Who Do You Think You Are? USA: Allison Janney
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm, Wednesday, February 4 on BBC Two HD (102)
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About this Broadcast
Allison Janney
Season 12, Episode 3
Award-winning stage, film and TV actress Allison Janney traces her family tree and uncovers a story that ties her to some of America's first British settlers. She learns that the family's journey to North America almost ended in tragedy
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audio-description
Education/Science/Factual Topics
Family And Friends
History
Cast & Crew
Allison Janney
(Contributor)
Stephanie Schwam
(Executive producer)
Louisiana Kreutz
(Producer)
Justin D. Robertson
(Editor)
More Information
Did You Know..
Allison Janney
(Contributor)
Born:
November 19, 1959
in
Dayton, Ohio
Best Known For:
Playing CJ in The West Wing.
Early-life:
Allison Brooks Janney was born in Dayton, Ohio, on November 19, 1959 to a jazz musician and an actress. Her two brothers are also musicians. A keen skater in her youth, she switched to acting after suffering a debilitating injury. Her mother, who had trained at New York's Academy of Dramatic Arts alongside Golden Girl Rue McClanahan, inspired her to take up the profession. Allison studied at Kenyon College, where she was discovered by former pupil Paul Newman when he returned to direct a play there.
Career:
On Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward's advice, Janney enrolled at New York's Neighbourhood Playhouse, but she struggled to land decent roles. She made her big-screen debut in 1989's Who Shot Patakango? and also enjoyed a two-year stint in TV soap opera The Guiding Light. Small parts followed in Wolf (1994), The Ice Storm (1997), Primary Colors (1998) and American Beauty (1999). She won four Emmy awards for her role as CJ in The West Wing. She's since appeared in Hairspray (2007), Juno (2007), The Help (2011) and The Way Way Back (2013). Her recent TV credits include Mom and Masters of Sex.
Quote:
"Years ago, one casting agent told me that the only roles I could play were lesbians and aliens."
Trivia:
Janney voiced the character Peach in Finding Nemo (2003).
Stephanie Schwam
(Executive producer)
Louisiana Kreutz
(Producer)
Justin D. Robertson
(Editor)
