Jane Krakowski

Jane Krakowski
Krakowski at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in September 2008
Born
Jane Krajkowski

(1968-10-11) October 11, 1968 (age 55)
EducationRutgers University, New Brunswick (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1981–present
Known for30 Rock
Ally McBeal
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
PartnerRobert Godley (2009–2013)
Children1

Jane Krakowski (/krəˈkaʊski/; née Krajkowski; born October 11, 1968) is an American actress. She is best known for her starring role as Jenna Maroney in the NBC satirical comedy series 30 Rock (2006–2013, 2020), for which she received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Krakowski's other notable television roles have included Elaine Vassal in the Fox legal comedy-drama series Ally McBeal (1997–2002) and Jacqueline White in the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015–2020). For the latter, she received another Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nomination.

A trained singer, Krakowski has made numerous appearances on stage. At age 18, she originated the role of Dinah the Dining Car in the Broadway production of Starlight Express (1987). She has since won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for the revival of Nine (2003). Other Tony-nominated roles include in Grand Hotel (1989) and She Loves Me (2016). She received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the West End revival of Guys and Dolls (2005).

Early life

Krakowski was born and raised in Parsippany, New Jersey, the daughter of Ed Krajkowski, a chemical engineer, and Barbara (née Benoit), a college theater instructor and producing artistic director for the Women's Theater Company. She has an older brother. Krakowski's father's family is Polish, and while she speaks very little Polish, her father and grandparents are fluent.

Krakowski grew up immersed in the local theater scene as a result of her parents' involvement, saying in one interview: "Instead of hiring baby sitters, they brought me along with them." She took ballet lessons at age four, but later stopped because she had the wrong body shape, instead moving more towards Broadway dancing. She attended Parsippany High School and then the Professional Children's School in New York City and Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

Career

Krakowski at the 2007 Red Dress Collection for The Heart Truth

Following a 1981 television commercial for the video game Solar Fox, Krakowski's first major role and feature film debut came at the age of 14, when she played Cousin Vicki Johnson in the 1983 road comedy National Lampoon's Vacation. Krakowski was originally cast in the 1983 horror film Sleepaway Camp, but dropped out just before filming began because she felt her character's death scene with a curling iron was too violent. In 1984, she began appearing as Theresa Rebecca "T.R." Kendall in the NBC soap opera Search for Tomorrow, part of the NBC Daytime programming block; she continued the role until the show ended in 1986 and was nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards in 1986 and 1987.[citation needed] She also appeared in several episodes of the soap opera Another World in 1989.

At age 18, Krakowski originated the role of Dinah the Dining Car in the 1987 Broadway production of Starlight Express. She appeared in the 1989 Broadway musical Grand Hotel as the typist and would-be film star Flaemmchen, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award.[citation needed] Her solo number, "I Want to Go to Hollywood," is included on the original cast recording. In 1995, she played the ditzy flight attendant April in the Roundabout Theater Company's revival of Company, followed by a starring role alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in the 1996 Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress.

From 1997 to 2002, Krakowski played office assistant Elaine Vassal in the Fox comedy-drama series Ally McBeal; she received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1999. She also appeared in the music video for The Chicks's song "Goodbye Earl" in 2000, and a recurring role on the drama series Everwood in 2003.

At the 2000 American Comedy Awards, Krakowski won rave reviews when she performed a sexually charged musical tribute and love letter to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. The following year, Krakowski appeared on the album Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays, singing the song "Santa Baby". She also collaborated with Jim Brickman on the song "You" for Brickman's 2002 album Love Songs & Lullabies; the song became a hit on adult contemporary radio stations. Brickman and Krakowski later recorded a Christmas-themed alternate version of the song.

Krakowski signing autographs after a performance of Guys and Dolls

In 2003, she starred as Carla in the Broadway revival of Nine, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Krakowski's performance was noted for a "breathtaking" aerial stunt she performed during the number "A Call from the Vatican". In 2005, Krakowski performed her own cabaret show, Better When It's Banned, at Lincoln Center, and starred as Miss Adelaide in Michael Grandage's West End revival of Guys and Dolls at London's Piccadilly Theatre, for which she received the 2006 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Between 2007 and 2009, Krakowski performed in a workshop production of the musical Xanadu; a New York City Center production of Damn Yankees alongside Sean Hayes and Cheyenne Jackson; and a staged reading at Playwrights Horizons of the musical Mrs. Sharp.

From 2006 to 2013, Krakowski played the role of Jenna Maroney, a clueless and narcissistic actress, on the Tina Fey-created NBC comedy series 30 Rock. She was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013. Following 30 Rock's conclusion, Krakowski joined the cast of Fey's follow-up series, the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, in the role of the condescending socialite Jacqueline White. Schmidt ran from 2015-2019 and gave Krakowski her fifth Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Krakowski starred as Ilona Ritter in the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2016 Broadway revival of Jerry Bock's and Sheldon Harnick's She Loves Me. For her performance, Krakowski won the 2016 Fred and Adele Astaire Award as Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show; the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical; and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. She was also nominated for the Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Musical.

Since 2021, Krakowski has hosted a Fox reboot of the 1950s gameshow Name That Tune, with former American Idol judge Randy Jackson as bandleader. Krakowski has said, "One of the reasons I wanted to do Name That Tune was to perform again in front of a live audience." She is also a cast member of the Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon! starring Cecily Strong.

Personal life

Krakowski became engaged to Robert Godley in 2009. They have a son, born in April 2011. The couple separated in 2013.

In January 2021, the Daily Mail alleged that Krakowski had a nine-month relationship with Mike Lindell, the inventor of My Pillow, between late 2019 and the summer of 2020. Both Krakowski and Lindell denied the allegation, and Lindell sued the Daily Mail for libel. The case was dismissed on the grounds that a "reasonable person" would not view anything in the Daily Mail article as defamatory.

In November 2021, Krakowski contracted a breakthrough case of COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw from NBC's Annie Live! where she was to play Lily St. Regis.

Filmography

Film performances

Film performances by Jane Krakowski
Year Title Role Notes
1983 National Lampoon's Vacation Cousin Vicki Johnson
1987 Fatal Attraction Christine
1991 Stepping Out Lynne
1996 Mrs. Winterbourne Christine
1997 Hudson River Blues Diane
1998 Dance With Me Patricia Black
1999 Go Irene Halverson
2000 The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas Betty O'Shale
2002 Ice Age Rachel the Sloth Voice
2003 Marci X Lauren Farb
2003 When Zachary Beaver Came to Town Heather Wilson
2004 Alfie Dorie
2005 Pretty Persuasion Emily Klein
2006 Barnyard Female Coyote Voice
2006 Open Season Giselle Voice
2007 Surf's Up Sheila Limberfin Voice, deleted scenes[citation needed]
2008 The Rocker Carol
2008 Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Miss May Dooley
2008 Open Season 2 Giselle Voice
2009 Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant Corma Limbs
2014 Adult Beginners Miss Jenn
2014 Big Stone Gap Sweet Sue Tinsley
2015 Pixels First Lady Jane Cooper
2018 Henchmen Jane Voice
2020 The Willoughbys Mother Willoughby Voice
2021 My Little Pony: A New Generation Queen Haven Voice
2023 Your Christmas or Mine 2 Diane

Television performances

Television performances by Jane Krakowski
Year Title Role Notes
1983 No Big Deal Margaret Television film
1984–1986 Search for Tomorrow Theresa Rebecca "T.R." Kendall 107 episodes
1989 Another World Tonya 9 episodes
1989 When We Were Young Linda Rosen Television special
1993 Alex Haley's Queen Jane Jackson 2 episodes
1993 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Dale Winter Episode: "Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues"
1994 Due South Catherine Burns Episode: "An Invitation to Romance"
1996 Early Edition Dr. Handleman Episode: "Baby"
1999 Great Performances Herself (performer) Episode: "The Rodgers & Hart Story: Thou Swell, Thou Witty"
1997–2002 Ally McBeal Elaine Vassal Main role
2001, 2005 CatDog CatDog's Mother (Sasquatch) / Pussycat Catfield Voice, 2 episodes
2002 Just a Walk in the Park Rachel Morgan Television film
2002–2003 Everwood Dr. Gretchen Trott 2 episodes
2002, 2004 Rocket Power Breezy Voice, 2 episodes
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Emma Spevak Episode: "Bound"
2004 Taste Samantha Neal Pilot
2004 Hack Mrs. Smith Episode: "One for My Baby"
2004 A Christmas Carol Ghost of Christmas Past / Lamplighter Television film
2005 Mom at Sixteen Donna Cooper Television film
2006 Sex, Love, Power, and Politics Sloan Pilot
2006–2013, 2020 30 Rock Jenna Maroney Main role
2008 A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa Claire's Mom Television film
2013 The Simpsons Zhenya Voice, episode: "The Fabulous Faker Boy"
2014, 2017 Modern Family Dr. Donna Duncan 3 episodes
2014 American Dad! Charlotte Voice, episode: "Roger Passes the Bar"
2015–2020 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Jacqueline White Main role
2015 Younger Annabelle Bancroft Episode: "Shedonism"
2015 Saturday Night Live Jenna Maroney Episode: "Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato"
2016 Dead Boss Helen Stephens Pilot
2016 Robot Chicken Various voices Episode: "Yogurt in a Bag"
2016 She Loves Me Ilona Ritter Television film
2017 Sofia the First Sizzle Voice, episode: "The Royal Dragon"
2017 Difficult People Lizzie McCormick Episode: "Cindarestylox"
2017 BoJack Horseman Honey Sugarman Voice, episode: "The Old Sugarman Place"
2017 Tangled: The Series Willow Voice, episode: "The Way of the Willow"
2017–2020 At Home with Amy Sedaris Herself / Beverly 2 episodes
2017 A Christmas Story Live! Miss Shields Television special
2017–2020 Match Game Herself (panelist) Multiple episodes
2018 Drunk History Sheralee Episode: "Sex"
2019 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Spokesperson Episode: "June 2, 2019"
2019–2021 Dickinson Emily Norcross Dickinson Main cast
2020 AJ and the Queen Beth Barnes Beagle Episode: "Fort Worth"
2020 Curb Your Enthusiasm Veronica Episode: "The Ugly Section"
2020 RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Guest judge Episode: "Stand-Up Smackdown"
2021–present Name That Tune Herself Host
2021–2022 Ziwe Mom / Jane 2 episodes
2021–2023 Schmigadoon! The Countess / Bobbie Flanagan Main role

Music video performances

Music video performances by Jane Krakowski
Year Song Artist Role
2000 "Goodbye Earl" The Chicks Wanda
2022 "Surrender My Heart" Carly Rae Jepsen Herself

Stage performances

Stage performances by Jane Krakowski
Year Title Role Venue Notes
1981 A Little Night Music Fredrika Armfeldt Theatre at St. Peter's Church Off-Off-Broadway
1987 Starlight Express Dinah the Dining Car Gershwin Theatre Broadway
1989 Grand Hotel Frieda "Flaemmchen" Flamm Martin Beck Theatre Broadway
1993 Face Value Jessica Ryan Cort Theatre Broadway
1995 Company April Criterion Center Stage Right Broadway
1996 One Touch of Venus Gloria Kramer New York City Center Off-Broadway
1996 Tartuffe Mariane Circle in the Square Theatre Broadway
1996 Once Upon a Mattress Lady Larken Broadhurst Theatre Broadway
2000 Mack & Mabel Mabel Normand UCLA LA Concert
2002 Funny Girl Fanny Brice New Amsterdam Theatre Broadway Concert
2003 Nine Carla Albanese Eugene O'Neill Theatre Broadway
2005 Guys and Dolls Adelaide Piccadilly Theatre West End
2007 Xanadu Clio / Kira Workshop Reading
2008 Damn Yankees Lola New York City Center Encores!
2009 Mrs. Sharp Mrs. Sharp Workshop Reading
2016 She Loves Me Ilona Ritter Studio 54 Broadway
2018 Beauty and the Beast Mrs. Potts Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles

Discography

Krakowski released her debut solo album on July 15, 2010. It is an album of cover versions called Laziest Gal in Town. It released on DRG Records.

Selected recordings include:

  • 1992: Grand Hotel, Studio Cast Recording (mostly original Broadway cast)
  • 1995: Company, Broadway revival cast recording
  • 1997: Once Upon a Mattress, Broadway revival cast recording
  • 1997: Sondheim at the Movies (singing the Academy Award-winning song "Sooner or Later" from Dick Tracy)
  • 1998: The Burt Bacharach Album
  • 2002: A Broadway Valentine
  • 2003: Nine, Broadway revival cast recording
  • 2004: A Christmas Carol, television cast recording
  • 2010: The Laziest Gal in Town, solo album
  • 2016: She Loves Me, Broadway revival cast recording

Awards and nominations

Film and television

Year Association Category Work Result Source
1986 13th Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Ingenue in a Daytime Drama Series Search for Tomorrow Nominated
1987 14th Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Ingenue in a Daytime Drama Series Search for Tomorrow Nominated
1998 4th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Ally McBeal Nominated
1999 5th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Ally McBeal Won
56th Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Ally McBeal Nominated
2000 6th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Ally McBeal Nominated
2001 7th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Ally McBeal Nominated
5th Golden Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Ally McBeal Nominated
2008 14th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
2009 15th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Won
61st Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
2010 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
62nd Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
2011 17th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
63rd Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
1st Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
2012 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
2013 19th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
65th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
2014 20th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 30 Rock Nominated
2015 67th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Nominated
2016 7th Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Won
2021 1st Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Villain in a Movie The Willoughbys Nominated

Theater

Year Award Category Work Result
1990 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Musical Grand Hotel Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Grand Hotel Nominated
2003 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Musical Nine Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nine Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Nine Won
2006 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical Guys and Dolls Won
2016 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Musical She Loves Me Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical She Loves Me Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical She Loves Me Won
Astaire Award Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show She Loves Me Won

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