Jane Krakowski Should Never Become a Hairstylist
Actress Jane Krakowski. (Photo: Getty)
On screen and on stage, SAG and TONY Award winning actress Jane Krakowski has portrayed a variety of women. The last two TV characters she’s played are hilarious, and totally self-obsessed. Her 30 Rock character Jenna Maroney once announced to a room, “Listen up fives. A ten is speaking.” In her latest role, as Jacqueline Voorhees on the Netflix show Unbreakable: Kimmy Schmidt, she advises on how to take a flattering selfie: “You have to hold the camera high to keep your chin up. Then make a kissy mouth. Then think about baby ducks, so your eyes look kind. And squeeze in your arm to push up your cleavage. “ Noted.
In real life, Krakowski doesn’t have that It’s all about me vibe of her characters. While her onscreen personas avoid spending time with their kids at all costs, the 46-year-old is all about her 4-year-old son Bennett, which means a lot of bonding time — and a lot of sleepless nights. “As a mom, a full night’s sleep gives me a great amount of swag,” Krakowski laughs. “Those become less and less.” We caught up with the funny lady at the kick off of the Pampers Cruisers #SagtoSwag tour in NYC to talk about mom morning routines and teenage beauty mishaps.
Yahoo Beauty: What is your beauty routine, and has it changed since having a child?
Jane Krakowski: Oh gosh, yes. It’s faster. You learn to do everything faster. I can shower, do my hair, makeup and eat breakfast in the span of one episode of Bubble Guppies, and that’s kind of what you need to do when you’re a new mom.
Did you stop using certain products once your son was born?
No, but the level of my high heel has gone down by two inches. I have a very active boy that I have to chase, and it’s harder to do in the higher heels.
Actress Jane Krakowski and her son. (Photo: Getty)
Do you have the same look on-screen and in everyday life?
Oh my gosh, no. I have the help of experts and professionals. [Laughs] You wouldn’t recognize me on a regular day. They’re both great. Playing in a playground with my son and getting a mess is joyful and so much fun. It’s also fun to be lucky enough to be invited to the Emmys and have fancy dresses. It’s a great combination. I like both.
What secrets have you learned from your glam squad?
I’ve been told to put Preparation H under your eyes. They say that takes away inflammation. I bathe in ice cubes [laughs] from the first day of filming – start to finish. Shrink everything! No, not really. I don’t do any of those [smiles].
Do you relate, in anyway, to Jacqueline Voorhees, the New York City socialite character you play on Unbreakable?
I aspire to it – I don’t know if I associate with it. I covet her wardrobe! I covet the bank account to afford her wardrobe.
Voorhees has had her fare share of cosmetic procedures. What’s your take on surgery and fillers in Hollywood?
I don’t have any, and I know nothing about it!
Are there any beauty products that you swear by, and use every day?
Moisturizer. It’s the key to everything. I call myself a “Mercier and mascara girl.” Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer and mascara are my go-tos. I do those, I go out, and we’re good. I call them my “calorie free M&M’s.”
Do you have any funny beauty mishaps from your past?
So many! One of my favorite stories – a picture was just sent to me recently – was, as preteens, I did one of those Seventeen magazine beauty makeovers on my best friend. We cut those wispy bangs. I cut them on her. I made her go first. The bangs literally went up to here [points to mid forehead]. She had to go through the 7th grade like that.
What did her makeover on you look like?
She never did my makeover, because once it went so wrong on her, I didn’t let her do it to me! We decided this was not working out.
Did she ever forgive you?
We’re still friends. I’m actually seeing her tomorrow, and she sent me a picture of bangs like that and said, “Just a reminder, I haven’t forgotten.”
Related:
How to Take a Selfie According to ‘The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’
