About
"Everyone kept telling me, 'It's probably not going to get picked up because no one's going to want to watch a show about politics. It's just probably too smart.'"
In her nearly two-hour interview, Allison Janney talks about her early interests in figure skating and theater acting. She describes auditioning for a play directed by Paul Newman while at Kenyon College, and her later mentoring by Joanne Woodward, which led her to her training at the Neighborhood Playhouse. She comments on some of her first television roles and describes her experiences working in television movies and feature films, including David and Lisa, Primary Colors, and American Beauty. She then details the her role on The West Wing, as press secretary "C. J. Cregg," which earned her four Emmy awards. Janney talks of her audition, describes her character, and gives her impressions of her fellow actors in the ensemble. She discusses working with series creator Aaron Sorkin, her enthusiasm for the show's signature "walk and talks," and recounts some memorable "C. J." storylines. Jennifer Howard conducted the interview on October 6, 2006 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Allison Janney on her West Wing character, "C.J. Cregg"
Allison Janney on the "walk and talks" on The West Wing
Allison Janney on her Emmy wins for The West Wing
Allison Janney on her role in Alan Ball's film "American Beauty"
Allison Janney on how 9/11 was dealt with on The West Wing and where she was on 9/11
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences; on wanting to be a figure skater; on her interest in acting
On her first professional acting job and her early TV roles on Guiding Light, Law & Order, and several television movies
Chapter 2
On her film roles in "Big Night" and "Celebrity"
On auditioning for The West Wing and playing "C.J. Cregg"
On working with The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme
Chapter 3
On her co-stars on The West Wing
On how Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme's departures changed The West Wing; on the "walk and talks"
On specific episodes of the show: "The Women of Qumar", "Posse Comitatus" (and episodes where "C.J." has a stalker), and "The Long Goodbye"
On her character "C.J. Cregg's" priorities on The West Wing; on favorite episodes, how the show handled 9/11, and the final season
Chapter 4
On the last season of The West Wing; on worries about being typecast and her Emmy wins for The West Wing
On advice about acting, the highlight of her career, and what's next for her
Shows
Blind Spot
Allison Janney on appearing in the TV movie Blind Spot
Cosby Show, The
Allison Janney on meeting Bill Cosby and her appearance on The Cosby Show
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Allison Janney on her Emmy wins for The West Wing
Guiding Light
Allison Janney on playing "Ginger" on Guiding Light
Law & Order
Allison Janney on her appearances on Law & Order
Mary Tyler Moore Show, The
Allison Janney on loving The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Mary Tyler Moore
Morton & Hayes
Allison Janney on auditioning for and appearing on Morton & Hayes
West Wing, The
Allison Janney on auditioning for The West Wing
Allison Janney on her early days on The West Wing and the show taking off
Allison Janney on her knowledge of politics when cast on The West Wing
Allison Janney on getting invested in her West Wing character, "C.J. Cregg"
Allison Janney on her West Wing character, "C.J. Cregg", and what she brought to the role
Allison Janney on her West Wing character, "C.J. Cregg's" backstory and strengths
Allison Janney on working with The West Wing creator, Aaron Sorkin
Allison Janney on working with The West Wing director, Thomas Schlamme
Allison Janney on her co-stars on The West Wing
Allison Janney on how Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme's departures changed The West Wing
Allison Janney on the "walk and talks" on The West Wing
Allison Janney on specific episodes of The West Wing: "The Women of Qumar"
Allison Janney on specific episodes of The West Wing: "Posse Comitatus" (and episodes where "C.J." has a stalker)
Allison Janney on specific episodes of The West Wing: "The Long Goodbye"
Allison Janney on her character "C.J. Cregg's" priorities on The West Wing
Allison Janney on her favorite episodes and scenes on The West Wing
Allison Janney on how 9/11 was dealt with on The West Wing and where she was on 9/11
Allison Janney on the last season of The West Wing
Allison Janney on the last season of The West Wing
Allison Janney on the critical success of The West Wing
Allison Janney on her Emmy wins for The West Wing
Topics
9/11
Allison Janney on how 9/11 was dealt with on The West Wing and where she was on 9/11
Characters & Catchphrases
Allison Janney on her West Wing character, "C.J. Cregg, and what she brought to the role
Emmy Awards
Allison Janney on her Emmy wins for The West Wing
Historic Events and Social Change
Allison Janney on how 9/11 was dealt with on The West Wing and where she was on 9/11
Pop Culture
Allison Janney on her West Wing character, "C.J. Cregg, and what she brought to the role
Representation on Television
Allison Janney on her West Wing character, "C.J. Cregg"
Women
Allison Janney on her West Wing character, "C.J. Cregg"
Professions
Actress
Allison Janney on becoming interested in acting and doing a play directed by Paul Newman
Allison Janney on memorization's place in acting
Allison Janney on worries about being typecast
Allison Janney on her acting style
Allison Janney on the most important advice she ever received about acting
Allison Janney on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Allison Janney on becoming interested in acting and doing a play directed by Paul Newman
Allison Janney on memorization's place in acting
Allison Janney on worries about being typecast
Allison Janney on her acting style
Allison Janney on the most important advice she ever received about acting
Allison Janney on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Allison Janney on playing "Ginger" on Guiding Light
Drama Series
Allison Janney on auditioning for The West Wing and playing "C.J. Cregg"
Allison Janney on working with The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme
Allison Janney on her co-stars and memorable episodes of The West Wing
Allison Janney on the final season of The West Wing and her Emmy wins for the show
People
Woody Allen
Allison Janney on her role in Woody Allen's film "Celebrity" and asking Donald Trump for advice
Alan Ball
Allison Janney on her role in Alan Ball's film "American Beauty"
Eileen Brennan
Allison Janney on her mother's career as an actress and her mom's friendship with Eileen Brennan
Timothy Busfield
Allison Janney on her co-stars on The West Wing - Timothy Busfield
Bill Cosby
Allison Janney on meeting Bill Cosby and her appearance on The Cosby Show
Christopher Guest
Allison Janney on auditioning for and appearing on Morton & Hayes
Mark Harmon
Allison Janney on specific episodes of The West Wing: "Posse Comitatus" and episodes where "C.J." has a stalker
Dule Hill
Allison Janney on her co-stars on The West Wing - Dule Hill
Rob Lowe
Allison Janney on her co-stars on The West Wing - Rob Lowe (and how his departure affected the show)
Michael McKean
Allison Janney on auditioning for and appearing on Morton & Hayes
Michael Moriarty
Allison Janney on her appearances on Law & Order
Paul Newman
Allison Janney on becoming interested in acting and doing a play directed by Paul Newman
Allison Janney on getting to know Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward
Mike Nichols
Allison Janney on impressing Mike Nichols and getting cast in several of his films
Sidney Poitier
Allison Janney on working with Sidney Poitier in the TV movie David and Lisa
Rob Reiner
Allison Janney on auditioning for and appearing on Morton & Hayes
Richard Schiff
Allison Janney on her co-stars on The West Wing - Richard Schiff
Thomas Schlamme
Allison Janney on working with The West Wing director, Thomas Schlamme
Allison Janney on how Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme's departures changed The West Wing
Allison Janney on her Emmy wins in the supporting and lead actress categories for The West Wing
Martin Sheen
Allison Janney on her co-stars on The West Wing - Martin Sheen
Aaron Sorkin
Allison Janney on auditioning for The West Wing
Allison Janney on working with The West Wing creator, Aaron Sorkin
Allison Janney on how Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme's departures changed The West Wing
Allison Janney on how 9/11 was dealt with on The West Wing and where she was on 9/11
John Spencer
Allison Janney on her co-stars on The West Wing - John Spencer (and how his death affected the show)
Meryl Streep
Allison Janney on appearing in the TV movie First Do No Harm with Meryl Streep
Donald J. Trump
Allison Janney on her role in Woody Allen's film "Celebrity" and asking Donald Trump for advice
Stanley Tucci
Allison Janney on impressing Mike Nichols and getting cast in several of his films, and working with Stanley Tucci
John Wells
Allison Janney on John Wells taking over when Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme left The West Wing
Bradley Whitford
Allison Janney on her co-stars on The West Wing - Bradley Whitford
Joanne Woodward
Allison Janney on getting to know Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward