Claire Danes Looks Fierce on Elle, Is Still Awkward Sometimes

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Claire Danes might be better known for her androgynous style thanks to her '90s era grunge-tastic plaid and the serious suits on Homeland, but her February Elle cover has her looking quite sophisticated in Just Cavalli (above right) and Narciso Rodriguez dress (above left). It's great to see her rocking all kinds of styles, but it's also somehow comforting that the following exchange between Danes, her husband Hugh Dancy, and President Obama is straight out of the My So Called Life awkward chatter play-book:

"Hugh realized that he'd forgotten to actually properly introduce himself, and he [President Obama] was like, 'And you are?' And Hugh was like, 'I'm sorry, Mr. President.' I said, 'I'm Claire Danes,' and he said, 'Oh, you're a fine actress.' And I said, 'You're a fine president!' And he said, 'Oh, you're a finer actress than I am president.' I didn't have any retort. Hugh and I went immediately to the bar and had a big shot of vodka."

Catch more from our and Obama's favorite provocateur when the issue hits newsstands on January 15.
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