'The Bear' Did Many Things Right. Adding Molly Gordon Is One of Them.

If you’ve seen Season Two of The Bear, you may be wondering: Since when does Carmy have time for love? Rest assured, you’re not the only one who’s curious about The Bear's new romantic lead, Claire.

Claire, played by 27-year-old actress Molly Gordon, is The Bear’s secret weapon. She’s introduced in Episode Two as a lost love from Carmy’s past—making her one of the few individuals who truly know him. The two grew up and went to high school together, but despite their (hidden!) lingering feelings, they grew apart as adults. When they meet up in Season Two, it’s clear Claire has an uncanny ability to knock Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) off his feet.

Throughout Season Two, Claire and Carmy’s chemistry is both heartwarming and electric. In one moment, they’re giving each other a hard time, and in another, they’ll make you want to shove their heads together through the screen. It’s a refreshing change of pace for Carmy, whose stress was palpable—to say the absolute least—in Season One, as he mourned the death of his brother. This new sense of levity, and dare I say hope, is thanks to his dynamic with Claire, and in turn, Gordon’s stellar acting skills.

Before starring in The Bear, Gordon appeared in a plethora of film and television projects. In 2019, she made audiences laugh as Triple A in Booksmart. Then, in 2020 she starred as Maya in Emma Seligman’s debut film, Shiva Baby. There, Gordon's quick-witted character and deadpan delivery established her as a rising star.

The Bear won't be the last time you'll see Gordon this summer, either. On July 14, she’ll star in the whip-smart comedy, Theater Camp—which she also co-directed. The film follows a group of zany camp counselors who produce a play after their founder slips into a coma. If it’s anything like Gordon’s last projects, Theater Camp is sure to be a film we’ll be talking about for years to come.

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