Editing Allison Janney (section)

=== 1999–2006: ''The West Wing'' and acclaim ===

After a decade of small and uncredited parts, Janney had her breakthrough when she was cast as [[White House Press Secretary]] [[C. J. Cregg]] in the [[NBC]] political drama ''[[The West Wing]]''. Creator [[Aaron Sorkin]] called Janney to audition for the role after seeing her in the film ''[[Primary Colors (film)|Primary Colors]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thegentlewoman.co.uk/library/allison-janney|title=Allison Janney: Her time is now – the unerring ascent of Hollywood's towering talent.|newspaper=The Gentlewoman|date=January 18, 2018|last1=Friedman|first1=Ann}}</ref> Loosely based on [[Dee Dee Myers]], the press secretary during [[Clinton administration]], C. J. is a [[National Merit Scholarship Program|National Merit Scholar]] who ultimately succeeds [[Leo McGarry]] as [[White House Chief of Staff]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-01-26 |title=How about that? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/jan/26/television |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Writing for ''[[The Atlantic]]'', John Reid says that "her capability and combination of strength and simple compassion represented the fantasy of the Bartlet White House better than anyone." The publication also ranks her as the best character from the series.<ref name="The Atlantic">{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/09/a-definitive-ranking-of-every-character-on-the-west-wing/380098/|title=A Definitive Ranking of Every Character on The West Wing|work=[[theatlantic.com]]|last=Reid|first=John|date=September 12, 2014|access-date=July 6, 2016}}</ref> In their ranking of the best characters from all the television series created by Sorkin, ''[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]'', ranks C. J. at No. 2 and says; "If all the Sorkin women were as classy, self-assured, and legitimately funny (the turkey pardon!) as C. J., we'd never have had the Sorkin woman argument in the first place".<ref name="Vulture">{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/06/vulture-ranks-the-sorkin-television-characters.html|title=From Sports Night to Studio 60: Vulture Ranks Aaron Sorkin's TV Characters|work=[[vulture.com]]|last=Lyons|first=Margaret|date=June 22, 2012|access-date=July 6, 2016}}</ref> For her portrayal of C. J. Cregg, Janney won four [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], four [[Screen Actors Guild Award]], a [[Satellite Award]] and four nominations for the [[Golden Globe Awards]], making her the most awarded cast member of the series.<ref name="Elle">{{cite web|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/interviews/amp13967/allison-janney-profile/|title=Allison Janney Just Keeps Getting Better|work=[[elle.com]]|last=Bullock|first=Maggie|date=January 14, 2014|access-date=July 6, 2016}}</ref> For the last of these she won the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Screen Actors Guild Award]] and [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble]].{{cn|date=November 2024}}

She also appeared in ''[[Nurse Betty]]'' (2000), ''[[The Hours (film)|The Hours]]'' (2002), ''[[Finding Nemo]]'' (2003), ''[[How to Deal]]'' (2003), ''[[The Chumscrubber]]'' (2005), ''[[Winter Solstice (film)|Winter Solstice]]'' (2004), and ''[[Our Very Own (2005 film)|Our Very Own]]'' (2005).<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 5, 2024 |title=The Diplomat star Allison Janney's love life explored |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/728165/the-diplomat-allison-janney-love-life/ |access-date=November 9, 2024 |website=HELLO! |language=en}}</ref> For the last of these, she received a nomination for the [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female]]. During this time Janney guest starred on the sitcom ''[[Frasier]]'' in the 2002 episode "Three Blind Dates".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frasier: Season 9, Episode 17 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/frasier/s09/e17 |access-date=November 9, 2024 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>