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Allison Janney Biography
Birth Place:
Dayton, Ohio, United States
Profession
Actor
Fast Facts
- As a young woman, her mother, Macy, roomed with Eileen Brennan and Rue McClanahan while studying acting in New York
- Childhood ambition was to be an Olympic figure skater, but an accident ended that dream
- Played field hockey and ran track in high school
- A fear of laboratory rats derailed her plans to major in psychology at Kenyon College
- While in college, appeared in a play directed by Kenyon alumnus Paul Newman
- Newman and his wife, Joanne Woodward, became mentors to Janney, urging her to study at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse
- News networks offered her work as a political pundit when The West Wing was on the air
- Says her height (6 ft
- ) has sometimes been an obstacle in landing parts, especially early on in her career
- Works with the charity Modest Needs, which helps low-income households
Awards
- 2021Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
- 2019Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
- 2018BAFTA Film Awards-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
- 2018Independent Spirit Awards-Best Supporting Female: winner
- 2018Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
- 2017Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: winner
- 2017Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
- 2017Critics' Choice Awards-Best Supporting Actress: winner
- 2017Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
- 2016Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
- 2016Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
- 2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
- 2015Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
- 2015Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
- 2015Critics' Choice Television Awards-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
- 2014Critics' Choice Television Awards-Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
- 2014Critics' Choice Television Awards-Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series: winner
- 2014Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: winner
- 2014Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
- 2011Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
- 2011Independent Spirit Awards-Best Supporting Female: nominated
- 2008Critics' Choice Awards-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
- 2007Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
- 2007Austin Film Critics-Best Supporting Actress: winner
- 2006Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
- 2006Independent Spirit Awards-Best Supporting Female: nominated
- 2005Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
- 2004Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
- 2004Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: winner
- 2004Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
- 2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
- 2003Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
- 2003Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
- 2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
- 2003Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
- 2002Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
- 2002Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: winner
- 2002Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
- 2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
- 2001Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
- 2001Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
- 2001Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
- 2001American Film Institute-Best Female Actor in a Television Series: nominated
- 2000Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: winner
- 2000Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: winner
- 1999Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
Relationships
- Hal Janney -- Brother
- Jay Janney -- Brother
- Jervis Janney -- Father
- Macy Janney -- Mother
- Philip Joncas -- Significant Other