Jane Krakowski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Krakowski
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Krakowski in June 2023
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Jane Krajkowski
October 11, 1968 Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Education | Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BFA) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1983–present |
| Known for | 30 Rock Ally McBeal Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt |
| Partner(s) | Robert Godley (2009–2013) |
| Children | 1 |
Jane Krakowski (born October 11, 1968) is an American actress and singer. She is famous for her funny roles in television shows. You might know her as Jenna Maroney in the comedy series 30 Rock or as Jacqueline White in the Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Her work has earned her five nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award, a major television award.
Besides acting on TV, Krakowski is also a talented singer who has performed on Broadway. She won a Tony Award, which is like the Oscars for theater, for her role in the musical Nine. She also won a Laurence Olivier Award, a top theater award in London, for the musical Guys and Dolls.
In movies, she played Cousin Vicki in National Lampoon’s Vacation and was the voice of characters in animated films like Open Season and My Little Pony: A New Generation.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jane Krakowski was born in Parsippany, New Jersey. Her mother, Barbara, was a college theater teacher, and her father, Ed, was a chemical engineer. Because her parents were involved in theater, Jane grew up around it. She said, "Instead of hiring baby sitters, they brought me along with them."
She started taking ballet lessons when she was four years old. Later, she switched to Broadway-style dancing. She went to the Professional Children's School in New York City and later studied at Rutgers University, where she earned a degree in Fine Arts.
Career Journey
First Roles on TV and Stage
Jane's first movie role was at age 14 in the comedy National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), where she played Cousin Vicki. In 1984, she joined the TV soap opera Search for Tomorrow as T.R. Kendall. This role earned her two nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award.
When she was 18, she got a big break on Broadway. She played Dinah the Dining Car in the musical Starlight Express. A few years later, she starred in the musical Grand Hotel and was nominated for her first Tony Award.
From 1997 to 2002, she played the funny office assistant Elaine Vassal in the TV show Ally McBeal. This role made her very popular and earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. In 2000, she played Betty Rubble in the movie The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas.
Broadway Success and 30 Rock
Krakowski continued to shine on stage. In 2003, she was in the Broadway show Nine. For her performance, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. One of her most famous moments in the show involved an amazing aerial stunt.
In 2005, she moved to London to star in the musical Guys and Dolls. Her performance as Miss Adelaide was a huge hit, and she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
In 2006, she began her role as the self-obsessed actress Jenna Maroney on the NBC comedy 30 Rock, created by Tina Fey. The show was very successful and ran until 2013. For her work on 30 Rock, Krakowski was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Recent Work
After 30 Rock, Jane Krakowski teamed up with Tina Fey again for the Netflix show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She played Jacqueline White, a wealthy and clueless New York socialite. The show ran from 2015 to 2019 and earned her a fifth Emmy nomination.
In 2016, she returned to Broadway in the musical She Loves Me. Her performance won her several awards for acting and dancing.
Since 2021, Krakowski has been the host of the game show Name That Tune. She also starred in the musical comedy series Schmigadoon! from 2021 to 2023.
Personal Life
Krakowski was engaged to Robert Godley, and they have a son who was born in 2011. The couple went their separate ways in 2013.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | National Lampoon's Vacation | Cousin Vicki Johnson | |
| 1987 | Fatal Attraction | Christine | |
| 1991 | Stepping Out | Lynne | |
| 1998 | Dance With Me | Patricia Black | |
| 2000 | The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas | Betty O'Shale | |
| 2002 | Ice Age | Rachel the Sloth | Voice |
| 2004 | Alfie | Dorie | |
| 2006 | Open Season | Giselle | Voice |
| 2008 | Kit Kittredge: An American Girl | Miss May Dooley | |
| Open Season 2 | Giselle | Voice | |
| 2009 | Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant | Corma Limbs | |
| 2015 | Pixels | First Lady Jane Cooper | |
| 2020 | The Willoughbys | Mother Willoughby | Voice |
| 2021 | My Little Pony: A New Generation | Queen Haven | Voice |
| 2023 | Your Christmas or Mine 2 | Diane |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–1986 | Search for Tomorrow | Theresa Rebecca "T.R." Kendall | Main cast (107 episodes) |
| 1997–2002 | Ally McBeal | Elaine Vassal | Main cast (112 episodes) |
| 2002–2003 | Everwood | Dr. Gretchen Trott | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Emma Spevak | Episode: "Bound" |
| 2004 | A Christmas Carol | Ghost of Christmas Past / Lamplighter | Television film |
| 2006–2013 | 30 Rock | Jenna Maroney | Main cast (138 episodes) |
| 2013 | The Simpsons | Zhenya | Voice, episode: "The Fabulous Faker Boy" |
| 2014–2017 | Modern Family | Dr. Donna Duncan | 3 episodes |
| 2015–2019 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Jacqueline White | Main cast (51 episodes) |
| 2017 | A Christmas Story Live! | Miss Shields | Television special |
| 2019–2021 | Dickinson | Emily Norcross Dickinson | Main cast (30 episodes) |
| 2020 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend | Jacqueline White | Television film |
| 2021–2023 | Schmigadoon! | The Countess / Bobbie Flanagan | Main cast (10 episodes) |
| 2021–present | Name That Tune | Herself | Host (49 episodes) |
Theater
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Starlight Express | Dinah the Dining Car | Gershwin Theatre | Broadway |
| 1989 | Grand Hotel | Frieda "Flaemmchen" Flamm | Martin Beck Theatre | Broadway |
| 1995 | Company | April | Criterion Center Stage Right | Broadway |
| 1996 | Once Upon a Mattress | Lady Larken | Broadhurst Theatre | Broadway |
| 2003 | Nine | Carla Albanese | Eugene O'Neill Theatre | Broadway |
| 2005 | Guys and Dolls | Adelaide | Piccadilly Theatre | West End |
| 2016 | She Loves Me | Ilona Ritter | Studio 54 | Broadway |
| 2018 | Beauty and the Beast | Mrs. Potts | Hollywood Bowl | Los Angeles |
Awards and Nominations
Jane Krakowski has been nominated for many awards for her work in television and theater. Here are some of her major wins and nominations.
Television
- Screen Actors Guild Awards: She won twice with the cast of Ally McBeal and 30 Rock for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
- Primetime Emmy Awards: She has been nominated five times for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her roles in 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
- Critics' Choice Television Awards: She won for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
- Golden Globe Awards: She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Ally McBeal.
Theater
- Tony Awards: She won Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Nine in 2003. She has been nominated three other times.
- Laurence Olivier Awards: She won Best Actress in a Musical for Guys and Dolls in 2006.
- Drama Desk Award: She has won three times for her roles in Nine and She Loves Me.
See also
In Spanish: Jane Krakowski para niños
