Acting · Boston, Massachusetts, USA · Born November 19, 1959
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.
MovieNot Alone
2027
as (voice)
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as Olivia (voice)
MovieMiss You, Love You
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as Diane Patterson
MovieThe Roses
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as Eleanor
MovieEverything's Going to Be Great
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as Macy Smart
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as Aunt Linda McLanden
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as Evelyn Rollins
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2023
as Self
MovieThe Creator
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as Colonel Howell
MovieCarol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
2023
as Self - Guest
TVThe Diplomat
2023
as Vice President Grace Penn
MovieThe People We Hate at the Wedding
2022
as Donna
MovieMinions & More 2
2022
as Madge Nelson (voice)
MovieTo Leslie
2022
as Nancy
MovieLou
2022
as Lou
TVBe My Guest with Ina Garten
2022
as Self - Guest
MovieStill Working 9 to 5
2022
as Self
MovieBreaking News in Yuba County
2021
as Sue Buttons
MovieA West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote
2020
as C.J. Cregg
TVCelebrity IOU
2020
as Self
MovieLazy Susan
2020
as Velvet
MovieBombshell
2019
as Susan Estrich
MovieExpedition Amelia
2019
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Addams Family
2019
as Margaux Needler (voice)
MovieBad Education
2019
as Pam Gluckin
TVHuman Discoveries
2019
as The Mighty Karen (voice)
MovieMa
2019
as Doctor Brooks
MovieTroop Zero
2019
as Miss Massey
TVThe Kominsky Method
2018
as Self
MovieBeyond Boundaries: The Harvey Weinstein Scandal
2018
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Night Is Young
2018
as Wanda
MovieI, Tonya
2017
as LaVona
TVDuckTales
2017
as Goldie O'Gilt (voice)
MovieSun Dogs
2017
as Rose Chipley
MovieA Happening of Monumental Proportions
2017
as Principal Nichols
MovieThe Girl on the Train
2016
as Detective Sgt. Riley
MovieMiss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
2016
as Dr. Golan
MovieFinding Dory
2016
as Peach (voice)
MovieTallulah
2016
as Margo
TVChelsea
2016
as Self
MovieBinky Nelson Unpacified
2015
as Madge Nelson (voice)
TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self
TVClose Up with The Hollywood Reporter
2015
as Self
MovieMinions
2015
as Madge Nelson (voice)
MovieSpy
2015
as Elaine Crocker
TVThe Late Late Show with James Corden
2015
as Self
MovieThe DUFF
2015
as Dottie Piper
TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actors
2014
as Self
MovieDays and Nights
2014
as Elizabeth
MovieGet On Up
2014
as Kathy
MovieTammy
2014
as Deb
MovieThe Rewrite
2014
as Professor Weldon
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self
MovieMr. Peabody & Sherman
2014
as Ms. Grunion (voice)
MovieBrightest Star
2013
as The Astronomer
TVMasters of Sex
2013
as Margaret Scully
TVMom
2013
as Bonnie Plunkett
TVThe Arsenio Hall Show
2013
as Self
MovieTouchy Feely
2013
as Bronwyn
MovieBad Words
2013
as Dr. Bernice Deagan
TVHollywood Game Night
2013
as Self
MovieStruck by Lightning
2013
as Sheryl Phillips
MovieLetters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy
2013
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Way Way Back
2013
as Betty Thompson
MovieTrust Me
2013
as Meg
MovieCelia
2012
as Celia
MovieLiberal Arts
2012
as Professor Judith Fairfield
TVComedy Bang! Bang!
2012
as Self
TVVeep
2012
as Janet Ryland
MovieA Thousand Words
2012
as Samantha Davis
MovieMargaret
2011
as Monica Patterson
MovieThe Oranges
2011
as Carol Ostroff
MovieThe Help
2011
as Charlotte Phelan
TVWeb Therapy
2011
as Judith Frick
TVMr. Sunshine
2011
as Crystal Cohen
MovieLove and Distrust
2010
as Grechen (segment "Auto Motives")
MovieLife During Wartime
2010
as Trish Maplewood
TVWho Do You Think You Are?
2010
as Self
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
MovieAway We Go
2009
as Lily
MovieIt's Still Me!
2009
as Narrator (voice)
MovieProp 8: The Musical
2008
as Prop 8 Leader's #1 Wife
MoviePretty Ugly People
2008
as Suzanna
TVWeb Therapy
2008
as Judith Frick
TVThe Bonnie Hunt Show
2008
as Self
TVIn Plain Sight
2008
as Allison Pearson
MovieJuno
2007
as Bren MacGuff
MovieYou Can’t Stop the Beat: The Long Journey of "Hairspray"
2007
as Self
MovieIt's 'Hairspray'!
2007
as Self
TVPhineas and Ferb
2007
as Charlene Doofenshmirtz (voice)
MovieHairspray
2007
as Prudy Pringleton
The EcoZone Project
2007
TVThe Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
TVStudio 60 on the Sunset Strip
2006
as Self
TVThe Megan Mullally Show
2006
as Self - Guest
MovieStrangers with Candy
2006
as Alice
MovieOver the Hedge
2006
as Gladys (voice)
TVWeeds
2005
as Ms. Greenstein
MovieOur Very Own
2005
as Joan Whitfield
MovieThe Chumscrubber
2005
as Allie Stiffle
TVAmerican Dad!
2005
as Aunt Jesse (voice)
MoviePiccadilly Jim
2004
as Eugenia Crocker
TVLost
2004
as Mother
TVThe Soup
2004
as Self
MovieWinter Solstice
2004
as Molly Ripkin
TVCelebrity Poker Showdown
2003
as Self
MovieChicken Party
2003
as Barbara Strasser
TVTwo and a Half Men
2003
as Beverly
TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
as Self
MovieHow to Deal
2003
as Lydia Martin
MovieFinding Nemo
2003
as Peach (voice)
TVJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
MovieThe Hours
2002
as Sally Lester
MovieRooftop Kisses
2002
as Melissa
TVA Girl Thing
2001
as Kathy McCormack
TVCurb Your Enthusiasm
2000
as Cynthia
MovieNurse Betty
2000
as Lyla
Auto Motives
2000
as Grechen
TVThe West Wing
1999
as C.J. Cregg
MovieAmerican Beauty
1999
as Barbara Fitts
MovieThe Debtors
1999
MovieDrop Dead Gorgeous
1999
as Loretta
Movie10 Things I Hate About You
1999
as Ms. Perky
TVFamily Guy
1999
as Teen People Editor (voice)
MovieDavid and Lisa
1998
as Alix
MovieThe Impostors
1998
as Maxine (Max)
MovieCelebrity
1998
as Evelyn Isaacs
MovieSix Days Seven Nights
1998
as Marjorie
MovieThe Object of My Affection
1998
as Constance Miller
MoviePrimary Colors
1998
as Miss Walsh
LateLine
1998
MovieThe Ice Storm
1997
as Dot Halford
MovieJulian Po
1997
as Lilah Leech
TVThe View
1997
as Self
MoviePath to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing
1997
as Assistant D.A.
MoviePrivate Parts
1997
as Dee Dee
Movie...First Do No Harm
1997
as Dr. Melanie Abbasac
MovieAnita Liberty
1997
as Gynecologist
TVKing of the Hill
1997
as Laura (voice)
MovieThe Associate
1996
as Sandy
MovieBig Night
1996
as Ann
TVThe Daily Show
1996
as Self
MovieWalking and Talking
1996
as Gum Puller
MovieRescuing Desire
1996
as Betsy
MovieFaithful
1996
as Saleslady
TVAliens in the Family
1996
Flux
1996
as Heather
MovieHeading Home
1995
as Mary Polanski
TVThe Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA
1995
as Self
MovieMiracle on 34th Street
1994
as Woman in Christmas Shop
TVNew York Undercover
1994
as Vivian
MovieWolf
1994
as Party Guest
MovieThe Cowboy Way
1994
as NYPD Computer Operator
MovieDead Funny
1994
as Jennifer
TVIntimate Portrait
1993
as Self
TVFrasier
1993
as Susanna
TVLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
as Self - Guest
MovieBlind Spot
1993
as Doreen
TVLaw & Order
1990
as Nora
TVThe Simpsons
1989
as Julia (voice)
MovieWho Shot Pat?
1989
as Miss Penny
TVLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self - Guest
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self (uncredited)
TVPeople's Choice Awards
1975
as Self - Host
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Nominee
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Nominee
The Heart
MovieFonda
