Allison Janney Wins Emmy for Supporting Actress in Drama, Tying Record for Most Wins by a Performer

“The Diplomat” star Allison Janney has won the Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series — her eighth career win as a performer, putting her in rarified air. She now ties the all-time record for the most Emmys won by a performer (eight wins overall).

“This is not what I planned for this category at all,” Janney said onstage. “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 her trophy on a historic night, as “Hacks” star Jean Smart joined her in tying the record. The two of them join Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who both have eight Emmys as a performer. Janney previously won four Emmys for “The West Wing” (outstanding supporting drama actress in 2000 and 2001, then lead drama actress in 2002 and 2004), two for “Mom” (supporting comedy actress in 2014 and 2015), and one as a guest drama actress on “Masters of Sex” (2014). She has 16 Emmy nominations all together.

Janney beat out a field including 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”).

Besides drama series and drama lead actress, “The Diplomat” was also nominated this year for drama series, drama lead actor (Rufus Sewell, as Hal Wyler), drama lead actress (Keri Russell, as Kate Wyler), drama writing, drama casting and drama guest actor (Bradley Whitford, as First Gentleman Todd Penn).

For “The Diplomat,” Janney has also received nominations at the SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards, the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards.

The 78th Emmys are taking place at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles, airing on NBC and Peacock. “Law & Order SVU” star Mariska Hargitay is host, while Jesse Collins Entertainment is producing the ceremony. This year’s Emmy nominations were led by HBO Max’s “The Pitt,” with 25, followed by “Hacks” with 24 (the most ever for a comedy). After the first two Emmy ceremonies (now known as “Night 1″ and “Night 2,” Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” was in the lead with the most wins so far this year with eight, while Apple TV headed into the final Emmy ceremony with 19 wins, the most of any outlet so far.