The Writeup: Surpisingly, Jane Krakowski has been working in Hollywood since the early 80's when she appeared in the Chevy Chase movie National Lampoon's Vacation. She even spent three years on the long running soap opera Search For Tomorrow (it went off the air in 1986). I say this is surprising because I'd be willing to be you, and most of the world, had never heard of Jane until she was cast as the ego maniacal Elaine Vassal on the David E. Kelley's Ally McBeal. I was not a fan of her character, and I'm not really a fan of her as an actress, it seems like she's always playing the same part, but it's undeniable that she's a successful and at least marginally talented actress. Ally is off the air, but Jane continues to work in various film and television roles.