FLARE Magazine, celebrates Emmy-winner and expectant mother Claire Danes on their November cover. Danes wears a Celine cuff and Sydney Evans earrings on the cover; inside, she models a purple coat by Versace. In FLARE’s exclusive interview, the actor reflects on growing up famous, her Emmy-winning role, and the reality of bi-polar disorder.

On child stardom: “I was pretty clear about what I did and didn’t want to do, even as a kid. People dismiss kids as being unthinking; they’re surprisingly discerning. I wanted to be taken seriously from the outset.”

On transitioning from romantic leads to bi-polar F.B.I. agent Carrie Mathison: “It’s arguable that being in love and being mentally ill are sort of similar [laughs]. But it’s true I went through this arduous decade and it did get a bit tiresome after awhile—you want to be defined in some other way.”

On the reality of bi-polar disorder: “Carrie’s disease is formidable, it’s furious, but it’s also treatable and every case is individual. I think the show offers a pretty good reflection of what that experience is like.”

On her reputation as a serious actor: “I actually want people to imagine me as being a little less serious sometimes. But people get attached to certain characters and perceptions.”