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