Jane Krakowski

Jane Krakowski (/krəˈkaʊski/; born Jane Krajkowski;[1] October 11, 1968) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for the roles of Cousin Vicki in National Lampoon's Vacation, and Jenna Maroney in the NBC comedy series 30 Rock, for which she received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Other notable television credits include Elaine Vassal on Ally McBeal and Jacqueline White in the Netflixoriginal comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Krakowski also regularly performs on stage, winning a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway revival of Nine, as well as receiving Tony nominations for Grand Hotel and She Loves Me, and a Laurence Olivier Awardfor her performance as Miss Adelaide in the West End revival of Guys and Dolls.
== Early life ==
Krakowski was born in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey. Her father, Ed, is a chemical engineer, and her mother, Barbara Krajkowski (née Benoit), is a college theater instructor and producing artistic director for the Women's Theater Company.[2][3][4] She has an older brother.[5] Her father's family is Polish,[6] and while she speaks very little Polish, her father and grandparents are fluent.[7] Her mother is of half Polish descent, with the rest of her ancestry being French Canadian and Scottish.[8]
Krakowski grew up immersed in the local theater scene as a result of her parents' activities, saying in one interview: "Instead of hiring baby sitters, they brought me along with them."[2] She took ballet lessons at age four, but later stopped because she had the wrong body shape, instead moving more towards Broadway dancing.[5] She attended the Professional Children's School in New York City and Rutgers University, New Brunswick.[9][10]
== Career ==
=== Television ===
Her first major television role was as Theresa Rebecca "T.R." Kendall in the NBC Daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow, which she played from 1984[11] until the show ended on December 26, 1986. She was nominated for two consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for the role in 1986 and 1987.
From 1997 to 2002, Krakowski played office assistant Elaine Vassal on Ally McBeal; her role earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1999.[12]
In 2006, Krakowski was cast in the NBC comedy series 30 Rock, where she played Jenna Maroney, a cast member of the fictional late night sketch comedyshow TGS with Tracy Jordan. In 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013, she received nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in 30 Rock.[13][14]
In 2015, Krakowski was cast in the Netflix comedy web television series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Jacqueline White, for which she received her fifth Primetime Emmy Award nomination.[15]
Her guest appearances include a 1981 TV commercial for the video game Solar Fox; a 1996 appearance on Early Edition as Dr. Handleman (season one, episode three: "Baby"); 2003 appearances on Everwood as psychologist Dr. Gretchen Trott, a love interest for Treat Williams' Dr. Andrew Brown and on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Emma Spevak, a serial killer of elderly women; and a 2013 spot on The Simpsons episode "The Fabulous Faker Boy" as Zhenya.
=== Film ===
After her film debut, National Lampoon's Vacation in 1983,[12] Krakowski appeared in Fatal Attraction, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (where she played Betty Rubble), Marci X, Alfie, Go, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, Dance with Me, Stepping Out, Pretty Persuasion, Kit Kittredge: An American Girland Mom at Sixteen. Krakowski was originally cast in the 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. She appeared in When Zachary Beaver Came to Town as a mother who wants to become a singer. In 2004, she starred in Alan Menken's television movie version of A Christmas Carol, featured as The Ghost of Christmas Past. In 2006, she provided the voice of the deer Giselle in the Sony animated movie, Open Season. She also voiced Dr. Brad on the animated film, Moses the Gacha Animator Movie.
=== Stage ===
A trained singer, Krakowski has made numerous appearances on stage. At age 18, she originated the role of Dinah the Dining Car in the 1987 Broadwayproduction of Starlight Express. She appeared in the 1989 Broadway musicalGrand Hotel as the typist and would-be film star Flaemmchen, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award.[11] Her solo number, "I Want to Go to Hollywood," is included on the original cast recording. 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.
In 1995, she played the ditzy flight attendant April in the Roundabout Theater Company's revival of Company. In 1996, she starred alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in the Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress.
In January 2002, Windham Hill Records released an album that Jim Brickmanhad recorded, titled Love Songs & Lullabies; this album featured Krakowski as a vocalist for the song "You",[12] which became a hit on adult contemporary radio stations. Brickman and Krakowski also recorded an alternate Christmas version of the song. She also appeared on the album Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays, singing the song "Santa Baby". In 2003, she starred as Carla in the Broadway revival of Nine,[16] for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.[12] Krakowski is known for her famous antigravity stunt during the number "A Call from the Vatican." Krakowski and the director struggled finding a company that would let her do air stunts without a harness; Krakowski came up with the idea of using the method previously portrayed in Broadway Bares. Krakowski recalled that the material took a long time to arrive, and the second time she ever did it was on the first performance.[17]
In 2005, she starred as Miss Adelaide in Michael Grandage's West End revival of Guys and Dolls at London's Piccadilly Theatre. She starred alongside Jenna Russell, Ewan McGregor and Douglas Hodge. Krakowski received the 2006 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance[12] and performed a cabaret show called Better When It's Banned, which featured various songs from the 1920s and '30s[18] that were all deemed racy at the times of their original popularity.
Krakowski performed in a January 2007 workshop production and backers's audition for a Broadway musical adaption of the 1980 film, Xanadu, with music from the film's soundtrack and a book by Douglas Carter Beane.[19] Xanadupremiered on Broadway summer 2007, although Krakowski's role is played by Kerry Butler.
In 2008, Krakowski starred as Lola in New York City Center's production of Damn Yankees opposite Sean Hayes and Cheyenne Jackson.[20]
On July 30 and 31, 2009, Krakowski performed the title character in a reading of Mrs. Sharp, whose music was composed and whose lyrics were written by Ryan Scott Oliver, and whose book was written by Kirsten A. Guenther, at Playwrights Horizons.
She performed the role of Ilona Ritter in the Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway revival of Jerry Bock's and Sheldon Harnick's She Loves Me, starring Laura Benanti and Zachary Levi.[21] The musical opened on March 17, 2016 at Studio 54. Krakowski won the 2016 Fred and Adele Astaire Award as Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show, the Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, and the Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. She was also nominated for the Tony Award, Featured Actress in a Musical.[22]
=== Other worksEdit ===
Krakowski played Wanda in the music video for the Dixie Chicks' song "Goodbye Earl" in 2000, alongside Dennis Franz and Lauren Holly.[23] She guest starred in an episode of Due South, and in a season 5 episode of Modern Family.
== Personal life ==
Krakowski became engaged to Robert Godley in 2009. On April 13, 2011, their son, Bennett Robert Godley, was born in New York City.[24] The couple separated in 2013.
== Discography ==
Krakowski released her debut solo album on July 15, 2010 — an album of cover versions called Laziest Gal in Town — on DRG Records.[25]
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
== Theater ==
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1981	A Little Night Music	Fredrika 	York Theater off off Broadway[26]
1987	Starlight Express 	Dinah the Dining Car	Broadway
1989	Grand Hotel 	Flaemmchen 	Broadway
1995	Company 	April 	Broadway
1996	Once Upon a Mattress	Lady Larken 	Broadway
2003	Nine 	Carla 	Broadway
2005	Guys and Dolls 	Adelaide 	West End
2007	Xanadu 	Clio / Kira 	Workshop
2008	Damn Yankees 	Lola 	Encores!
2009	Mrs. Sharp 	Mrs. Sharp 	Reading
2016	She Loves Me 	Ilona Ritter 	Broadway
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1983	National Lampoon's Vacation 	Cousin Vicki 	
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 	
2000	The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas 	Betty O'Shale 	
2002	Ice Age 	Female Sloth 	Voice
2003	Marci X 	Lauren Farb 	
2003	When Zachary Beaver Came to Town 	Heather Wilson 	
2004	Alfie 	Dorie 	
2005	Pretty Persuasion 	Emily Klein 	
2005	Racing Zach 	Annie the Arabian Filly Horse	Voice
2006	Open Season 	Giselle 	Voice
2007	Surf's Up 	Sheila Limberfin 	Voice
Deleted scenes
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
=== Television ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1983 	No Big Deal 	Margaret 	Television film
1984–1986 	Search for Tomorrow 	Theresa Rebecca "T.R." Kendall 	Soap opera
1989 	Another World 	Tonya 	Soap opera
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"
1997–2002 	Ally McBeal 	Elaine Vassal 	110 episodes
2000 	CatDog 	CatDog's Mother / Pussy Cat Catfield 	Voices
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 	30 Rock 	Jenna Maroney 	128 episodes
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 	2 episodes
2014 	American Dad! 	Charlotte 	Voice
Episode: "Roger Passes the Bar"
2015–present	Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 	Jacqueline White 	45 episodes
2015 	Younger 	Annabelle Bancroft 	Episode: "Shedonism"[27][28]
2016 	Dead Boss 	Helen Stephens 	Pilot
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 	A Christmas Story Live! 	Miss Shields 	Television special
2018 	Drunk History 	Sheralee 	Episode: "Sex"
2018 	Phoebe and Her Unicorn[citation needed]	Marigold Heavenly Nostrils 	Voice
== Awards and nominations ==
Year	Award 	Category 	Nominated Work 	Result
1986	Daytime Emmy Award 	Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series 	Search for Tomorrow 	Nominated
1987	Daytime Emmy Award 	Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series 	Search for Tomorrow 	Nominated
1990	Tony Award 	Best Featured Actress in a Musical 	Grand Hotel 	Nominated
1990	Drama Desk Award 	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical 	Grand Hotel 	Nominated
1998	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	Ally McBeal 	Nominated
1999	Golden Globe Award 	Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film	Ally McBeal 	Nominated
1999	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	Ally McBeal 	Won
2000	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	Ally McBeal 	Nominated
2001	Satellite Award 	Best Actress in a TV Series: Comedy or Musical 	Ally McBeal 	Nominated
2001	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	Ally McBeal 	Nominated
2003	Tony Award 	Best Featured Actress in a Musical 	Nine 	Won
2003	Drama Desk Award 	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical 	Nine 	Won
2003	Outer Critics Circle Award 	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical 	Nine 	Won
2006	Laurence Olivier Award 	Best Leading Actress in a Musical 	Guys and Dolls 	Won
2008	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2009	Primetime Emmy Award 	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2009	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Won
2010	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2010	Primetime Emmy Award 	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2011	Comedy Award 	Best Actress in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2011	Primetime Emmy Award 	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2011	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2011	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2012	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2013	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2013	Primetime Emmy Award 	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 	30 Rock 	Nominated
2015	Primetime Emmy Award 	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 	Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt	Nominated
2015	Gold Derby TV Awards 	Best Comedy Supporting Actress 	Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt	Nominated
2016	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 	Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt	Won
2016	Tony Award 	Best Featured Actress in a Musical 	She Loves Me 	Nominated
2016	Drama Desk Award 	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical 	She Loves Me 	Won
2016	Outer Critics Circle Award 	Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical 	She Loves Me 	Won
2016	Fred and Adele Astaire Award 	Best Female Dancer 	She Loves Me 	Won
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