Jacqueline is played by scene-stealer Krakowski as a trophy wife who fears her lustre has tarnished in her often-absent husband's eyes. A former flight attendant on the make, she's now "turning the age of her husband's first wife when he ditched her for Jacqueline," says Krakowski, with a sympathetic chuckle.
Jacqueline is desperately self-obsessed and vain. When Kimmy lends encouragement with, "Listen to your gut," Jacqueline replies indignantly, "I don't have a gut."
But she strikes a marked contrast with Jenna Maroney, the shamelessly ambitious TV personality Krakowski played on 30 Rock. Jenna was hilariously blind to her many shortcomings, oblivious to her second-rate career and talent.
"Jacqueline is so much more vulnerable at her core than Jenna ever was," says Krakowski. "Like Kimmy, who was locked in a bunker for 15 years, Jacqueline has been kept in her own gilded cage, and she hasn't found happiness there. Beyond the humour and jokes, she's a dark, rich character to play."
For someone so brassy and commanding on screen, Krakowski in person is surprisingly pixieish, a charming blonde sprite. Over an iced tea and lemonade at a favourite lunch spot near her Manhattan home, she bears no signs of her status as a showbiz veteran.
She's a multitalented threat whose film debut was as a youngster in National Lampoon's Vacation, who from 1997 to 2002 was a regular on the groundbreaking legal dramedy Ally McBeal, and along the way became a two-time Tony winner singing and dancing in such Broadway hits as Grand Hotel, Company, Once Upon a Mattress, Nine and Starlight Express, for which she added nightly roller-skating marathons to her list of accomplishments.
She's a master of physical comedy and, as a vocalist, can put across the most mouth-puckering lyrics (notably Jenna's 30 Rock anthem, Rural Juror, which inevitably came out something like "ruhrrr juhrrr").
Is there anything Krakowski can't do? "Draw pictures and cook, for starters," she says, modestly.
Also, staying cool around stars she admires. For instance, she speaks of getting goosebumpy among the glitterati at the recent Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary gala.
"I've got to figure out a way to get over that awkward hump," she says.
Growing up in New Jersey, Krakowski, 46, was the daughter of parents who devoted their free time to community theatre. Early on, she caught the acting bug and quickly turned pro.
"I got work as a child but I never got really known, which is a great thing. I had time to fail and learn. I didn't have to get over the hurdle of being known as a youngster, then start over as an adult. Things progressed in a nice way to give my career longevity.
"Now I hope to grow old with Tina Fey and Robert Carlock and their comic world, if they'll have me."
Happily, Kimmy is already a go for a second season. That was part of the deal when Netflix snagged the series which, filmed last northern autumn, was originally headed for NBC.
A new season should bring a further strengthening of the odd-couple bond between Kimmy and Jacqueline, a relationship nourished by the chemistry between the two actresses.
"Ellie is sunshine and brightness, and I love working with her," says Krakowski.
"Our first scene was when we snuggle in bed together, with Kimmy comforting the comically distraught Jacqueline. True to showbiz fashion, our most intimate scene
was shot first."
No problem. Krakowski, as always, went with her gut. Even though she doesn't have one.
Series one of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is now available on netflix.com
