JANE KRAKOWSKI MY LIFE IN 10 Pictures

WITH HER parents immersed in local theater, Jane Krakowski admits she felt drawn to showbiz during her childhood in Parsippany, N.J. "Instead of getting a babysitter, they just used to take me with them when they were rehearsing or putting on a show," Jane says.

"It's where I saw my parents having fun." And as she made her way from the stage to movies and TV, her sense of humor and ability to sing, dance and act ensured she'd enjoy herself, too- no matter what came along. "You can have a plan, but you have to be flexible." For Jane, who turns 55 on Oct. 11, that openness has been rewarding, especially when her now 12-year-old son, Bennett, arrived. "I feel thankful and grateful for the good days that I have in my life and for the goodness that came to my life with the birth of my son, and being happy with the job that I have," she explains. "As I get older, I feel like wellness is my whole being. It's trying to be happy, instead of being only stressed about what you have or what you don't have. And I get happiness from my son every single day."

1 1983 NO VACATION At age 12, Jane was "thrilled" to make her film debut in National Lampoon's Vacation. And yet, "[lt] played in my hometown movie theater, which I thought was going to be the coolest thing. It made it really awkward. I was different from the other kids. At that time, you want to be more normal and blend in."

2 1984 RIDE ALONG AS T.R. Kendall, she landed her first TV role with the soap Search For Tomorrow. And even though the budding actress got a pair of Emmy nods for her two seasons of work, Jane admitted she still had a lot to learn - but not necessarily about acting. "I was in high school when I was on that show, so I was doing my homework on the bus ride during my commute."