Allison Janney says Carol Burnett is her biggest Hollywood icon
Allison Janney told PEOPLE that comedy legend Carol Burnett is her biggest icon and one of the main reasons she became an actress. The West Wing alum shared the tribute at the June 28 Hollywood premiere of Minions & Monsters, reaffirming a decades-long admiration that recently became a Palm Royale co-starring dream.
Key Takeaways
- Allison Janney named Carol Burnett as her biggest Hollywood icon at the Minions & Monsters premiere on June 28.
- Janney said Burnett inspired her to act, alongside her mother, Mary Tyler Moore, Eileen Brennan, and Meryl Streep.
- The pair co-starred in Apple TV+'s Palm Royale, which premiered in 2024 and fulfilled a career-long goal for Janney.
- Janney previously told PEOPLE that working with Burnett finally impressed her father and legitimized her career in his eyes.
- Janney joined Minions & Monsters partly for its heartfelt story and Hollywood references.
At the red carpet for Minions & Monsters in Hollywood, Allison Janney opened up to PEOPLE about the performers who shaped her path. The 66-year-old actress did not hesitate when asked who towered above the rest.
Why does Allison Janney call Carol Burnett her biggest icon?
"The first person who inspired me was my mom, who is an actress, and then Carol Burnett," Janney said. "She is my biggest icon. I just think she is extraordinary."
Janney has credited Burnett for years. She previously told PEOPLE in March 2024: "Carol Burnett literally was the reason I wanted to be an actress." That praise reflects a lifelong admiration rather than a one-night red-carpet compliment.
How did Allison Janney finally work with Carol Burnett?
Janney's dream collaboration arrived through Apple TV+'s Palm Royale, which premiered in 2024. She starred alongside Burnett, 93, in the series after years of admiration for the comedy legend.
Janney told PEOPLE the experience thrilled her on multiple levels. "My father now believes my career is legitimized because I'm working with her," she said in March 2024. "It's the first time he was like, 'Wait, what?'" Despite decades of film and television work, it was Burnett who finally made her father take notice.
Who else inspired Allison Janney's acting career?
Janney's list of role models extends well beyond Burnett. At the premiere, she also cited Mary Tyler Moore, Eileen Brennan, and Meryl Streep, noting there were "so many women" who influenced her.
She has shared the screen with some of them. Janney appeared alongside Streep, 77, in the 2002 psychological drama The Hours. Her mother, also an actress, offered an early front-row seat to creative life long before Janney landed in Hollywood.
Why is Minions & Monsters special to Allison Janney?
Janney's latest project brought her back to a premiere spotlight on June 28. She stars in Minions & Monsters and told PEOPLE she was eager to join because of the film's heartfelt story and its nods to Hollywood history.
"You say, 'Yes, please,' and I was thrilled to get to be part of this particular movie because of all the Hollywood references," she said. "It's just a delight. It's such a beautiful film." For more on stars sharing career-defining moments, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.