Allison Janney
Birthday: 19 November 1959, Dayton, Ohio, USA
Birth Name: Allison Brooks Janney
Height: 183 cm
Allison Janney is an award-winning actress who has earned a solid reputation in stage productions and in many supporting roles on screen, and who more recently has become prominent by portraying one o ...Show More
[on her towering height] Years ago, one casting agent told me that the only roles I could play were Show more
[on her towering height] Years ago, one casting agent told me that the only roles I could play were lesbians and aliens. Hide
Always go to bed with clean feet. That's from my grandma.
Always go to bed with clean feet. That's from my grandma.
[2011, "Ginger" on The Guiding Light (1952)] That was my first professional job as an actress in New Show more
[2011, "Ginger" on The Guiding Light (1952)] That was my first professional job as an actress in New York City, and I felt like I had made it! I was thrilled. It afforded me... Well, I could pay my rent on what I made! It was the first time I kind of started making a living. I could pay for my rent and for other things. I started being able to take my friends out to dinner. It was my first real salary as an actress. So that was pretty big. Hide
[2011, on Lost (2004)] Most difficult acting job I've ever had to do in my life. Didn't enjoy acting Show more
[2011, on Lost (2004)] Most difficult acting job I've ever had to do in my life. Didn't enjoy acting outdoors, in streams and in the elements. It was very hard. I had to loop most of my performance for that. That's what I want to say about that: I had to loop for 10 hours. That was not fun. I don't like looping. And it was a weird decision, I think, in my career to do that, 'cause I... I don't know, I thought it'd be fun to be part of such a pop-culture thing. But it was quite difficult to do, and I felt a little lost myself during Lost (2004). Hide
[2011, on 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)] My first big movie where I got money. Where I got real Show more
[2011, on 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)] My first big movie where I got money. Where I got real money that I put in the bank. That was very important to me... And to my father. I remember having dinner with him, telling him, "Dad, I just got cast in this part, and they're paying me blank amount of money", and it was enough to put in the bank and save. And he was very proud of me. [Director] Gil Junger, he was very fun to work with, and he encouraged me to be very silly. And Heath Ledger, that was one of his first movies over here, and he was such a sweet guy and very handsome. And genuinely kind. That's what I remember about him. It was before his career took off, but I just thought, "There's a guy who's going to do well", and I was impressed by the fact that he was so kind and nice. And he remembered my name. I thought that was sweet. Hide
[2011, on Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)] I think I get more people coming up to me saying how much they Show more
[2011, on Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)] I think I get more people coming up to me saying how much they love that movie than any other thing I've done. Even more than The West Wing (1999), I have to say. That movie is a cult classic, and that was a great part. I did a lot of improv in that part, and... It was a long time shooting up there for me. I hung out a lot at the Mall Of America to get that accent down, 'cause that was a hard accent to do right. And I think I got it pretty right. But Ellen Barkin was a dream to work with. Hysterical. Hide
I hate auditioning so much. I like people who go, "You know what? Allison can do this.".
I hate auditioning so much. I like people who go, "You know what? Allison can do this.".
[on staying sane and happy] Dogs tether you to the earth in some really good way. And exercise, of c Show more
[on staying sane and happy] Dogs tether you to the earth in some really good way. And exercise, of course. And martinis. And sexy high heels. That's it. Good work, a nice pair of heels, a martini, a dog and a man - not necessarily in that order. [Living Fit magazine] Hide
[2011, on The West Wing (1999)] The most impactful role I've ever played. Life-changing. A life-chan Show more
[2011, on The West Wing (1999)] The most impactful role I've ever played. Life-changing. A life-changing role, in terms of my notoriety, if you want to call it that, opening doors to meeting the kinds of people I never would've met in a million years. Going to Washington and being invited to the White House, going to the Foreign Correspondents' Dinner. It just opened a million doors and broadened my life so much, and brought so much to me. I was so proud of being a part of a groundbreaking show like that. It was life-changing, and I'll be forever grateful for it. Hide
[2011, on making Mr. Sunshine (2011)] Oh my God. I mean, it was just a candy store for me. I had so Show more
[2011, on making Mr. Sunshine (2011)] Oh my God. I mean, it was just a candy store for me. I had so much fun playing her, and I wish I could've gone on playing her, because she was really fun. I love to play those absurd women. And I got to sing with James Taylor! If nothing else, I got to do that. And Matthew Perry is pretty great to work with, too. I had a great time. I'm sorry and sad it didn't go, but, geez, I'm glad I got to do that. Hide
[2011, on Big Night (1996)] Oh, well, Stanley Tucci, love of my life. I did a play with him and got Show more
[2011, on Big Night (1996)] Oh, well, Stanley Tucci, love of my life. I did a play with him and got to know him, and he was talking about this movie he was doing, that he was getting together. And I just loved him so much that I wanted to be around him, so I said, "Stanley, let me be part of this movie. I will be craft services. I will be your script girl. Just let me be part of this in some way". And he called me up in my New York City apartment one day and said, "Allison, I want you to play the part of "Ann", the flower lady in Big Night". He just called and offered that to me. And that was one of the happiest movie sets I've ever been on. The most fun. Such difficult hours, but I was hanging out with Marc Anthony! He had a wordless part in that movie, and he and I became friends. We were so silly, hanging out together. And I loved Campbell Scott. I was just so happy to be there that I could've worked 24-hour days and not complained a bit. I was having such a great time. Really one of my favorite movies I got to do. Hide
Allison Janney's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (367)
Allison Janney'S roles
