Allison Janney
I never know how I'll feel on any given day, but I've got to look around me and take what I got and find some inspiration, some anger.Collection: Anger
People are usually so disappointed with book-to-movie translations.
The fact that 'Mom' is not joke, joke, joke - and is investing in these characters and their lives, things that really happen to people - I think it's resonating, and that's why people are tuning into it and not just dismissing it as a multi-cam sitcom.
Before I even wanted to be an actor, I wanted to be a figure skater.
Being a figure skater myself and knowing what it took for my parents to get up at five in the morning to drive me to the rink before school and then drive me to practice after school - it's a huge commitment for any family.
It's a beautiful feeling to be out on the ice, breathing in the cold air and hearing the blades hit the ice. It's kind of romantic.
I say I'm 5 feet 12 inches. I'm definitely 6 feet. In my heels, I'm 6 feet 3 inches.
At times, maybe I'm too competitive for my own good.
My dream is to have a creativity barn, in my back yard, which is full of musical instruments and every kind of paint and oils and paper, and you can just go in and make something.
The first job where I actually made money was on 'Guiding Light,' the soap opera. And I played a maid. My name was Ginger, and I had a Brooklyn accent - a really bad one, if I remember correctly.
The real trick to auditioning is just letting go of trying to please them. Make it your own. That took me a long time to learn.
I'm afraid of flying.
I'm a big girl, but I have a delicate constitution emotionally. If I've been humiliated in some audition, I just cry all the way home and think, 'Oh my God, I suck.'
An agent said he didn't know what to do with me, I wouldn't be able to play any parts but lesbians and aliens.
One out of forty American men wears women's clothing. We've had more than forty presidents. One of these guys has been dancing around the Oval Office in a prom dress.
I can access emotions very easily.
I can tell when men are threatened by my height.
Everyone couldn't be happier and more terrified.
Most Republicans call the show 'The Left Wing.'
I like people trying to do two things at once.
It is a very difficult job, being the servant of two masters.
I'd like to make really important movies, like American Beauty. I was really proud to be a part of that movie.
It's a great way to start the day, hearing you've been nominated for an Emmy. It's just thrilling.
Great drama is all about conflict, and what's a better conflict than Republican-Democrat?
I have the power of my height. Growing up, it was a total drawback. There was nothing good about it at all.
I grew up with brothers. I love men. Of course it's hard to be a woman in a man's world.
I am lucky enough to have Aaron Sorkin write what I have to say.
If I could stomach the awful part of being a veterinarian, which involves sticking your hand up animals' behinds, I would be a vet.
Someone said I wasn't attractive enough. People say those things, but they make you stronger. Then you can win an Emmy and think, ha, ha, ha.
Growing up, everybody told me I was good. I was playing ping-pong with my father, and he'd say, 'That's a good shot,' but I'd mess up the next one, and I'd yell, 'Don't tell me that! I'll mess up! Just don't say anything!' You know, if someone says, 'You can't do that,' then I'm going to be, 'Yeah, you watch me.'
I know there are a lot of tall, beautiful actresses like Uma Thurman and Nicole Kidman who are my height, but they're still half the size of me!
I did Alan Ball's 'Five Women Wearing the Same Dress,' and then he put me in 'American Beauty.' Everything started to happen from all the years I put into the theater in New York City, and working, and having great parents who supported me through that.
I never think of a project as just being comedy or just being drama - even with 'Masters of Sex.' I like being sort of messy, like life is.
I've always been a figure skater and ballet dancer. I love physical comedy, and any chance that I get to do that... that is so me.
I'm actually a pretty shy person in real life with new people.
The loss of my brother was a huge moment, a life-changer for me.
Politics scared the crap out of me because I didn't grow up in a family where we talked about anything, really, except, 'Pass the peas, and do this.'... We didn't really have political discussions at the dinner table. I didn't learn how to watch or listen to politics.
I felt like my career started late, and I think it was because of my height - and maybe some of my confidence issues.
I was playing 40-year-old women when I was 20. I didn't get considered for ingenue roles.
I love the wilder, more outlandish characters that are hard to make believable. Those are the ones I want to play.
I go on a hunt for things that make sense to me and that I can actively play as an actress.
I'm so hard on myself and a really harsh critic of my work.
In my career, I am so so happy and grateful for everything I've gotten to do. And yet, I wish I had started off earlier so I could, I don't know... I certainly have not not gotten work because of my age, but I'm just gonna pray and hope that the roles will still keep coming as I get older.
I feel better when I'm working. I tend to not know who I am when I'm not working. That worries me a little bit... I've been fortunate to be so busy, but I haven't developed any other skills.
'Talullah' is a movie I'm really proud of. Sian Heder is the director/writer, and I think she's extraordinarily talented. I think it was a beautiful story.
The only guilty pleasure I have is pasta.
I know what it feels like to love and care about things, but I've never had that instinct to have kids.
I'm one of those actors who fall into the camp of never wanting to look at themselves on camera ever, thank you very much. I do not and will not, because I am my worst critic.
As a teenager, I played men in my first two plays.
My height does help me. I can hide a multitude of sins in my height.