Allison Janney
Acting
🎂 1959-11-19
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.
Cast credits(165)
Self
2015
Self
1996
Self
2014
Self - Guest
2009
Nora
1990
Ann Madsen
1990
Self
2007
Laura (voice)
1997
Julia (voice)
1989
Teen People Editor (voice)
1999
Mistress Vita (voice)
1999
Crystal Quagmire (voice)
1999
Self
2015
Self - Guest
2015
Beverly
2003
Self
1997
Aunt Jesse (voice)
2005
Cynthia
2000
Self - Guest
1993
Mother
2004
Judith Frick
2008
Self
2016
Charlene Doofenshmirtz (voice)
2007
Susanna
1993
Phyllis (voice)
1993
Self
2003
Self - Guest
2006
Self
2003
Bonnie Plunkett
2013
Self
2008
Self - Nominee
1944
Self
2013
Self
2015
Janet Ryland
2012
Self
2014
Ms. Greenstein
2005
Goldie O'Gilt (voice)
2017
C.J. Cregg
1999
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
Self
1993
Self - Presenter
1956
Self - Nominee
1956
Self - Nominee/Performer
1956
Self
2010
Self
2013
Evelyn
2024
Self
1953
Vice President Grace Penn
2023
Margaret Scully
2013
Allison Pearson
2008
Vivian
1994
Judith Frick
2011
Self
2006
The Mighty Karen (voice)
2019
Self
2018
1998
Self
2012
Ms. Perky
1999
Peach (voice)
2003
Aunt Linda McLanden
2025
Self
2003
Charlotte Phelan
2011
Colonel Howell
2023
Dr. Golan
2016
Barbara Fitts
1999
Elaine Crocker
2015
Peach (voice)
2016
Gladys (voice)
2006
Margaux Needler (voice)
2019
Self
2020
Bren MacGuff
2007
Madge Nelson (voice)
2015
1996
Doctor Brooks
2019
Prudy Pringleton
2007
Madge Nelson (voice)
2022
Dottie Piper
2015
Ms. Grunion (voice)
2014
Detective Sgt. Riley
2016
Marjorie
1998
Susan Estrich
2019
Lou
2022
LaVona
2017
Crystal Cohen
2011
Samantha Davis
2012
Sally Lester
2002
Kathy
2014
Miss Walsh
1998
Dot Halford
1997
Deb
2014
Betty Thompson
2013
Party Guest
1994
Loretta
1999
Woman in Christmas Shop
1994
Eleanor
2025
Donna
2022
Dr. Bernice Deagan
2013
Dee Dee
1997
Self (archive footage)
2018
Ann
1996
Lyla
2000
Monica Patterson
2011
Miss Massey
2019
Evelyn Isaacs
1998
Pam Gluckin
2019
Constance Miller
1998
Sandy
1996
Sue Buttons
2021
Lily
2009
Suzanna
2008
Margo
2016
Nancy
2022
Rose Chipley
2017
Mary Weldon
2014
Alice
2006
Carol Ostroff
2011
Professor Judith Fairfield
2012
Saleslady
1996
Wanda
2018
NYPD Computer Operator
1994
Alix
1998
Allie Stiffle
2005
Sheryl Phillips
2013
Doreen
1993
Trish Maplewood
2010
Velvet
2020
Self - Guest
2023
Meg
2013
Macy
2025
Eugenia Crocker
2004
Dr. Melanie Abbasac
1997
Miss Penny
1989
Lydia Martin
2003
Self
2022
Lilah Leech
1997
Principal Nichols
2017
Madge Nelson (voice)
2015
Prop 8 Leader's #1 Wife
2008
Self
2010
Assistant D.A.
1997
Narrator (voice)
2013
The Astronomer
2013
Bronwyn
2013
Maxine (Max)
1998
Gum Puller
1996
Celia
2012
Elizabeth
2014
Jennifer
1994
2007
Joan Whitfield
2005
Molly Ripkin
2004
Kathy McCormack
2001
Grechen (segment "Auto Motives")
2010
C.J. Cregg
2020
Narrator (voice)
2019
Self
2023
Betsy
1996
Melissa
2002
Narrator (voice)
2009
Gynecologist
1997
Mary Polanski
1995
Barbara Strasser
2003
Heather
1996