Allison Janney

Description

Allison Brooks Janney (born November 19, 1959) is an Emmy-winning American actress, perhaps best known for her portrayal of C. J. Cregg on the American television series The West Wing and of Prudy Pingleton on the 2007 film adaption of the musical Hairspray.<p>Janney was born in Dayton, Ohio to Macy (née Putnam), a former actress and homemaker, and Jervis Spencer Janney, Jr., a real estate developer and jazz musician. She has two older brothers, Jay and Hal. She attended The Miami Valley School in Dayton, where she was named a distinguished alum in 2004 and the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. She then attended Kenyon College. She went on to study drama at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. She attended The Neighborhood Playhouse the same years as actor Dylan McDermott.<p>Janney's first roles on television were as comedic foils on soap operas: she first played Vi Kaminski for a short time on As the World Turns, following up with a two...