Jenny Slate embraces romance in every corner of life

Jenny Slate has embraced romance in every corner of her life — from dinner choices to pajamas.

At the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, the 43-year-old actress promoted her new romantic drama, Carousel, alongside co-star Chris Pine, and told People that she’s “a big romantic” both on and off screen.

“I’m a romantic in what I choose for dinner, what pajamas I wear, not just like, you know, sexy,” Slate said. “There’s romance in everything. I want to find it everywhere.”

In Carousel, directed by Rachel Lambert, Slate plays Rebecca, the high school girlfriend of Pine’s character Noah, whose return shakes up his life. Slate shared that portraying moments of intensity in the film came naturally to her.

“It’s more weird for me to play something that feels too perfect or unreal,” she explained. “Chris and I play people who are each other’s one that got away, and that felt very romantic to me.”

Pine, 45, echoed Slate’s sentiment, admitting he is “romantic in a lot of ways” and praising Slate’s charm, intelligence, and wit as his on-screen partner.

Beyond acting, Slate has spent the past few years raising her 4-year-old daughter, Ida Lupine, with husband Ben Shattuck, while also releasing her latest essay collection, Lifeform.

“It feels like I’ve set sail and finally understand how to work all the riggings of my own ship,” Slate said.