Allison Janney

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 ...

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Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

ChristmasAction-packedCharmingClassic

Six-year-old Susan Walker has doubts about childhood's most enduring miracle—Santa Claus. Her mother told her the secret about Santa a long time ago, but, after meeting a special department store Santa who's convinced he's the real thing, Susan is given the most ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Les Mayfield
CAST:  Richard Attenborough  •  Elizabeth Perkins  •  Dylan McDermott  •  J.T. Walsh

Six-year-old Susan Walker has doubts about childhood's most enduring miracle—Santa Claus. Her mother told her the secret about Santa a long time ago, but, after meeting a special department store Santa who's convinced he's the real thing, Susan is given the most ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Les Mayfield
CAST:  Richard Attenborough  •  Elizabeth Perkins  •  Dylan McDermott  •  J.T. Walsh

American Beauty (1999)

BeautifulBrilliantThought provokingComplex

Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Mendes
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Annette Bening  •  Thora Birch  •  Wes Bentley

Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Mendes
CAST:  Kevin Spacey  •  Annette Bening  •  Thora Birch  •  Wes Bentley

Finding Nemo (2003)

CuteFunnyEnjoyableFun

Nemo, an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken from his Great Barrier Reef home to a dentist's office aquarium. It's up to his worrisome father Marlin and a friendly but forgetful fish Dory to bring Nemo home -- meeting vegetarian sharks, surfer dude ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Stanton
CAST:  Albert Brooks  •  Ellen DeGeneres  •  Alexander Gould  •  Willem Dafoe

Nemo, an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken from his Great Barrier Reef home to a dentist's office aquarium. It's up to his worrisome father Marlin and a friendly but forgetful fish Dory to bring Nemo home -- meeting vegetarian sharks, surfer dude ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Stanton
CAST:  Albert Brooks  •  Ellen DeGeneres  •  Alexander Gould  •  Willem Dafoe

The Way Way Back (2013)

UpliftingEnjoyableCharmingBeautiful

Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nat Faxon  •  Jim Rash
CAST:  Steve Carell  •  Toni Collette  •  Allison Janney  •  Sam Rockwell

Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend's daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nat Faxon  •  Jim Rash
CAST:  Steve Carell  •  Toni Collette  •  Allison Janney  •  Sam Rockwell

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

RomanticCuteCharmingFun

On the first day at his new school, Cameron instantly falls for Bianca, the gorgeous girl of his dreams. The only problem is that Bianca is forbidden to date until her ill-tempered, completely un-dateable older sister Kat goes out, too. In an attempt to solve his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gil Junger
CAST:  Heath Ledger  •  Julia Stiles  •  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Larisa Oleynik

On the first day at his new school, Cameron instantly falls for Bianca, the gorgeous girl of his dreams. The only problem is that Bianca is forbidden to date until her ill-tempered, completely un-dateable older sister Kat goes out, too. In an attempt to solve his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gil Junger
CAST:  Heath Ledger  •  Julia Stiles  •  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Larisa Oleynik

Big Night (1996)

Inspiring

Primo and Secondo, two immigrant brothers, pin their hopes on a banquet honoring Louis Prima to save their struggling restaurant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Tucci  •  Campbell Scott
CAST:  Stanley Tucci  •  Tony Shalhoub  •  Marc Anthony  •  Minnie Driver

Primo and Secondo, two immigrant brothers, pin their hopes on a banquet honoring Louis Prima to save their struggling restaurant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Tucci  •  Campbell Scott
CAST:  Stanley Tucci  •  Tony Shalhoub  •  Marc Anthony  •  Minnie Driver

Celebrity (1998)

The career and personal life of writer Lee are at a standstill, so he divorces his bashful wife, Robin, and dives into a new job as an entertainment journalist. His assignments take him to the swankiest corners of Manhattan, but as he jumps from one lavish party to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Woody Allen
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Judy Davis  •  Joe Mantegna  •  Leonardo DiCaprio

The career and personal life of writer Lee are at a standstill, so he divorces his bashful wife, Robin, and dives into a new job as an entertainment journalist. His assignments take him to the swankiest corners of Manhattan, but as he jumps from one lavish party to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Woody Allen
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Judy Davis  •  Joe Mantegna  •  Leonardo DiCaprio

Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

In a small Minnesota town, the annual beauty pageant is being covered by a TV crew. Former winner Gladys Leeman wants to make sure her daughter follows in her footsteps; explosions, falling lights, and trailer fires prove that. As the Leemans are the richest family ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Patrick Jann
CAST:  Kirsten Dunst  •  Ellen Barkin  •  Allison Janney  •  Denise Richards

In a small Minnesota town, the annual beauty pageant is being covered by a TV crew. Former winner Gladys Leeman wants to make sure her daughter follows in her footsteps; explosions, falling lights, and trailer fires prove that. As the Leemans are the richest family ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Patrick Jann
CAST:  Kirsten Dunst  •  Ellen Barkin  •  Allison Janney  •  Denise Richards

Hairspray (2007)

Musical

Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad auditions to be on Baltimore's most popular dance show - The Corny Collins Show - and lands a prime spot. Through her newfound fame, she becomes determined to help her friends and end the racial segregation that has been a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Adam Shankman
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Christopher Walken  •  Amanda Bynes

Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad auditions to be on Baltimore's most popular dance show - The Corny Collins Show - and lands a prime spot. Through her newfound fame, she becomes determined to help her friends and end the racial segregation that has been a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Adam Shankman
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Christopher Walken  •  Amanda Bynes

How to Deal (2003)

Halley is convinced true love doesn't exist based on the crazy relationships around her. Her mother is divorcing her father who is dating a younger woman Halley can't stand. Her crazed sister is planning a wedding but has second thoughts and her best friend has ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clare Kilner
CAST:  Mandy Moore  •  Trent Ford  •  Allison Janney  •  Alexandra Holden

Halley is convinced true love doesn't exist based on the crazy relationships around her. Her mother is divorcing her father who is dating a younger woman Halley can't stand. Her crazed sister is planning a wedding but has second thoughts and her best friend has ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clare Kilner
CAST:  Mandy Moore  •  Trent Ford  •  Allison Janney  •  Alexandra Holden

Nurse Betty (2000)

What happens when a person decides that life is merely a state of mind? If you're Betty, a small-town waitress and soap opera fan from Fair Oaks, Kansas, you refuse to believe that you can't be with the love of your life just because he doesn't really exist. After ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil LaBute
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Morgan Freeman  •  Chris Rock  •  Greg Kinnear

What happens when a person decides that life is merely a state of mind? If you're Betty, a small-town waitress and soap opera fan from Fair Oaks, Kansas, you refuse to believe that you can't be with the love of your life just because he doesn't really exist. After ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil LaBute
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Morgan Freeman  •  Chris Rock  •  Greg Kinnear

Over the Hedge (2006)

FunnyCharmingHeartbreaking

A scheming raccoon fools a mismatched family of forest creatures into helping him repay a debt of food, by invading the new suburban sprawl that popped up while they were hibernating – and learns a lesson about family himself.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Johnson  •  Karey Kirkpatrick
CAST:  Bruce Willis  •  Garry Shandling  •  Steve Carell  •  Wanda Sykes

A scheming raccoon fools a mismatched family of forest creatures into helping him repay a debt of food, by invading the new suburban sprawl that popped up while they were hibernating – and learns a lesson about family himself.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Johnson  •  Karey Kirkpatrick
CAST:  Bruce Willis  •  Garry Shandling  •  Steve Carell  •  Wanda Sykes

Strangers with Candy (2006)

A prequel to the critically acclaimed series featuring Jerri Blank, a 46 year-old ex-junkie, ex-con who returns to high school in a bid to start her life over.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Dinello
CAST:  Amy Sedaris  •  Stephen Colbert  •  Paul Dinello  •  Greg Hollimon

A prequel to the critically acclaimed series featuring Jerri Blank, a 46 year-old ex-junkie, ex-con who returns to high school in a bid to start her life over.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Dinello
CAST:  Amy Sedaris  •  Stephen Colbert  •  Paul Dinello  •  Greg Hollimon

The Associate (1996)

Laurel Ayres is a businesswoman trying to make it but unfortunately she works at a investment firm where she does all the work but all the senior investors like Frank Peterson grab all the credit. She then leaves and starts her own firm. While trying to find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Donald Petrie
CAST:  Whoopi Goldberg  •  Dianne Wiest  •  Eli Wallach  •  Tim Daly

Laurel Ayres is a businesswoman trying to make it but unfortunately she works at a investment firm where she does all the work but all the senior investors like Frank Peterson grab all the credit. She then leaves and starts her own firm. While trying to find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Donald Petrie
CAST:  Whoopi Goldberg  •  Dianne Wiest  •  Eli Wallach  •  Tim Daly

The Chumscrubber (2005)

The Chumscrubber is a dark comedy about the lives of people who live in upper-class suburbia. It all begins when Dean Stiffle finds the body of his friend, Troy. He doesn't bother telling any of the adults because he knows they won't care. Everyone in town is too ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Arie Posin
CAST:  Jamie Bell  •  Camilla Belle  •  Justin Chatwin  •  Glenn Close

The Chumscrubber is a dark comedy about the lives of people who live in upper-class suburbia. It all begins when Dean Stiffle finds the body of his friend, Troy. He doesn't bother telling any of the adults because he knows they won't care. Everyone in town is too ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Arie Posin
CAST:  Jamie Bell  •  Camilla Belle  •  Justin Chatwin  •  Glenn Close

The Cowboy Way (1994)

Two championship rodeo partners travel to New York to find their missing friend, Nacho Salazar who went missing there.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gregg Champion
CAST:  Woody Harrelson  •  Kiefer Sutherland  •  Dylan McDermott  •  Ernie Hudson

Two championship rodeo partners travel to New York to find their missing friend, Nacho Salazar who went missing there.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gregg Champion
CAST:  Woody Harrelson  •  Kiefer Sutherland  •  Dylan McDermott  •  Ernie Hudson

The Hours (2002)

Slow movingTragicBeautifulBoring

"The Hours" is the story of three women searching for more potent, meaningful lives. Each is alive at a different time and place, all are linked by their yearnings and their fears. Their stories intertwine, and finally come together in a surprising, transcendent ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Daldry
CAST:  Nicole Kidman  •  Julianne Moore  •  Meryl Streep  •  Stephen Dillane

"The Hours" is the story of three women searching for more potent, meaningful lives. Each is alive at a different time and place, all are linked by their yearnings and their fears. Their stories intertwine, and finally come together in a surprising, transcendent ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Daldry
CAST:  Nicole Kidman  •  Julianne Moore  •  Meryl Streep  •  Stephen Dillane

The Impostors (1998)

Wrongly accused of physically abusing a fellow actor, starving thespians Arthur and Maurice find themselves pursued by the law aboard a cruise ship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Tucci
CAST:  Oliver Platt  •  Stanley Tucci  •  Tony Shalhoub  •  Walker Jones

Wrongly accused of physically abusing a fellow actor, starving thespians Arthur and Maurice find themselves pursued by the law aboard a cruise ship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Tucci
CAST:  Oliver Platt  •  Stanley Tucci  •  Tony Shalhoub  •  Walker Jones

Walking and Talking (1996)

Just as Amelia thinks she's over her anxiety and insecurity, her best friend announces her engagement, bringing her anxiety and insecurity right back.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nicole Holofcener
CAST:  Amy Braverman  •  Liev Schreiber  •  Catherine Keener  •  Anne Heche

Just as Amelia thinks she's over her anxiety and insecurity, her best friend announces her engagement, bringing her anxiety and insecurity right back.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nicole Holofcener
CAST:  Amy Braverman  •  Liev Schreiber  •  Catherine Keener  •  Anne Heche

The Object of My Affection (1998)

A pregnant New York social worker begins to develop romantic feelings for her gay best friend, and decides she'd rather raise her child with him, much to the dismay of her overbearing boyfriend.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nicholas Hytner
CAST:  Jennifer Aniston  •  Paul Rudd  •  Hayden Panettiere  •  Alan Alda

A pregnant New York social worker begins to develop romantic feelings for her gay best friend, and decides she'd rather raise her child with him, much to the dismay of her overbearing boyfriend.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nicholas Hytner
CAST:  Jennifer Aniston  •  Paul Rudd  •  Hayden Panettiere  •  Alan Alda
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