Emmys 2019: Five scenes that prove Sian Clifford deserves to win for her role as Fleabag's sister Claire
'Fleabag' is a phenomenal show, so much so that its season 2 was called perfect by nearly every critic with many arguing a season 3 cannot top it and therefore should not be done. Season 2's success is reflected in the show's multiple nominations at this year's 71st Primetime Emmy Awards, with the show garnering six nominations, including one for Sian Clifford in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
While The (Hot) Priest may have caused a storm online, it is the story of the relationship between Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and her sister Claire that is central to the show, with Clifford even stating that the real love story is that of the sisters and we couldn't agree more. Clifford portrays the priggish-yet-loving Claire with such attention to detail that she's our favorite to win the Emmy Award and we have compiled some of her best scenes below.
"Hair is Everything"
This could be the scene that stands out for Claire, but in a show like Fleabag, that is hard to decide. In this scene from the fifth episode of the second season, Claire's problems with her husband are catching up with her and she wants a change in life, so she goes to get a haircut, only to end up with something she thinks looks "horrendous". While this scene is more popular for Fleabag's "hair is everything" speech, it is Claire who ties up the whole scene.
"Get your hands off my miscarriage"
The first episode of season 2 set the stage for the season with the family dinner (Phoebe Waller-Bridge is nominated for Outstanding Writing for this episode). In this particular scene, Fleabag follows Claire to the restroom at the restaurant to see if she was okay in the midst of a tense dinner. At this point, Fleabag and Claire haven't spoken to each other in months. It is when Fleabag insists on helping Claire that the latter breaks down and confesses she had a miscarriage. Clifford's performance is heartbreaking, but it's her ability to finetune the performance to take the focus off of Waller-Bridge and that is not an easy thing to do.
Claire and Klare
The whole of season 2's third episode is just Clifford shining through. This is the episode she has been nominated for the Emmy. Claire brings Fleabag to help cater an event at her office and though she is stressed out and high-strung, Claire is enjoying every minute of it. We also meet Klare, Claire's Finnish colleague whom she has a crush on. The viewers get a side of Claire outside of her family and we are all the better for it.
Run through an airport kind of love
In the final episode of season 2, Claire finally acts for herself. She comes clean to the rest of the family about her miscarriage, tells Martin she wants to leave him, and in a truly Fleabag-ish moment, leaves in the middle of the wedding to go to the airport and tell Klare that she likes him. This episode also gave us the beautiful moment where Claire tells Fleabag that "the only person I'd run through an airport for is you".
"Don't make this fun"
Claire and Fleabag go for a women's only retreat their father booked for them in the fourth episode of season 1. On the car ride, Fleabag and Claire have tense moments, with Claire telling Fleabag what she doesn't want her to do. Stressed by things at home and work, Claire is beginning to get tired of Fleabag's constant self-centering attitude and the viewers are able to see their relationship breaking down.
