Allison Janney: Hollywood Actress Biography

Allison Janney

Though Allison Janney has completed her time playing the role of Chief of Staff C. J. Cregg on The West Wing, she clearly has a bright future in front of her. She has had a prosperous career so far, and looks to continue extending her resumé, despite her initial slow start in the business.

Born on November 19, 1959, to a family of musicians, Janney had childhood dreams of becoming an Olympic ice skater. She was forced to give up these dreams when she catastrophically ran into a closed glass door and was left severely injured. Janney attended two separate college preparatory schools before enrolling at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio where she was discovered by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Newman, Kenyon’s most famous alumnus, was directing a play on-campus when Janney showed up for her audition and set Newman at ease discussing one of his passions, driving.

It was Joanne Woodward who suggested Janney join New York’s Neighborhood Playhouse, in addition to studying abroad at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London . Visiting casting agents, the six-foot tall Janney was told the only roles she would be able to play would be those of lesbians and aliens. While looking for work, she would tell people that she was employed as a National Geographic photographer.

After a few minor roles in film and television, Janney landed a couple of comedic supporting roles on daytime soap operas. Her first was a short stint on As the World Turns, and later she spent two years on Guiding Light, playing the role of Ginger. At this time she was also doing small guest roles on Law and Order with Jerry Orbach and Michael Moriarty, and New York Undercover with Patti D’Arbanville. Janney also kept up with her theatre training, earning a Tony nomination for her role in A View from the Bridge.

Success began coming Janney’s way as she landed a supporting role playing a doctor in the TV movie First Do No Harm with Meryl Streep and Fred Ward. She followed this with more supporting roles in Private Parts, Howard Stern’s autobiography, and Primary Colors, alongside big names in the entertainment world such as John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Kathy Bates.

Janney was well on her way at this point, with supporting roles in Impostors with Oliver Platt and Stanley Tucci, and as Ms. Perky in 10 Things I Hate About You with Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. Her biggest movie success during this time was in the movies American Beauty with Annette Benning and Kevin Spacey, and Nurse Betty, as she had yet another supporting role, starring with Morgan Freeman, Renée Zellweger, Chris Rock, and Greg Kinnear. Adding to her impressive list of credits, Janney has laid voice tracks for two separate animated movies, Finding Nemo with Ellen DeGeneres (a longtime friend), and Over the Hedge with Bruce Willis and Garry Shandling.

A starring role on the television series West Wing was offered to Janney around this time. Working with Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Stockard Channing, and John Spencer, Janney landed the role of C. J. Clegg, the press secretary who worked her way up to chief of staff. She was impressive enough in this role to earn four Emmys throughout the show’s duration. When Alan Alda joined the West Wing cast, Janney was able to work with him a second time. She played his wife in the 1998 movie Object of My Affection, and she also attended college with his daughter Elizabeth Alda.

This is still only the beginning for Janney. She was named by Entertainment Weekly as “one to watch,” and it’s clear after her impressive list of credits that that first casting director was very wrong about her; Janney’s height has not limited her in any way.

YUDDY