This British comic actress initially studied ballet until an injury forced her to change careers. In the mid-1980s, the leggy Leeves did a stint in her homeland 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 the delightfully loopy home attendant Daphne Moon on 11 seasons of
Frasier. When TV Land began developing original programming, Leeves signed on to costar alongside some fellow sitcom vets (including
Frasier alum Wendy Malick) on the sitcom
Hot in Cleveland in 2010. However, the multi-talented Leeves does not allow herself to be typecast as just a sitcom actress. This busy mom has branched out and done voice-over work in children's programming (
James and the Giant Peach;
The Penguins of Madagascar TV series), guest starred on dramas such as
Desperate Housewives (in a switch from her role on
Frasier, this time
she played a therapist), and tackled singing and dancing on Broadway (she was in the revival of
Cabaret in 2002). In addition, Leeves stepped behind the camera as she cofounded the production company Bristol Cities with her
Frasier costar Peri Gilpin.
Jane Leeves Fast Facts:
- Began studying ballet at a very early age, but hurt 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 her best friend Faith Ford, whom she met in acting class.
- Cofounded the production company Bristol Cities with Frasier costar Peri Gilpin in 1998.
- 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.
- Made her Broadway debut in Cabaret as Sally Bowles in 2002.
- Reunited with Frasier alum Wendy Malick to costar in the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland.
- 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
- Grant Shaud - Ex-significant Other
- Jane Leeves Awards:
- 1998 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2003 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2002 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2001 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2000 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1999 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Winner
- 1998 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1997 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1996 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1995 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1994 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1995 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Nominee