This handsome British comic actress initially studied ballet until an injury forced her to change careers. In the mid-'80s the leggy Leeves did a stint in her homeland as a babe on
The Benny Hill Show. But it was on American sitcoms that she came to prominence. A recurring role opposite her then real-life boyfriend Grant Shaud on
Murphy Brown raised her profile, as did a stint as a nubile virgin on
Seinfeld. Then Leeves made her name and earned an Emmy nod as a delightfully loopy home attendant on 11 seasons of
Frasier.
Jane Leeves Fast Facts:- Was raised in East Grinstead, Sussex, England.
- Began studying ballet at a very early age, but injured her ankle when she was 18 and was forced to give it up.
- Appeared in David Lee Roth's video for "California Girls."
- Lived for a time with best friend Faith Ford, whom she met in acting class.
- Founded production company Bristol Cities with Frasier costar Peri Gilpin in 1998.
- Made her Broadway debut in Cabaret as Sally Bowles in 2002.
- Since her first pregnancy wasn't written into Frasier, her character, Daphne, was sent off to a fat camp and was said to have lost 9 pounds, 12 ounces — the weight of Jane's daughter when she was born.
- Jane Leeves Relationships:
- Alison - Sister
- Colin Leeves - Father
- Finn William Coben - Son
- Isabella Kathryn Coben - Daughter
- Katie - Sister
- Marshall Coben - Husband
- Richard Leeves - Brother
- Ruth Leeves - Mother
- Jane Leeves Awards:
- 1995 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Nominee
- 1998 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
