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Jane Krakowski Poster

Jane Krakowski

Biography

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Jump to: Overview (3)  | Mini Bio (1)  | Family (2)  | Trivia (14)  | Personal Quotes (4)

Overview (3)

Born in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, USA
Birth NameJane Krajkowski
Height 5' 4½" (1.64 m)

Mini Bio (1)

Jane Krakowski was born in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, to Barbara (Benoit), a college theater instructor, and Edward Krajkowski, a chemical engineer. Her father was of Polish descent and her mother has French-Canadian and Scottish ancestry.

Jane was the winner of the 2003 Tony Award for her stunning and sultry portrayal of "Carla", in the Broadway musical "Nine", opposite Antonio Banderas. Her performance also earned her the Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critic's Award. Krakowski also stars in Alfie (2004), the remake of the famous 1966 film, alongside Jude Law. Krakowski recently filmed Pretty Persuasion (2005) starring Evan Rachel Wood and James Woods. Other recent film credits include When Zachary Beaver Came to Town (2003), Go (1999), The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) as "Betty Rubble", Dance with Me (1998), Mrs. Winterbourne (1996), Stepping Out (1991), Fatal Attraction (1987) and National Lampoon's Vacation (1983). For television, Jane received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her portrayal of "Elaine Vassal" on Ally McBeal (1997).

She also stars in NBC's remake of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol: The Musical (2004), opposite Kelsey Grammer. Other recent television credits include: Law & Order (1990), Everwood (2002), the ABC family movie Just a Walk in the Park (2002), and the miniseries, Queen (1993) (aka Alex Haley's "Queen"). Other Broadway credits include "Grand Hotel" (Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominee), "Company", "Once Upon a Mattress", "Tartuffe" and "Starlight Express". In Los Angeles, California, she starred at the Mark Taper Forum in "Henceforward", for which she won the LA Drama Critics Award and the Dramalogue Awards, and played "Mabel" in the Reprise production of "Mack and Mabel". In addition to singing on several original Broadway cast recordings of shows in which she appeared, and the Ally McBeal (1997) Christmas episode compilation CDs, Krakowski also recorded the hit single track "You" with A/C hitman Jim Brickman on his recent album "Lovesongs and Lullabies".

- IMDb Mini Biography By: A. Nonymous

Family (2)

Children Bennett Robert Godley
Parents Barbara Benoit
Edward Krajkowski

Trivia (14)

Was the original choice for Judy in Sleepaway Camp (1983), but turned it down because her death was too violent.
The first time she performed her famous anti-gravity stunt in "Nine: The Musical", was in front of an audience during the show's first preview performance.
Daughter of a teacher mother and an engineer father. They were both active in the New Jersey theater.
Learned to skate for the Broadway musical, "Starlight Express". She stills skates.
Was encouraged to perform by her father, an engineer, and her mother, a teacher.
Attended Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts where she first met her future Ally McBeal (1997) co-star Calista Flockhart.
She is the daughter of Barbara Ann (Benoit), a teacher, and Edward Alexander Krajkowski, Jr., a chemical engineer. Her father's family is Polish. Jane's maternal grandfather was of half French-Canadian, from Québec, and half Scottish/Irish ancestry.
Engaged to clothing-designer Robert Godley [January 6, 2010].
Studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
Son Bennett Robert Godley was born April 13, 2011 in New York City, weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz. Father is her former fiancé, menswear designer Robert Godley.
Was eight months pregnant with her son Bennett when she took maternity leave from filming 30 Rock (2006). She returned to work four months after giving birth.
As of 2008, was living in Greenwich Village, New York City.
A relatively rare non-British winner of a Laurence Olivier Best Musical Actress award for 'Guys n Dolls' in London's West End.
Jane dropped the "j" from the family last name when she began working as an actress, as people kept trying to pronounce the letter even though it is considered silent by her. However, it is not silent in the Polish language from which the name Krajkowski originates. 'J' in Polish is always pronounced like 'y' in English words, so in Polish the name spelled Krajkowski would be pronounced the same as English speaking people would pronounce the name spelled Kraykovski (in Polish 'w' is pronounced like 'v', hence the change of w to v).

Personal Quotes (4)

I've never felt anything so exciting as when this unanimous gasp came from the audience. That's why I love doing live theater more than anything: You get an immediate reaction, whether it's good or bad.
[on the Broadway show "Once Upon a Mattress"] On paper [it] looked good. Sarah Jessica Parker and the director and the designers--everyone involved was reputable and had had huge successes in the past. What's odd to me is that I could tell from the first day of rehearsal that it was not going to be right; I hoped it would find its way, but I don't think it ever really did.
I was one of those people who watched and videotaped the Tonys every year and kept a highlight reel every year. I saw every Broadway show as a kid. Basically, I would sit there in the audience and go, "I wish I could do that one day." The fact that I even get in Broadway shows is, to me, still amazing, but then to win a Tony was just incredible.
[on having a baby] I learned so much, except how painful labor really is. When I went into real labor, I was like, "Are you kidding me? I worked at a woman-dominated show, and none of you told me it was going to be like this".

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