Leeves keeps work & home lives in balance
Jane Leeves is happy with her experience on “Hot in Cleveland,’’ and it makes for a harmonious blend of work and home life.
“I’m in an ideal situation because I have an amazing husband, who absolutely shares everything with me, who does a bit more than me because he can be more flexible with his work,” she says of her mate, CBS executive Marshall Coben. They have an 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son.
“I’m up at 6 getting the kids ready for school, getting breakfast, rushing off to school, going to work, the grocery store, trying to figure out what to do for dinner, getting dinner. It’s chaotic to say the least. Any working mom will tell you that. It’s chaos, but it’s wonderful chaos.”
Besides “Hot in Cleveland,” the Ilford, Essex-born actress lends her lilting English voice to cartoons (e. g. “Phineas and Ferb”) and takes on other outside gigs.
“I did a play in April, a rather fun, racy play, with a bunch of crazy, crazy British comedians — Russell Brand, Eddie Izzard, Billy Connelly, Tracey Ullman. It’s a little radio play by Eric Idle called ‘ What About Dick?’ We performed it as a radio play over three nights, here at the Orpheum Theatre, and it’s now available to download. It’s excruciatingly funny,” she lets us know.
Jane remains close friends with her former “Frasier” castmates. In fact, she lives next door to Peri Gilpin, and their children go to school together.
Peri is godmother to Jane’s daughter, and John Mahoney and David Hyde Pierce are godfathers to her son. Peri and John have already done “Hot in Cleveland” episodes. As far as more “Frasier” cast appearances, “We can keep our fingers crossed. It would be wonderful,” she says.
“I was thinking of Bebe Neuwirth today. I love Bebe, and I would love to have her on the show.” As for Kelsey Grammer, “It’s a little tough — Kelsey’s off doing ‘ Boss’ in Chicago. And David Hyde Pierce, I see him when I can. He’s based in New York now. I don’t think you can go through something like we did together on the show and not stay friends.”