Bio

Became interested in acting at the age of 16 after seeing a stage production of A Streetcar Named Desire during a school field trip.
Left college and moved to New York City in the late 1980s with only $2,000 from her parents in order to pursue her acting career.
Made her Broadway debut in 1989 as Alaura Kingsley in City of Angels.
In 1998, performed the role of Elsa Schrader in a Broadway production of The Sound of Music.
Earned a Drama Desk Award and Tony nomination for Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Baroness Bomburst in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2005.
In 2010, won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her role as Julie Cavendish in The Royal Family.
Became the fourth actress to earn two Tony nominations in the same year for her performances in The Royal Family and Lend Me a Tenor.
Has done voice-over work for several audiobooks, including Mary Higgins Clark's novels As Time Goes By and All Dressed In White.
Announced her retirement from theater in 2015.

Jan Maxwell
November 20, 1956 - February 11, 2018 (aged 61)
Fargo, North Dakota, USA

PHOTO CREDIT:

Became interested in acting at the age of 16 after seeing a stage production of A Streetcar Named Desire during a school field trip.
Left college and moved to New York City in the late 1980s with only $2,000 from her parents in order to pursue her acting career.
Made her Broadway debut in 1989 as Alaura Kingsley in City of Angels.
In 1998, performed the role of Elsa Schrader in a Broadway production of The Sound of Music.
Earned a Drama Desk Award and Tony nomination for Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Baroness Bomburst in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2005.
In 2010, won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her role as Julie Cavendish in The Royal Family.
Became the fourth actress to earn two Tony nominations in the same year for her performances in The Royal Family and Lend Me a Tenor.
Has done voice-over work for several audiobooks, including Mary Higgins Clark's novels As Time Goes By and All Dressed In White.
Announced her retirement from theater in 2015.