Quotes from Allison Janney

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.

It is a very difficult job, being the servant of two masters.

I want to feel sexy and pretty and young as long as I can.

I can sit down at the piano and make you think I know how to play the piano because I know, like, the beginnings of four songs.

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 guess my height has hurt me as much as it's helped me. In comedy people don't mind casting tall women next to shorter men. It adds to the humour.

I grew up with brothers. I love men. Of course it's hard to be a woman in a man's world.

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.'

The only guilty pleasure I have is pasta.

Great drama is all about conflict, and what's a better conflict than Republican-Democrat?

I'd like to make really important movies, like American Beauty. I was really proud to be a part of that movie.

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.

I love arts and crafts.

'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.

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 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!

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.

As a teenager, I played men in my first two plays.

Everyone couldn't be happier and more terrified.

I'm afraid of flying.

I love the wilder, more outlandish characters that are hard to make believable. Those are the ones I want to play.

Most Republicans call the show 'The Left Wing.'

I've never been with a group of people for that long. I mean, even my family I don't think I know as intimately as the people I worked with on 'West Wing.'

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.