The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress was awarded to Allison Janney in 2018 for her portrayal of LaVona Golden in I, Tonya. Born in Boston in 1959, Janney established a career across stage, film, and television, characterized by a versatility that transitioned from minor character parts to complex leading roles in major American productions.
Formative Years and Training
Raised in Dayton, Ohio, Janney attended the Miami Valley School and the Hotchkiss School. She initially pursued figure skating before a teenager accident and her height directed her toward performance. At Kenyon College, she met Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, who encouraged her artistic development. She later trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and received a scholarship for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
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Janney debuted professionally in the 1989 Off-Broadway production Ladies. Her Broadway career began with the 1996 revival of Present Laughter, earning her a Theatre World Award. She secured further critical recognition for her role in the 1997 Broadway revival of A View from the Bridge, which resulted in a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play.
Television Breakthroughs
After years of minor television and film roles, including appearances in Law & Order and various films like Primary Colors and American Beauty, Janney gained significant recognition as C. J. Cregg on The West Wing. This performance earned her four Primetime Emmy Awards. Later, she won an Emmy for a guest role on Masters of Sex and two Emmys for her portrayal of Bonnie Plunkett on the sitcom Mom.
Filmography and Accolades
Throughout her career, Janney has appeared in numerous films, including The Hours, Juno, Hairspray, The Help, Spy, Bad Education, and Bombshell. Her collective work has garnered a range of industry honors, including the National Board of Review Award for Best Cast in 2011 and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2002.
Fast facts
- Born: 1959, Boston
- Citizenship: United States
- Broadway Debut: Present Laughter (1996)
- Academy Award: Best Supporting Actress (2018)
- Primary Education: Kenyon College
- Notable Television Role: C. J. Cregg, The West Wing
- Languages: English
Questions readers ask
What is Allison Janney's most awarded television role?
Her most awarded role is C. J. Cregg on The West Wing, for which she received four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Which film earned Janney an Academy Award?
She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of LaVona Golden in the 2017 film I, Tonya.
Achievements
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture — 2012
- Worked as actor, voice actor and stage actor
