The end of Frasier back in 2004 hasn’t exactly stopped Jane Leeves who played Daphne on the show from working consistently in Hollywood. From her animated film and voice work to the next generation of television comedies, here’s what she’s been up to over the years.
Leeves is arguably best known for her role on Frasier as Daphne Moon, a physical therapist who truly believes she has psychic powers.
Leeves became a household name during her time on the series, picking up Emmy and Golden Globe nominations throughout the show’s run.
Offscreen, Frasier turned Leeves into the highest-paid British actress at the time; while onscreen, viewers became extraordinarily invested in Daphne’s romantic relationship with Niles Crane, Frasier’s brother. This relationship is developed while she lives in the Cranes’ apartment as a caretaker to their father Martin, despite the fact that Niles is married when they first meet. Though some critics weren’t as enamored with the relationship, it helped sell Leeves as a romantic lead and when the show ended in 2004, the finale was well-received, leaving Leeves and the rest of the main cast in a prime position to pursue whichever projects they wanted to tackle next.
Having become a TV star, Leeves opted for a relatively modest slate of film and television work following her Frasier breakthrough. Using her distinctive voice and now-famous British accent, Leeves lent her voice to a number of animated films, beginning with the stop-motion film James & the Giant Peach in 1996. Based on Roald Dahl’s famous children’s novel, Peach featured Leeves as Mrs. Ladybug, one of James’ insect friends, alongside big names like Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, and David Thewlis.
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Frasier | 0:15
The next steps | 1:09
Stage and film | 1:59
Bristol Cities | 2:32
Return to television | 3:09
Life at home | 3:57