Allison Janney

Born: 1959-11-19 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Known For: Acting

Biography

Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an American actress. In a career spanning three decades, she is known for her performances across multiple genres of screen and stage. Janney has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and seven Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for two Tony Awards. Born in Boston and raised in Dayton, Ohio, Janney received a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art following her graduation from Kenyon College. After years of minor and uncredited film and television appearances, Janney's breakthrough came with the role of C. J. Cregg in the NBC political drama The West Wing (1999–2006), for which she received four Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2014, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Margaret Scully on the Showtime period drama Masters of Sex. For her portrayal of Bonnie Plunkett, a cynical recovering addict on the CBS sitcom Mom (2013–2021), Janney received six Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won twice for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Janney made her professional stage debut with the Off-Broadway production Ladies (1989), and followed with numerous bit parts in various similar productions, before making her Broadway debut with the 1996 revival of Present Laughter. She won two Drama Desk Awards and has been nominated for two Tony Awards: for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in the Broadway revival of A View from the Bridge (1997), and for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the original Broadway production of the musical 9 to 5 (2009). Her film roles include Private Parts (1997), Primary Colors (1998), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), American Beauty (1999), Nurse Betty (2000), The Hours (2002), Hairspray (2007), Juno (2007), The Help (2011), The Way, Way Back (2013), Tammy (2014), The Rewrite (2014), Spy (2015), Tallulah (2016), The Girl on the Train (2016), Bad Education (2019) and Bombshell (2019). She voiced roles in Finding Nemo (2003), Over the Hedge (2006), Minions (2015), and The Addams Family (2019). For her performance in the black comedy I, Tonya (2017), Janney won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award, all for Best Supporting Actress.

Filmography

2025

The Roses as Eleanor
Another Simple Favor as Aunt Linda McLanden
Everything's Going to Be Great as Macy Smart

2024

Palm Royale as Evelyn Rollins

2019

Ma as Doctor Brooks
Expedition Amelia as Narrator (voice)
The Addams Family as Margaux Needler (voice)
Troop Zero as Miss Massey
Bombshell as Susan Estrich
Human Discoveries as The Mighty Karen (voice)
Bad Education as Pam Gluckin

2018

The Kominsky Method as Self
Beyond Boundaries: The Harvey Weinstein Scandal as Self (archive footage)
The Night Is Young as Wanda

2017

DuckTales as Goldie O'Gilt (voice)
Sun Dogs as Rose Chipley
I, Tonya as LaVona
A Happening of Monumental Proportions as Principal Nichols

2016

Chelsea as Self
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children as Dr. Golan
Finding Dory as Peach (voice)
Tallulah as Margo
The Girl on the Train as Detective Sgt. Riley

2015

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
The Late Late Show with James Corden as Self
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter as Self
Spy as Elaine Crocker
The DUFF as Dottie Piper
Minions as Madge Nelson (voice)
Binky Nelson Unpacified as Madge Nelson (voice)

2014

Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
Mr. Peabody & Sherman as Ms. Grunion (voice)
Days and Nights as Elizabeth
Tammy as Deb
Get on Up as Kathy
The Rewrite as Mary Weldon

2013

Mom as Bonnie Plunkett
Masters of Sex as Margaret Scully
Brightest Star as The Astronomer
Bad Words as Dr. Bernice Deagan
Trust Me as Meg
The Way Way Back as Betty Thompson
Touchy Feely as Bronwyn
The Arsenio Hall Show as Self
Hollywood Game Night as Self
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy as Self - Narrator (voice)
Struck by Lightning as Sheryl Phillips

2012

Veep as Janet Ryland
Comedy Bang! Bang! as Self
Liberal Arts as Professor Judith Fairfield
Celia as Celia
A Thousand Words as Samantha Davis

2011

The Help as Charlotte Phelan
The Oranges as Carol Ostroff
Web Therapy as Judith Frick
Mr. Sunshine as Crystal Cohen
Margaret as Monica Patterson

2010

Who Do You Think You Are? as Self
Love and Distrust as Grechen (segment "Auto Motives")
Life During Wartime as Trish Maplewood

2009

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
Away We Go as Lily
It's Still Me! as Narrator (voice)

2008

In Plain Sight as Allison Pearson
The Bonnie Hunt Show as Self
Web Therapy as Judith Frick
Pretty Ugly People as Suzanna
Prop 8: The Musical as Prop 8 Leader's #1 Wife

2007

The Graham Norton Show as Self
Phineas and Ferb as Charlene Doofenshmirtz (voice)
Hairspray as Prudy Pringleton
Juno as Bren MacGuff
The EcoZone Project

2006

Over the Hedge as Gladys (voice)
The Megan Mullally Show as Self - Guest
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as Self
Strangers with Candy as Alice

2005

American Dad! as Aunt Jesse (voice)
Weeds as Ms. Greenstein
The Chumscrubber as Allie Stiffle
Our Very Own as Joan Whitfield

2004

Lost as Mother
Winter Solstice as Molly Ripkin
Piccadilly Jim as Eugenia Crocker

2003

Two and a Half Men as Beverly
Finding Nemo as Peach (voice)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
How to Deal as Lydia Martin
Chicken Party as Barbara Strasser
Celebrity Poker Showdown as Self

2002

The Hours as Sally Lester
Rooftop Kisses as Melissa

2001

A Girl Thing as Kathy McCormack

2000

Curb Your Enthusiasm as Cynthia
Nurse Betty as Lyla
Auto Motives as Grechen

1999

Family Guy as Teen People Editor (voice)
The West Wing as C.J. Cregg
10 Things I Hate About You as Ms. Perky
American Beauty as Barbara Fitts
Drop Dead Gorgeous as Loretta

1998

Six Days Seven Nights as Marjorie
The Impostors as Maxine (Max)
Primary Colors as Miss Walsh
Celebrity as Evelyn Isaacs
The Object of My Affection as Constance Miller
LateLine
David and Lisa as Alix

1997

King of the Hill as Laura (voice)
The View as Self
The Ice Storm as Dot Halford
Julian Po as Lilah Leech
Private Parts as Dee Dee
...First Do No Harm as Dr. Melanie Abbasac
Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing as Assistant D.A.
Anita Liberty as Gynecologist

1996

The Daily Show as Self
The Associate as Sandy
Faithful as Saleslady
Flux as Heather
Walking and Talking as Gum Puller
Rescuing Desire as Betsy
Aliens in the Family
Big Night as Ann

1995

Heading Home as Mary Polanski

1994

Miracle on 34th Street as Woman in Christmas Shop
New York Undercover as Vivian
Wolf as Party Guest
The Cowboy Way as NYPD Computer Operator
Dead Funny as Jennifer

1993

Frasier as Susanna
Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
Intimate Portrait as Self
Blind Spot as Doreen

1990

Law & Order as Nora

1989

The Simpsons as Julia (voice)
Who Shot Pat? as Miss Penny

1988

LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest

1975

Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

1956

Tony Awards as Self - Presenter

1953

The Oscars as Self

1944

Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee