Claire Juliana Lanay was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Both of her parents are Vietnamese immigrants. Claire's father was a mathematics professor before serving as a soldier in the Vietnam War. Upon moving to the states, he became a pastor. Claire's mother was a translator at the US Embassy in Saigon before becoming a beauty salon owner when they made their way to Hawaii. Claire's parents have both since retired from long careers in nursing and geriatric care.

Transition, upheaval, and adapting to new environments have all become second nature to Claire. After leaving Hawaii at an early age, she ended up living in several different locations such as Hesston, Kansas / Eugene, Oregon / Chicago, Illinois / Los Angeles, California / Atlanta, Georgia.

As is the case for many actors, artists, and nomads, Claire has worked a ton of "survival jobs". This varied list of paycheck gigs includes, though is not limited to: hotel auditor, graveyard shift security & medical alarm dispatching, call center concierge, property management admin, law firm receptionist, talent agency intern, Directors Guild of America residuals processor, strip club cashier, and auto parts delivery driver.

When speaking about her journey, lessons learned, and hopes for the future, Claire says: "Sacrifices have to be made and sometimes you gotta do some crazy shit in order to get to where you want to be. There's nothing inherently wrong with playing characters such as the nail salon girl, massage parlor girl, or even the me-love-you-long-time girl. Stereotypes are based on generalities but they are one-dimensional and limiting if not wholly demeaning. I'm just delighted to see roles that depict cerebral, articulate, formidable, determined, badass, ethnically diverse women are becoming more commonplace."

Claire has had recurring roles on TV shows such as "The Resident" (FOX) and "Sistas" (BET). She appeared in two Ava DuVernay projects including "Naomi" (CW) as well as opposite Rosario Dawson in the mini-series "DMZ" (HBO Max).