Jane Adams (actress, Born 1965)

Jane Adams (born April 1, 1965) is an American actress and screenwriter. Known for her work in independent cinema, her acting credits include '' Light Sleeper'' (1992), ''Happiness'' (1998), '' Mumford'' (1999), '' Songcatcher'' (2000), '' The Anniversary Party'' (2001), ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' (2004), '' Little Children'' (2006), '' All the Light in the Sky'' (2012), and '' She Dies Tomorrow'' (2020).

On television, she appeared in the recurring role of Dr. Mel Karnofsky on the NBC sitcom ''Frasier'' (1999–2000) and co-starred as Nikki Katz on HBO's drama series '' The Idol'' (2023). For her role as Tanya Skagl on HBO's '' Hung'' (2009–2011) she received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award. She was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series – in 2021 and 2022 – for portraying Nina Daniels on the HBO series '' Hacks'' (2021).

Adams made her Broadway debut in the original production of Paul Rudnick's '' I Hate Hamlet'' in 1991 and won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Sheila Birling in the revival of J. B. Priestley's '' An Inspector Calls'' (1994).

Early life

Jane Adams is the daughter of Janice, an administrative assistant, and William Adams, an engineer. She attended the University of Washington, where she studied political science, and the Cornish College of the Arts, where she took theater. She attended the Juilliard School's Drama Division (1985–1989, Group 18) where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1989.

Career

Adams performed theatre at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. She turned down the chance to work in '' Sister Act'' with Whoopi Goldberg for the opportunity to work with Arthur Miller onstage.

She worked with Steve Martin and Diane Keaton in '' Father of the Bride Part II''. She went back to the stage and won the 1994 Tony Award for best performance by a featured actress in a play for the Broadway revival of '' An Inspector Calls''. She also won the Outer Critics Circle Award for best debut performance in a play in the Broadway production of Paul Rudnick's ''I Hate Hamlet''.

In 1996, Adams portrayed Karen Lukens in the ABC-TV drama series '' Relativity''.

In 1998, she starred in the misanthropic dark comedy ''Happiness'' with Philip Seymour Hoffman, playing the role of Joy, a sensitive single woman who is struggling with life. She and the cast won many ensemble awards. The next year, Adams got a recurring role on the comedy series ''Frasier'' from 1999 to 2000. She played Dr. Mel Karnofsky, who became Niles Crane's second wife. She also had a role in the 1999 film '' Mumford''.

In 2001, she was in the independent film titled '' Songcatcher'', with Janet McTeer. She and the cast won a Sundance Special Jury Prize. She also portrayed Reeva Baines Eidenberg in the CBS drama series ''Citizen Baines''. Adams has also appeared in mainstream films such as '' You've Got Mail'' (1998), '' Wonder Boys'' (2000), '' Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'' (2004), and '' Last Holiday'' (2006). In 2007, she appeared in '' The Sensation of Sight'' and '' The Brave One''. In the latter film, she appeared opposite Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Mary Steenburgen and Naveen Andrews.

From 2009 to 2011, Adams co-starred in the HBO series '' Hung'' opposite Thomas Jane. She starred in and co-wrote the 2012 film '' All the Light in the Sky'' with director Joe Swanberg for which she was named Best Actress at the Nashville Film Festival.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Jane
1965 births
Living people
20th-century American actresses
21st-century American actresses
Actresses from Washington, D.C.
American film actresses
American stage actresses
American television actresses
Cornish College of the Arts alumni
Juilliard School alumni
Actors from Wheaton, Illinois
University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences alumni
Theatre World Award winners
Tony Award winners
Drama Desk Award winners
Actresses from Washington (state)
People from Bellevue, Washington