During her short-lived presidency, a truck carrying nuclear material goes missing and puts D.C. into lock-down, a scheme devised by several members of Frank's cabinet and Conway's campaign. House of Cards' lead power couple, Frank and Claire Underwood, racked up a sizeable body count over the show's six seasons, and here's the rundown.While House of Cards might be better known at this point for the rather unceremonious way it went out, thanks to the scandal involving original star Kevin Spacey, the show still remains a landmark in streaming TV history. She is a lobbyist and runs an environmental nonprofit organization, but in later seasons ascends to the position of Second Lady of the United States, and finally First Lady of the United States and the United States Ambassador to the . She's the 47 th President of the United States, and the first female. She even reached out to Megan Hennessey, a former marine who was also raped by McGinnis, and inspired her to become an activist. Claire Underwood (I) on IMDb: Movies, Tv, Celebrities, and more. [36] Based upon the 4-episode preview, Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times says that in season 2 Claire "is still ruthlessly pursuing her own agenda as well as her husband's. Claire is making American television great again and were willing her to keep trumping our expectations (or her husbands), one stiletto click at a time. Unknown date in 1965 Robin Wright regrets that her House of Cards character, Claire Underwood, was not legitimately elected to the presidency. Franklin D. Roosevelt 33. She is the wife of the show's protagonist Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and the main protagonist in the final season. Claire Hale Underwood is a fictional character in House of Cards, played by Robin Wright.She is the wife of the show's protagonist Francis J. . [18], Upon viewing a four-episode preview of season 2, Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter says the series "sells husband and wife power-at-all-costs couple Frank (Kevin Spacey) and Claire (Robin Wright) Underwood as a little too oily and reptilian for anyone's good. Political party: Representation is important, and Claire Underwood was not a good representation of a female politician. The president uses every single female stereotype to her advantage, showing the world that the being the best leader is all about tact and strategy, regardless of what gender you are. She claims the abortion was a result of his rape and uses this platform to press a bill on sexual assault prevention. Wrights wish that Claire could have been elected legitimately is understandable, at the time House of Cards was airing, there was no example of a democratically elected female president (or VP) in real life. Claire Underwood dominated the newest season of House of Cards, finally becoming the boss bitch she was always meant to be. This is admiration equally applicable to Claire and Francis. LeAnn convinces the Underwoods to help rescue Aidan; but they really just wanted him back to they could kill him before he could reveal any more of their secrets. The anti politician's wife, she doesn't do passive smiles and hanging in the background: she's as ambitious, scheming, intelligent and power-hungry as her Machiavellian politician husband, Frank Underwood. [20], In season 3, when the Underwoods are President and First Lady of the United States, Claire's marriage to Frank begins to falter. Through an interview in Season 2, it was revealed that Claire's rapist is now a General in the military, and Claire falsely claimed she had an abortion afterwards in order not to reveal to the public that she aborted Frank's child during his first campaign. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! She tires of being in a subordinate role to him, wanting to be "significant" in her own right, and decides that he is "not enough" for her. Frank (Kevin Spacey) and Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) have been ruthless in brushing aside all detractors in. If she can verbally chastise a man while perching above the toilet as she takes a piss in full view, theres nothing shes not capable of, not even bad posture. [25] Wright plays the role with "an almost terrifying froideur". [41] He attacks her with a letter opener, superficially wounding her in the throat, but cannot bring himself to kill her, instead collapsing into her arms. Calvin Coolidge 31. When Stamper confronts her about what Frank left him in his will, Claire says that she is pregnant with Frank's child. She makes enemies of Bill Shepherd (Greg Kinnear) and his sister Annette (Diane Lane), two political power brokers who oppose her agenda. Email; Twitter; Facebook; Google + Pinterest; Tumblr; Linkedin Find out when the sixth and final season is released on Netflix on Friday, Nov. 2. Underwood's solution. Vice Presidency (2017) The House of Representatives did not choose a president but the Senate chose Claire Underwood as the 51st Vice President of the United States, which resulted in her being sworn in as the Acting President of the United States, until the House chooses a President. Thomas Jefferson 4. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. In the ensuing open convention, they publicly endorse Secretary of State Catherine Durant (Jayne Atkinson) for the job, while working behind the scenes to undermine her and ensure that Claire wins enough delegates to be nominated. During the emergency, Claire is visited by diplomat Jane Davis (Patricia Clarkson), who says that she can track down a leader of ICO for the Underwoods. Claire Underwood is a strong and determined individual, traits she admires in others such as Gillian Cole and Zoe Barnes. She explained: "It was quite an honor to close out the show [as director]. Underwood's short-lived second term, however, was riddled with scandal. At the 2016 Democratic Convention, there was no clear Vice Presidential candidate to complete the party ticket, so President Francis Underwood held an open convention for Vice President. Claire's icy blue dress matches her icy glare in this presidential portrait. During an unguarded moment, Claire tells Yates that Frank murdered Zoe Barnes and Congressman Peter Russo (Corey Stoll). "[29][30][31] Claire also manipulates First Lady Patricia Walker (Joanna Going) into believing that her husband is having an affair in order to distract President Walker from Frank's machinations. The House of Representatives did not choose a president but the Senate chose Claire Underwood as the 51st Vice President of the United States, which resulted in her being sworn in as the Acting President of the United States, until the House chooses a President. Voters turn against Conway, and the Underwoods win the election. Claire is the only person who refers to Frank as Francis, and he is also listed in her phone as Francis. [10] In season 2, she remains "equally steely". For the first time, Claire looked directly into the camera alongside Frank as her husband ominously declared, "We make the terror.". "Claire was always the one who would come home from a late night in Lamont studying for a midterm or writing a twenty-page paper, and still go out for a run," Natalie Rutkowski, a former . Second Lady of the United States (2013 - 2014), First Lady of the United States (2014 - 2017), On March 15, 2017, following the resignation of President Frank Underwood, Claire Underwood became the, United States vice-presidential candidates, 2016, 47th and current President of the United States, "My husband doesn't apologize. In 'House Of Cards,' It's Hard To Tell", "The 9 Most Shocking Moments from House of Cards Season 2", "House of Cards recap, series two, episode 13 'Cut out your heart and put it in his hands', "House of Cards recap, series two, episode 13 'Cut out his heart and put it in his hands', "The Anhedonia of Antiheroes: Why House of Cards' Second Season Isn't as Fun as It Should Be", "How Absolute Power Can Delight Absolutely: 'House of Cards' Returns, With More Dark Scheming", "House of Cards recap: episodes two, three and four= Frank speaks to God", "The Explosive 'House of Cards' Finale: Creator Beau Willimon on the State of the Underwoods", "TV Review: 'House of Cards' Season Two", "Robin Wright: Claire Underwood not based on Hillary Clinton", "Golden Globes Nominations 2014: '12 Years a Slave,' 'American Hustle' Lead Field", "2014 Golden Globes: Robin Wright wins best actress for online-only 'House of Cards', "Critics' Choice TV Awards 2014: And the nominees are", "2014 Emmy Nominations: 'Breaking Bad,' 'True Detective' Among the Honored", "SAG Awards: Game of Thrones, Homeland, House of Cards Lead Noms; Empire, Inside Amy Schumer Shut Out; Mr. March 11, 2015 Courtesy of Netflix. Frank rejects the idea. 6 seasons, 73 episodes The 'New Amsterdam' Series Finale Opens An Unexpected Door To The Future, Everything To Know About 'Only Murders In The Building' Season 3, 'Bachelor' Star Cassie Randolphs Sister Is In The 'Yellowstone' Spinoff '1923', Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. [2] Wright won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress Television Series Drama for this role at the 71st Golden Globe Awards, becoming the first actress to win a Golden Globe Award for a streaming television online-only role in a series. But David Fincher convinced her the character would "evolve" into a more complex and "corrupt female character." See why some of your favorite . [44] Among those nominations was Wright's portrayal of Claire Underwood for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series as well as Kevin Spacey's portrayal of Frank Underwood for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Jason Bateman's portrayal of Michael Bluth in Arrested Development for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, making these three roles the first three leading roles to be Primetime Emmy Award-nominated from a streaming television series. Phillips Academy Andover Radcliffe CollegeHarvard University She left Frank for a time in Season 1 and went to stay with Adam in New York. "[33] The gambit works: Walker keeps Frank as his Vice President, allowing Frank to succeed him when he resigns. Best of 2022 Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts Join Amazon Prime Watch Thousands of Movies & TV Shows Anytime Start Free Trial Now, threatened to go public if they did not acquiesce, House of Cards Season 2 Review: Episodes 4-6, House of Cards Season 2 Review: Episodes 1-3, House Of Cards season 4 spoiler-filled review, Heat, Empire Records, and the Best Movies Free on Plex in January, The Best Jeff Beck Side Project Tracks and Deep Cuts, Every Marvel Movie and TV Show Coming in 2023, House of Cards: Why Robin Wrights Claire Underwood Is the True Leader. In season 3, she confronts Russian President Petrvo (Lars Mikkelsen) during a press conference for his intolerance of LGBTQ citizens, undercutting her husband's wishes while simultaneously. Around this time, Claire and Frank convince Stamper to take the fall for Zoe Barnes' death. [9] She is a woman "who will stop at nothing to conquer everything". James Monroe 6. She subsequently achieved a masters in public health from Harvard University. [45][46] In so doing she became the first actress to win a Golden Globe Award for an online-only streaming television series. Its easy to imagine Wright became more empowered and enabled as an actress after the divorce, stepping out from the shadow of Penns career, flexing her muscular acting chops (and biceps) as Penn drifted into Hollywoods shadows. It's possible.'". Knowing her husband was unlikely to win in the House, and fearing a Conway-Underwood White House, Claire ordered a revote in Ohio and Tennessee. Because of this, nor Underwood or Conway reached to the 270 votes in the electoral votes. Here we see Frank not as a cunning leader who has duped an entire nation, but as Claire's political puppet, one she's been manipulating from day one. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., U.S. The Shepherds try to undermine her by developing a voting app that would essentially steal the upcoming midterm elections; Claire retaliates by having Duncan, who created the app, arrested for treason. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. She fires her cabinet to neutralize his influence, and leaks information tying him and Bill Shepherd to laundering money for the Russian government; she also punishes Annette Shepherd by revealing to the press that Annette's son, Duncan (Cody Fern), is in fact the biological child of one of her serving staff. The Netflix series was never meant to provide good representation of female leaders, or really, good representation of anybody. Nationality: Could we have bought into Claires ruthless rationality had we known Wright to still be waving from the audience at Penn, as he accepted yet another accolade? why is claire underwood acting president Home; Events; Register Now; About She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for this role at the 65th, 66th, 67th, 68th, 69th and 71st Primetime Emmy Awards. "I should've never made you president," Claire retorts. Claire assumes the presidency with the understanding that she will make it one of her first actions to publicly pardon Frank and Doug. Mother: She was initially expected to announce a pardon of Frank Underwood but later changed her mind. Three of its web series, Arrested Development, Hemlock Grove, and House of Cards, earned nominations. [32], In the season finale, she urges Frank to humble himself before President Walker, with whom he has fallen out of favor, in order to complete the plan: "Cut out your heart and put it in his fucking hands. She has to be calculating and has to be consistently on. Claire's main storyline in season 2 is her advocacy, as Second Lady, for a sexual assault prevention bill. The Democrats alone do not have enough votes to pass the bill. While Frank is receiving a liver transplant, she declines going to the hospital in favor of negotiating a treaty with Petrov, and strong-arms him into accepting the U.S.' terms. Corrigan, however, is unwilling to sign a statement that relieves Russia of any responsibility in how it treats the LGBT community. Instead, he hangs himself in his cell. And, in revisiting her filmography, it seems as if Robin Wrights career has culminated with this character, a character who stops for nothing and nobody, politically sedulous while also cinematically seductive. Claire Underwood's mother always told her to frown less and smile more but never considered her personal feelings were in the way of her happiness; she just couldn't smile from the inside out. 49: 795-801, 2017. But it turns out that Frank himself was the source of the leak, having determined that his presidency was beyond saving and that it was more important to maintain control over the White House with Claire at the helm. Seasons: [12] He is not alone. He dies while having sex with Claire, and she has Usher get rid of the body. Though she was pleased to end her already impressive run on House of Cards by directing the series finale, she did wish that Claires success was achieved by means other than lying, cheating, and killing. Rutherford B. Hayes 20. Smith describes their relationship as pivotal to the show: "Benign though they may seemand their harmless air is what makes the Underwoods so effective as political plottersthis is a power couple with the same malignant chemistry as pairs of serial killers, where each needs the other in order to become lethal". Earlier in the season, Claire confessed to her lover Tom that Frank had killed Zoe Barnes way back at the beginning of Season 2. She then converts the focus on that issue into political support that becomes critical to the Underwoods' ascension to the Oval Office. During the military gala where McGinnis was to be given an award for his military deeds, Claire tells Frank the story behind freshman year, to which he reacts furiously. For the past three seasons she's been showing more and more signs of doubt over the moral sacrifices she's been taking to be who she is today. Him in his will, Claire tells Yates that Frank murdered Zoe Barnes will stop at to... 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