Clarissa Ward was born on January 30, 1980, in London, England. She attended Yale University, where she earned a degree in Comparative Literature. Reflecting on her career path in an interview with the Los Angeles Times' High School Insider, she said, “I always loved traveling and storytelling and languages, so journalism seemed like a natural fit for me.”
Ward began her journalism career at Fox News in 2003 as an overnight desk assistant. She quickly rose through the ranks to become an assignment editor, eventually working on Fox’s international desk where she coordinated global stories. During this time, she helped cover major events such as the capture of Saddam Hussein, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005.
In 2006, Ward transitioned to a field producer role, covering significant stories such as the trial and execution of Saddam Hussein, the Iraq War, the Beirut Arab University riots, and the 2007 Bikfaya bombings in Lebanon. She also spent time embedded with the U.S. military in Baqubah, Iraq.
From October 2007 to October 2010, Ward worked as a correspondent for ABC News. Initially based in New York City and later in Beirut, she was eventually relocated to Moscow, from where she appeared on all major ABC News programs, including “World News with Charles Gibson,” “Nightline,” and “Good Morning America.” Her coverage included the Russian presidential elections and the country's military intervention in Georgia.
Ward was later assigned to Beijing as ABC’s Asia Correspondent. There, she covered the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami and also reported extensively from Afghanistan.
| Height: | 5 feet 11 inches |
| Date of Birth: | January 30, 1980 |
| Nationality: | British |
| Birth Place: | New York City, NY |
| Spouse: | Philipp von Bernstorff (m. 2016) |
| Education: | Yale University |
| Net Worth 2021: | 1 million |
