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.
Everything's Going to Be Great
Macy
2025
Another Simple Favor
Aunt Linda McLanden
2025
True Love: Making The Creator
Self
2023
The Creator
Colonel Howell
2023
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
Self - Guest
2023
Minions & More Volume 2
Madge Nelson (voice)
2022
Breaking News in Yuba County
Sue Buttons
2021
Bombshell
Susan Estrich
2019
The Addams Family
Margaux Needler (voice)
2019
Bad Education
Pam Gluckin
2019
Troop Zero
Miss Massey
2019
The Night Is Young
Wanda
2018
I, Tonya
LaVona
2017
Sun Dogs
Rose Chipley
2017
A Happening of Monumental Proportions
Principal Nichols
2017
The Girl on the Train
Detective Sgt. Riley
2016
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Dr. Golan
2016
Finding Dory
Peach (voice)
2016
Tallulah
Margo
2016
Binky Nelson Unpacified
Madge Nelson (voice)
2015
Minions
Madge Nelson (voice)
2015
Spy
Elaine Crocker
2015
The DUFF
Dottie Piper
2015
Days and Nights
Elizabeth
2014
Get on Up
Kathy
2014
Tammy
Deb
2014
The Rewrite
Mary Weldon
2014
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
Ms. Grunion (voice)
2014
Brightest Star
The Astronomer
2013
Touchy Feely
Bronwyn
2013
Bad Words
Dr. Bernice Deagan
2013
Struck by Lightning
Sheryl Phillips
2013
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy
Narrator (voice)
2013
The Way Way Back
Betty Thompson
2013
Trust Me
Meg
2013
Celia
Celia
2012
Liberal Arts
Professor Judith Fairfield
2012
A Thousand Words
Samantha Davis
2012
Margaret
Monica Patterson
2011
The Oranges
Carol Ostroff
2011
The Help
Charlotte Phelan
2011
Life During Wartime
Trish Maplewood
2010
Away We Go
Lily
2009
Prop 8: The Musical
Prop 8 Leader's #1 Wife
2008
Pretty Ugly People
Suzanna
2008
Juno
Bren MacGuff
2007
Hairspray
Prudy Pringleton
2007
Strangers with Candy
Alice
2006
Over the Hedge
Gladys (voice)
2006
Our Very Own
Joan Whitfield
2005
The Chumscrubber
Allie Stiffle
2005
Piccadilly Jim
Eugenia Crocker
2004
Winter Solstice
Molly Ripkin
2004
How to Deal
Lydia Martin
2003
Finding Nemo
Peach (voice)
2003
The Hours
Sally Lester
2002
Rooftop Kisses
Melissa
2002
A Girl Thing
Kathy McCormack
2001
Nurse Betty
Lyla
2000
American Beauty
Barbara Fitts
1999
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Loretta
1999
10 Things I Hate About You
Ms. Perky
1999
David and Lisa
Alix
1998
The Impostors
Maxine (Max)
1998
Celebrity
Evelyn Isaacs
1998
Six Days Seven Nights
Marjorie
1998
The Object of My Affection
Constance Miller
1998
Primary Colors
Miss Walsh
1998
The Ice Storm
Dot Halford
1997
Julian Po
Lilah Leech
1997
Private Parts
Dee Dee
1997
...First Do No Harm
Dr. Melanie Abbasac
1997
Anita Liberty
Gynecologist
1997
The Associate
Sandy
1996
Big Night
Ann
1996
Walking and Talking
Gum Puller
1996
Faithful
Saleslady
1996
Flux
Heather
1996
Wolf
Party Guest
1994
Dead Funny
Jennifer
1994
Miss You, Love You
The Roses
Eleanor
2025
The People We Hate at the Wedding
Donna
2022
To Leslie
Nancy
2022
Lou
Lou
2022
Still Working 9 to 5
Self
2022
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote
C.J. Cregg
2020
Lazy Susan
Velvet
2020
Expedition Amelia
Narrator (voice)
2019
Human Discoveries
The Mighty Karen (voice) · (2 episodes)
2019
Ma
Doctor Brooks
2019
Beyond Boundaries: The Harvey Weinstein Scandal
Self (archive footage)
2018
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Mom
Bonnie Plunkett · (170 episodes)
2013
Mr. Sunshine
Crystal Cohen · (9 episodes)
2011
Backwash
Self
2010
Love and Distrust
Grechen (segment "Auto Motives")
2010
It's Still Me!
Narrator (voice)
2009
The Bonnie Hunt Show
Self · (1 episode)
2008
The EcoZone Project
(1 episode)
2007
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Self · (1 episode)
2006
Weeds
Ms. Greenstein · (1 episode)
2005
Chicken Party
Barbara Strasser
2003
Two and a Half Men
Beverly · (1 episode)
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (5 episodes)
2003
The West Wing
C.J. Cregg · (154 episodes)
1999
Family Guy
Teen People Editor (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
Family Guy
Crystal Quagmire (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
Family Guy
Mistress Vita (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
LateLine
(1 episode)
1998
The View
Self · (2 episodes)
1997
Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing
Assistant D.A.
1997
King of the Hill
Laura (voice) · (1 episode)
1997
Rescuing Desire
Betsy
1996
Aliens in the Family
(1 episode)
1996
Heading Home
Mary Polanski
1995
The Heart
Palm Royale
Evelyn · (10 episodes)
2024
The Diplomat
Vice President Grace Penn · (2 episodes)
2023
Celebrity IOU
Self · (1 episode)
2020
The Kominsky Method
Self · (1 episode)
2018
DuckTales
Goldie O'Gilt (voice) · (5 episodes)
2017
Chelsea
Self · (1 episode)
2016
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self · (2 episodes)
2015
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self · (2 episodes)
2015
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Masters of Sex
Margaret Scully · (9 episodes)
2013
The Arsenio Hall Show
Self · (1 episode)
2013
Hollywood Game Night
Self · (1 episode)
2013
Comedy Bang! Bang!
Self · (1 episode)
2012
Veep
Janet Ryland · (1 episode)
2012
Web Therapy
Judith Frick · (2 episodes)
2011
Who Do You Think You Are?
Self · (1 episode)
2010
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
2009
Web Therapy
Judith Frick · (3 episodes)
2008
In Plain Sight
Allison Pearson · (2 episodes)
2008
Phineas and Ferb
Charlene Doofenshmirtz (voice) · (2 episodes)
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (1 episode)
2007
The Megan Mullally Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2006
American Dad!
Aunt Jesse (voice) · (1 episode)
2005
Lost
Mother · (1 episode)
2004
Celebrity Poker Showdown
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (2 episodes)
2003
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Cynthia · (1 episode)
2000
The Daily Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996
Miracle on 34th Street
Woman in Christmas Shop
1994
New York Undercover
Vivian · (1 episode)
1994
The Cowboy Way
NYPD Computer Operator
1994
Intimate Portrait
Self · (1 episode)
1993
Frasier
Susanna · (1 episode)
1993
Frasier
Phyllis (voice) · (1 episode)
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
1993
Blind Spot
Doreen
1993
Law & Order
Nora · (1 episode)
1990
Law & Order
Ann Madsen · (1 episode)
1990
The Simpsons
Julia (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
Who Shot Pat?
Miss Penny
1989
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter · (2 episodes)
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee/Performer · (1 episode)
1956
The Oscars
Self · (1 episode)
1953
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · (3 episodes)
1944