Trivia

Received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Struggled with alcoholism years before stardom, which she details in her forthcoming memoir "Happy Accidents". She also describes how she used to secretly wear her brother's clothing and wanted to fill the athletic "son" role her father had wished for her brother.

She appeared with fellow Glee (2009) actress Lauren Potter in a public service announcement about ending the use of the word retard/retarded as an insult. Lauren has downs syndrome.

Performed all her own singing and guitar playing in A Mighty Wind (2003).

For her role on Glee (2009), she was named one of the "Eight Actors Who Turn Television into Art", in cover story of the New York Times magazine. (September 11, 2011)

Attended and graduated from Thornridge High School in Dolton, Cook County, Illinois.

She and Carol Burnett are huge fans of each other. They played in-laws in the movie Post Grad (2009).

Lynch's former wife, Lara Embry, is a clinical psychologist in west central Florida and a professor of psychology at New College in Sarasota, Florida. In 2009, Embry made Florida headlines when a Florida court ruled that she had the right to share custody of a child she had adopted with her ex-girlfriend, and, more widely, that the State of Florida had to accept the validity of other states' gay-parent adoptions.

Is deaf in her right ear due to an illness as an infant and has a fear of elevators.

Received her Bachelor's degree in Theatre from Illinois State University (1982).

Cites actor and director Ron Howard as one of her idols.

Hosts the 'Do Something' Awards on VH1 - the nation's largest awards show honoring celebrities and young people's efforts to create social change. Glee (2009) won the 2010 award in the TV Show category for promoting diversity.

Her paternal grandparents were Irish. Her mother was of half Irish and half Swedish ancestry.

Her favorite films are Ninotchka (1939) Private Benjamin (1980), The Crossing Guard (1995), The Big Lebowski (1998) and Zoolander (2001).

Is a huge fan of Olivia Newton-John and childhood fan of John Travolta.

Has penned and starred in the award winning play "Oh, Sister, My Sister!".

Cites actress and comedienne Vicki Lawrence as one of her idols.

She has performed in a great deal of commercials; she is usually cast as an office professional.

Grew up in Dolton, Illinois, a south suburb of Chicago.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6640 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on September 4, 2013. Ryan Murphy and Christopher Guest were guest speakers at the ceremony.

Hosted the 63rd Emmy Awards broadcast on the Fox channel on September 19, 2011.

Jane won the Best Actress in a Comedy Award for "Writer's Block" at the 2016 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival.

Married Lara Embry at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland, Massachusetts.

Friends with Margaret Cho and RuPaul.

Stepmother of Lara Embry's daughter, Haden.

She wears a size 11 US shoe.

Aunt of Megan Doyle.

Often confused with Ellen DeGeneres since they both have short hair.