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Hugh Dancy Can't Believe His Wife Claire Danes' Dramatic 1992 Law & Order Episode

A Law & Order power couple!

By Elizabeth Logan
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Bad idea to marry a teen murderess. Better idea to marry an actress who can flawlessly portray a teen murderess. Which is what Law & Order star Hugh Dancy did.

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Watch Law & Order Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock.

The British actor, who plays ADA Nolan Price on the rebooted flagship series, shares three children with wife Claire Danes, who got her start as a teen actor in New York. And no New York actor's journey would be complete without a stint on Law & Order. Dancy got to see a bit of his now-wife's early performance, and his reaction is too good.

Hugh Dancy's first time seeing his wife Claire Danes' old Law & Order episode

During a 2022 visit to TODAY to mark the first three-way L&O franchise crossover event, Dancy was treated to a quick clip of Danes' episode from 30 years prior, in which she sits in jail, looking down at the table. It happened to be the Emmy-winner's debut television role. Clearly, Dancy had never seen the clip before, but mentioned that he knew about Danes' appearance.

When she came on screen, he immediately said, "Oh my good lord!" After watching her for a couple moments, Dancy decided, "She's guilty as sin, clearly." 

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Dancy remarked on Danes' episode again during a visit to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, saying again that one way or another, every NYC-based actor makes their way onto the Law & Order set.

Claire Danes as Tracy Brandt in a 1992 episode of Law & Order

Danes' episode, "Skin Deep," was the first of Season 3. She was just 13 yeas old at the time.

She played Tracy Brandt, daughter of model and sex worker Angela Brandt. The photographer who had been exploiting Angela had also groomed Tracy into a relationship with him, and after an argument, Tracy stabbed him in a fit of rage. Angela lies to protect her daughter before Tracy, a minor, eventually accepts a plea deal.

Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy pose together on the red carpet for the "Full Circle" premiere

Hugh Dancy would love to have his wife Claire Danes back on the show

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight about the possibility of Danes making a cameo on the series opposite her husband, Dancy was open to the idea. "Honestly, why not? It’s a very short drive from home," he said.

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Though the pair haven't spoken about the idea, he has brought family to work in the form of his kids. "They like the snacks," Dancy said of what his children enjoy about visiting him at work. "Mostly Pop-Tarts is the draw."

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