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b'Allison Janney, a seven-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, had dreams of becoming an Olympic figure skater. That dream ended when, at age 17, she ran through a sliding glass window. The injury was serious, and, suddenly Allison\'s future goals shifted. She found herself at Kenyon College and she became a theater major. While at Kenyon Allison was discovered by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward who had come to the college to direct a play at their alma mater. They encouraged Janney to go to NYC and pursue a career in acting professionally. What happened after that is the subject of this funny and intimate conversation with host Ilana Levine, a dear friend of Allison\'s. The two met and became fast friends when Ilana was starring in the HBO series "Tanner 88" with a mutual friend. Allison walks us through her audition for "The West Wing" and opens up about why the recent loss of her brother makes starring on the CBS hit show "Mom" all the more important for her during this emotional time.\\nThe incredibly versatile Allison Janney has taken her place among a select group of actors who combine a leading lady\\u2019s profile with a character actor\\u2019s art of performance. Currently starring alongside Anna Faris in the CBS/Chuck Lorre sitcom, \\u201cMom,\\u201d Janney also received rave reviews for her turn as \\u2018Margaret Scully\\u2019 on Showtime\\u2019s groundbreaking drama \\u201cMasters of Sex.\\u201d Janney won Emmys for both roles in the same year; a rare feat in Emmy history. She won a second Emmy for \\u201cMom\\u201d the following year, bringing her total number of ATAS statues to seven. She was also recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition, Janney has continually taken on movie roles during her hiatus weeks from the sitcom. She\\u2019s completed filming \\u201cI, Tonya\\u201d with Margot Robbie for Miramax Films. Janney also appeared in two of the previous summer\\u2019s biggest box office titles: the adorably animated \\u201cMinions\\u201d and \\u201cSpy\\u201d with Melissa McCarthy. Prior feature work includes \\u201cThe Duff,\\u201d Jason Bateman\\u2019s directorial debut \\u201cBad Words,\\u201d the Dreamworks\\u2019 animated film \\u201cMr. Peabody & Sherman,\\u201d and \\u201cThe Way, Way Back\\u201d with Steve Carell and Toni Collette. Additionally she co-starred in the much anticipated feature film "The Help" based on the best-selling novel of the same name, winning the Ensemble awards from the Screen Actors Guild, National Board of Review and the Broadcast Film Critics. For her role in Todd Solondz\'s film "Life During Wartime" she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress by the Spirit Awards. She received another Spirit Award nomination for her work in the independent feature \\u201cOur Very Own,\\u201d and starred opposite Meryl Streep in \\u201cThe Hours,\\u201d which received a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture. Other feature credits include the Academy Award winning film \\u201cAmerican Beauty\\u201d (for which she won a SAG Award for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture) as well as \\u201cNurse Betty,\\u201d \\u201cHow to Deal,\\u201d \\u201cDrop Dead Gorgeous,\\u201d \\u201c10 Things I Hate About You,\\u201d \\u201cPrimary Colors,\\u201d \\u201cThe Ice Storm,\\u201d \\u201cSix Days Seven Nights,\\u201d \\u201cThe Object of My Affection,\\u201d and \\u201cBig Night.\\u201d On TV, she is renowned for her starring role in the acclaimed NBC series "The West Wing," where she won a remarkable four Emmy Awards and four SAG Awards for her portrayal of White House Press Secretary \\u2018CJ Cregg.\\u2019 She made her Broadway debut in Noel Coward\\u2019s \\u201cPresent Laughter\\u201d for which she earned the Outer Critics Circle Award and Clarence Derwent Award. She also appeared in Arthur Miller\\u2019s "A View from the Bridge," receiving her first Tony Award nomination and winning the Outer Critics Circle Award as well as the musical "9 to 5," Janney made her return to Broadway earlier this year in the revival of John Guare\\u2019s \\u201cSix Degrees of Separation."\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices'