Clare Maree Bowen (born 12 May 1984) is an Australian actress, singer and dancer, best known for her role as Scarlett O'Connor in the ABC/CMT musical-drama television series Nashville.

[1][2] Her parents Tony and Kathleen worked for Qantas and she spent time overseas as a child,[3] including a stint with her family in Zimbabwe.

[2][3][4] Bowen attended the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia, where she received a Bachelor of Creative Arts degree in 2006.

[1][5][6] Bowen appeared as the female lead in the Australian drama film The Combination in 2009 and has guest starred in The Cut, Gangs of Oz, Chandon Pictures and Home and Away.

In 2010, Bowen was cast in the leading role of Wendla Bergman, in the Australian production of Spring Awakening, directed by Geordie Brookman, artistically overseen by Cate Blanchett at the Sydney Theatre Company.

[12] In 2013, Bowen posed nude for the May issue of Allure magazine - alongside Naya Rivera, Jennifer Morrison, and Christa Miller.