Matriarch Aethyta, Rachni EnvoyFinal Fantasy XIVNarrator2011TERA: The Exiled Realm of ArboreaElf Commander FrayaGears of War 3Samantha ByrneRageMel, SallyUncharted 3: Drake's DeceptionChloe Frazer2012Mass Effect 3Admiral Daro'Xen vas Moreh, Matriarch AethytaDiablo IIICydaea, Mistress of PainThe Amazing Spider-ManWhitney Chang2014Diablo III: Reaper of SoulsCydaea, Mistress of PainDestinyTess EverisMiddle-earth: Shadow of MordorQueen MarwenDragon Age: InquisitionMorrigan2016Uncharted 4: A Thief's EndChloe FrazerMultiplayer onlyGears of War 4Samantha ByrneWorld of Final FantasyLeviathanCall of Duty: Infinite WarfareAudrey "Mac" MaCullum2017Uncharted: The Lost LegacyChloe FrazerDestiny 2Tess EverisWolfenstein II: The New ColossusJessica "Silent Death" ValiantThe Diaries of Agent Silent Death DLC2018Killing Floor 2Mrs FosterMrs Foster Content Pack DLC2020Destiny 2: Beyond LightTess Everis2022Destiny 2: The Witch Queen2023ForspokenTanta Olas2024Dragon Age: The VeilguardMorrigan
Awards 2018 – Behind the Voice Actors Awards, Best Female Lead Vocal Performance in a Video Game: Uncharted: The Lost Legacy 2015 – Behind the Voice Actors Awards, Best Female Vocal Performance in a Video Game in a Supporting Role: Dragon Age: Inquisition 2009 – The Constellation Awards, Best Female Performance in a 2008 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series: Stargate: Continuum 2007 – The Constellation Awards, Best Female Performance in a 2006 Science Fiction Television Episode: Stargate SG-1: "Memento Mori" 2004 – Saturn Award, Best Actress, Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars
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