Allison Janney Wins a Record Eighth Emmy at Annual Awards

LOS ANGELES — Allison Janney has won the Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series for her eighth career victory as a performer. She is now tied for the all-time record for the most Emmys won by a performer with eight wins.

“This is not what I planned for this category at all,” Janney told the audience. “I’m very surprised and very, very grateful to be here. I thank all the members of the Television Academy. And of course I have to thank Debra Kahn who is our writer. So much fun. And Alex Gray, our director, who I adore, and Janice Williams, and the coolest woman on the planet, Keri Russell, who leads us all every day. And Rufus, the entire cast is divine. And I am so grateful and so lucky. And I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.”

Janney earned the award on a night, as “Hacks” star Jean Smart joined her in tying the record with her eighth win. The two actresses join Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who have won eight Emmys as a performer. Janney previously won four Emmys for “The West Wing.” She won for outstanding supporting drama actress in 2000 and 2001 and then for lead drama actress in 2002 and 2004, then earned two for “Mom” for supporting comedy actress in 2014 and 2015. She also earned one as a guest drama actress on “Masters of Sex” (2014). She has 16 Emmy nominations all together.

Janney’s victory came after going up against a stacked field. They included: Taylor Dearden (as Dr. Mel King, “The Pitt”), Fiona Dourif (as Dr. Cassie McKay, “The Pitt”), Katherine LaNasa (as Charge Nurse Dana Evans, “The Pitt”), Sepideh Moafi (as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi, “The Pitt”), Julianne Nicholson (as Sinatra, “Paradise”) and Karolina Wydra (as Zosia, “Pluribus”)

The 78th Emmys were held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles.