Allison Janney

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

NPR

Society & Culture

4.7 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 23 June 2026

⏱️ 23 minutes

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Summary

Allison Janney has played many memorable roles, including CJ Cregg on The West Wing, Bonnie on the CBS sitcom Mom , and as Tonya Harding’s mother in I, Tonya. These days, you can catch her in the new movie Miss You, Love You, as well as the Netflix drama The Diplomat. When Allison Janney joined us back in 2014, she was starring on two TV shows – Showtime’s Masters of Sex and CBS’s Mom. She talked with us about her time on those shows, her early days of acting, and much more.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Bullseye with Jesse Thorn is a production of Maximum Fun.org and is distributed by NPR.
0:27.2	It's Bolzai. I'm Jesse Thorne. Quick heads up. There is a little swearing and talk about sex in this next interview.
0:35.2	Alison Janie says that in her 20s, she was always getting cast as a 40-year-old. It makes sense because she's just kind of elegant.
0:40.0	In fact, she was about 40 when she got the role that would make her career as the press secretary, C.J. Craig, on the West Wing.
0:44.6	What that all happened?
0:46.4	I had root canal.
0:48.0	What happened to your cheeks?
0:50.0	I had root canal.
0:52.3	Why are you talking like that?
0:53.8	I had root canal. Yeah, I heard you the first time I was just amusing myself. I can suggest some other things you can do with yourself. Are you in pale? I had root canal! You're gonna need to stop saying that because you just look and sound so ridiculous. I have to cancel the briefing. You can't cancel the briefing. Look at me.
1:11.6	You'd be great. I can't do the briefing. Why not? I can't even say the briefing. You can't cancel the briefing, CJ. You've got to wrap up O'Leary. You've got to move him back to the bill sign. Yes, you all. I'm sorry, did you just say my name? Janney won four Emmys for that part, which let her stretch her gifts.
1:28.9	She was by turns sharp and warm, maternal, and sexy.
1:32.5	When we talked in 2014, she was starring on two TV shows, Showtime's Masters of Sex and CBS's Mom.
1:41.4	In 2018, Janie earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her part in I-Tanya,
1:47.4	the Tanya Harding biopic. She played LaVanya Faye Golden. Golden was the mother of Tanya
1:54.5	Harding, who was played by Margot Robbie. Did you... I mean, when I was a kid, did you ever love me or anything?
2:06.6	You think Sonia Henney's mother loved her?
2:10.6	Poor... you.
2:13.6	I didn't stay home making apple-brown bettys.
2:16.6	No, I made you a champion.
2:18.3	Knowing you'd hate me for it, that's the sacrifice that mother makes.
2:23.3	I wish I'd had a mother like me instead of nice. Nice get you shi-hs-h-hick-cha.
	...

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