# Jane Krakowski
**Jane Krakowski** (born Jane Krajkowski, 1968) is an American actress and singer whose career spans Broadway musicals and television comedy. She won the 2003 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for *Nine* and an Olivier Award for *Guys and Dolls* in London's West End, and on television she played Elaine Vassal on *Ally McBeal*, Jenna Maroney on NBC's *30 Rock*, and Jacqueline Voorhees on Netflix's *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt*[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski) • [2](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jane-krakowski/) • [3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jane-krakowski-48457) • [4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Jane Krajkowski, 1968, Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey[2](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jane-krakowski/) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/krakowski-jane-1968) |
| Film debut | Cousin Vickie in *National Lampoon's Vacation* (1983), with Chevy Chase[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski) |
| Breakthrough TV role | Elaine Vassal on *Ally McBeal*, 1997 to 2002; Golden Globe nomination[2](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jane-krakowski/) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/krakowski-jane-1968) |
| Signature comedy role | Jenna Maroney on *30 Rock*; the Television Academy credits three Emmy nominations for the role, Broadway.com counts four[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski) • [4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/) |
| Broadway honors | Tony Award 2003 (*Nine*); Tony nominations 1990 (*Grand Hotel*) and 2016 (*She Loves Me*); Drama Desk Awards 2003 and 2016[3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jane-krakowski-48457) |
| West End | Olivier Award for *Guys and Dolls* (2005) as Miss Adelaide[4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/) • [1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski) |
| Recent stage work | Mary Todd Lincoln in Cole Escola's *Oh, Mary!* on Broadway, beginning October 14, 2025[6](https://shubert.nyc/press/jane-krakowski-to-play-mary-todd-lincoln-in-oh-mary/) |
| Hosting | Host of FOX's *Name That Tune* revival, 2021 to 2026, credited with 62 episodes[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005105/?showAllCredits=true) |
## Early life and training
Krakowski was born Jane Krajkowski in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, the daughter of Ed Krajkowski, a chemical engineer, and Barbara, a college theater instructor[5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/krakowski-jane-1968). She grew up in a family active in community theater and began studying ballet at age three[8](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jane-krakowski/). After being cast in an industrial fashion show in the early 1980s, she transferred from her suburban high school to the [Professional Children's School](https://www.edgepedia.org/professional-childrens-school) in Manhattan, which catered to working child actors, and signed with an agent[9](https://www.vogue.com/article/jane-krakowski-oh-mary-interview). She later attended the Mason Gross School of the Arts at [Rutgers University](https://www.edgepedia.org/rutgers-university)[2](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jane-krakowski/).
Her early stage work included playing Marta von Trapp in a regional tour of *The Sound of Music* and appearing in an Off-[Off-Broadway](https://www.edgepedia.org/off-broadway) production of *A Little Night Music* staged in a church[9](https://www.vogue.com/article/jane-krakowski-oh-mary-interview). In 1986 she received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for best ingenue in a daytime drama series for *Search for Tomorrow*[5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/krakowski-jane-1968). Her film debut came as Cousin Vickie in *National Lampoon's Vacation* (1983), opposite [Chevy Chase](https://www.edgepedia.org/chevy-chase)[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski).
## Broadway beginnings
Krakowski made her Broadway debut as Dinah in the original *Starlight Express* (1987)[3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jane-krakowski-48457). When casting the musical *Grand Hotel*, which opened on November 12, 1989, the choreographer [Tommy Tune](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-tune) remembered the petite singer-dancer and cast her as the secretary Flaemmchen, the role played by [Joan Crawford](https://www.edgepedia.org/joan-crawford) in the 1932 film[8](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jane-krakowski/). The performance earned her first Tony nomination, for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, in 1990, along with a Drama Desk Award nomination[3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jane-krakowski-48457).
Through the 1990s she appeared on Broadway as April in the 1995 revival of *Company*, Mariane in *Tartuffe* (1996), and Lady Larken in the 1996 revival of *Once Upon a Mattress*[3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jane-krakowski-48457) • [10](https://playbill.com/person/jane-krakowski-performer).
## Tony Award and stage prime
**Nine.** Krakowski won the 2003 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for playing Carla in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of *Nine*, opposite [Antonio Banderas](https://www.edgepedia.org/antonio-banderas); the performance also brought her the Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski) • [3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jane-krakowski-48457).
**West End.** She won an Olivier Award starring as Miss Adelaide in the 2005 London revival of *Guys and Dolls*, with [Ewan McGregor](https://www.edgepedia.org/ewan-mcgregor)[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski) • [4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/).
**Later stage work.** She starred as Lola in the Encores! revival of *Damn Yankees* (2008), opposite Sean Hayes[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski). In 2016 she returned to Broadway in Roundabout's *She Loves Me* as Ilona, winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical and receiving another Tony nomination in the same category[3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jane-krakowski-48457); that year she also won the Astaire Award for Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show[10](https://playbill.com/person/jane-krakowski-performer). She played Mrs. Potts in the [Hollywood Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-bowl) concert production of *Beauty and the Beast* (2018), Eve in MCC Theater's world premiere *Shit. Meet. Fan.* (2024), and Marianne Brink in the 2025 West End production of Sondheim's *Here We Are*[4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/) • [11](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jane-Krakowski/).
## Oh, Mary!
In September 2025 it was announced that Krakowski would join *Oh, Mary!*, Cole Escola's two-time Tony Award-winning hit comedy directed by Tony Award winner Sam Pinkleton, in the role of [Mary Todd Lincoln](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-todd-lincoln), beginning October 14, 2025, for a limited eight-week engagement through December 7, 2025[6](https://shubert.nyc/press/jane-krakowski-to-play-mary-todd-lincoln-in-oh-mary/). Her run was later extended through January 4, 2026[12](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/206304/jane-krakowski-walks-through-her-iconic-broadway-resume-from-oh-mary-to-her-tony-winning-role-in-nine/). Krakowski described the part as an experience full of firsts: taking over a role, rehearsing for just two weeks, and having her first performance land on opening night[13](https://www.culturedmag.com/article/2026/04/23/film-jane-krakowski-comedy-oh-mary/).
## Television
**Ally McBeal.** Krakowski first reached a broad television audience as the office worker Elaine Vassal on *Ally McBeal* from 1997 to 2002, a five-year portrayal that earned her a 1999 Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture, a 2001 Golden Satellite Award nomination, and [Screen Actors Guild](https://www.edgepedia.org/screen-actors-guild) ensemble nominations in 1998, 2000, and 2001 with a collective SAG Award in 1999[2](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jane-krakowski/) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/krakowski-jane-1968). The series set her career alight; looking back, Krakowski has noted that its characters, hers least of all, were not played straight[14](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/apr/14/jane-krakowski-ally-mcbeal-30-rock-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-here-we-are).
**Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock.** On NBC's *30 Rock*, Tina Fey's sitcom about the making of a late-night sketch show, Krakowski played Jenna Maroney, the attention-hungry actress whose hijinks made trouble for [Liz Lemon](https://www.edgepedia.org/liz-lemon)[15](https://time.com/3733894/jane-krakowski-on-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt/). The Television Academy credits her with three Emmy nominations for the role, while Broadway.com's profile counts four[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski) • [4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/). The *30 Rock* ensemble won a collective 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, with a nomination in that category in 2013[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski).
**Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.** Krakowski followed *30 Rock* with Jacqueline Voorhees, also styled Jacqueline White, a wealthy socialite for whom Kimmy Schmidt ([Ellie Kemper](https://www.edgepedia.org/ellie-kemper)) works as a nanny, in the Netflix comedy created by [Tina Fey](https://www.edgepedia.org/tina-fey) and Robert Carlock[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski) • [15](https://time.com/3733894/jane-krakowski-on-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt/). She said the differentiation from Jenna was conscious on the creators' part: Tina Fey told her, after *30 Rock* had finished filming, that at her core Jenna was a horrible person and Jacqueline is not, and Krakowski found a vulnerability in Jacqueline that Jenna never had[15](https://time.com/3733894/jane-krakowski-on-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt/). The move to Netflix happened quickly, in about two or three days, after the show had been conceived for NBC; the first season was already partly filmed, and Krakowski noted that Netflix allotted the comedy about eight more minutes per episode[15](https://time.com/3733894/jane-krakowski-on-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt/). Broadway.com records the role as Critics Choice Award-winning and Emmy-nominated[4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/).
**Other television.** Her screen work includes the 2004 remake of *Alfie*, with [Jude Law](https://www.edgepedia.org/jude-law)[8](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jane-krakowski/). Later credits include Miss Shields in FOX's *A Christmas Story Live!* (2017), Emily Dickinson's mother in Apple's *Dickinson*, and the showstopping Bobbie Flanagan in Apple's musical series *Schmicago*, a follow-up to *Schmigadoon!*, in which she also starred, along with guest roles on *Modern Family*, *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, *The Simpsons*, and *Sesame Street*[4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/) • [16](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/jane-krakowski-interview-dickinson-apple-tv-30-rock-unbreakable-a9186106.html). She played Joann Lenox on *Elsbeth* (2024) and Arianna Burnett on *Brilliant Minds* (2025)[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005105/?showAllCredits=true) • [17](https://www.televisionacademy.com/sites/default/files/ballots/performer-2024-v1.pdf). Since 2021 she has hosted FOX's revival of the game show *Name That Tune*, credited with 62 episodes through 2026[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005105/?showAllCredits=true).
## Recording and recognition
Krakowski released her solo debut album, *The Laziest Gal in Town*, a recording captured during her cabaret nightclub debut at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in New York, and in 2012 performed a one-woman cabaret act to a sold-out crowd at the city's Town Hall[4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/) • [1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski). Across stage and screen her honors include the Tony Award, an Olivier Award, Drama Desk Awards in 2003 and 2016, Outer Critics Circle and Astaire Awards, a Critics Choice Award, and a Golden Globe nomination[3](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jane-krakowski-48457) • [4](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/) • [10](https://playbill.com/person/jane-krakowski-performer). In her personal life she became engaged to the designer Robert Godley in 2009[2](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jane-krakowski/).
## References
1. [Jane Krakowski, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/jane-krakowski)
2. [Jane Krakowski, Us Weekly](https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jane-krakowski/)
3. [Jane Krakowski, Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jane-krakowski-48457)
4. [Jane Krakowski Biography, Broadway.com Buzz Star File](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/jane-krakowski/profile/)
5. [Krakowski, Jane 1968-, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/krakowski-jane-1968)
6. [Jane Krakowski to Play 'Mary Todd Lincoln' in OH, MARY!, Shubert Organization](https://shubert.nyc/press/jane-krakowski-to-play-mary-todd-lincoln-in-oh-mary/)
7. [Jane Krakowski full credits, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005105/?showAllCredits=true)
8. [Jane Krakowski, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jane-krakowski/)
9. [Jane Krakowski's Marquee Moment, Vogue](https://www.vogue.com/article/jane-krakowski-oh-mary-interview)
10. [Jane Krakowski (Performer), Playbill](https://playbill.com/person/jane-krakowski-performer)
11. [Jane Krakowski (Actor), BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jane-Krakowski/)
12. [Jane Krakowski Walks Through Her Iconic Broadway Resume, Broadway.com Buzz](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/206304/jane-krakowski-walks-through-her-iconic-broadway-resume-from-oh-mary-to-her-tony-winning-role-in-nine/)
13. [Jane Krakowski Knows Exactly Which of Her Bits Is Going to End Up in Her Eulogy, Cultured Magazine](https://www.culturedmag.com/article/2026/04/23/film-jane-krakowski-comedy-oh-mary/)
14. ['Such a water-cooler show!' Jane Krakowski on Ally McBeal, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/apr/14/jane-krakowski-ally-mcbeal-30-rock-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-here-we-are)
15. [Jane Krakowski Explains the Absurd Humor of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, TIME](https://time.com/3733894/jane-krakowski-on-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt/)
16. [Jane Krakowski: 'I love making comedy out of monsters', The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/jane-krakowski-interview-dickinson-apple-tv-30-rock-unbreakable-a9186106.html)
17. [Television Academy Awards, Performer Ballot 2024](https://www.televisionacademy.com/sites/default/files/ballots/performer-2024-v1.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Kn to La*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license