Janel Moloney (born October 3, 1969) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Donna Moss on the television series The West Wing, a role for which she received two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, in 2002 and 2004. From 2014 to 2017, she starred in the television series The Leftovers.
Career
Television Her early work included television guest roles on ER, Sports Night, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., and Murder, She Wrote. Starting in 1999, Moloney had a main role on The West Wing as Donna Moss, beginning as an assistant to Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) before pursuing further ambitions in the next election."'The West Wing' Overview" allrovi.com, accessed November 28, 2011 Moloney was originally credited only as a guest star, but she appeared in every episode of the first season. From the second season onward, Moloney was listed in the main credits. She has received two Emmy Award nominations, one in 2002 and one in 2004, for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama."Emmy Awards and Nominations". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Accessed November 28, 2011"2004 Emmy Nominated" Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Accessed November 28, 2011
Moloney appeared in the television film Bang Bang You're Dead with Thomas Cavanagh and Randy Harrison, which was first broadcast on October 13, 2002, on Showtime.Erickson, Hal."'Bang, Bang, You're Dead' Cast and Crew" allrovi.com, accessed November 28, 2011 She played the part of Amber Frey in the made-for-TV movie Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution, broadcast May 25, 2005 on CBS.Kelleher, Terry, Lipton, Mike, and Sanz, Cynthia."Review: 'Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution' " people.com, May 30, 2005 In 2007, Moloney played Dana Chase, who has a relationship with Tommy Caffee (Jason Clarke) in six episodes of the second season of Brotherhood.
In 2008, Moloney appeared in one episode ("It's a Wonderful Lie") of House M.D.Frette, Bruce."Cheers: From the White House to House'". TV Guide, January 30, 2008 In 2008, she guest-starred in an episode of 30 Rock. Moloney appeared in the 3rd installment of the Lstudio.com web series Puppy Love.
In 2009, she appeared in the American series Life on Mars as Professor Pat Olsen in the episode "Revenge of the Broken Jaw". She also appeared in the episode "Faithfully" of Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Allison Wyler.
Moloney had a recurring role in the first season of HBO drama The Leftovers, and was bumped up to a main role for the following two seasons (2014-2017).
Theatre In 2007, Moloney made her Off-Broadway stage debut as Theresa in the Playwrights Horizons production 100 Saints You Should Know, written by Kate Fodor and directed by Ethan McSweeny.Brantley, Ben."Theater Review: '100 Saints You Should Know'" The New York Times, September 19, 2007 She appeared in the Off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore in September through October 2, 2011.Broadway.com Staff."Janel Moloney, Adriane Lenox and Joyce Van Patten Join 'Love, Loss and What I Wore'" broadway.com, August 31, 2011
Film Moloney starred in the 2010 feature film Armless, as Anna.Nelson, Rob."'Armless' Film Review" Variety, January 24, 2010 She made a brief appearance as Earlene in the 1995 Walter Hill directed western Wild Bill, and appears in the 2013 film Concussion.
Personal life Moloney has two sons, Julian and Fernando, with composer Marcelo Zarvos, whom she married in 2010."Births and Hitched", Variety, May 3, 2010. Archived from the original She launched a newsletter on Substack in 2025.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 Dream Lover Alice Keller1995 Safe Hairdresser Wild Bill Earlene 1997 ''Til There Was You Beebee Moss, Age 251998 Desperate Measures Sarah Davis The Souler Opposite Thea Douglas 2002 Bang Bang You're Dead Ellie Milford 2005 Just Pray Cheryl Lawson Short 2010 Armless Anna 2013 Concussion Pru 2014 Stay Then Go Marion Baird 2016 Half the Perfect World Gina 2017 The Leisure Seeker Jane
Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 Roomies Punk Co-Ed Episode: "The One That Got Away"1991 To Save a Child Janelle Lowry TV movie ...And Then She Was Gone Mary TV movie 1992 Double Edge Jen TV movie1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Mary Sims Episode: "Pirates!" Bakersfield P.D. Sarah Episode: "Lucky 13"1995 ER Mrs. Nancy Larson Episode: "The Birthday Party" Murder, She Wrote Maria Corbin Episode: "Unwilling Witness" 1996 High Incident Bridesmaid McManus Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part" 1998 Sports Night Monica Brazelton Episode: "The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee" 1999–2006 The West Wing Donna Moss 149 episodesScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2001, 2002)Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2002, 2004)Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2003–2006) 2005 Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution Amber Frey TV movie 2007 Brotherhood Dana Chase 5 episodes2008 House Maggie Episode: "It's a Wonderful Lie" Puppy Love Allegra 30 Rock Jessica Speyer Episode: "Reunion"2009 Life on Mars Pat Olsen Episode: "Revenge of Broken Jaw" Law & Order: Criminal Intent Allison Wyler Episode: "Faithfully" Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas Marion Malloy TV movie 2012 Walk and Talk the Vote: West Wing Reunion - Bridget Mary McCormack Donna Moss Video short 2013 The Good Wife Kathy Eisenstadt Episode: "A Precious Commodity" 2014–2017 The Leftovers Mary Jamison Recurring (season 1), main role (season 2–3) 2014 Alpha House 4 episodes 2015 The Blacklist Kat Goodson 2 episodes 2017 American Crime Raelyn 5 episodes 2018 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Lorraine Franchella Episode: "Dare" 2018–2019 The Affair Ariel 2 episodes 2020 A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote Donna Moss TV special The Undoing Sally Morrison 2 episodes 2021 Bull ADA Sutherland Episode: "Fallen Idols" 2021 FBI Hannah Thompson Episode: "Fire and Rain" 2022 Law & Order: Organized Crime Deputy Inspector Lillian Goldfarb 5 episodes 2025 The Better Sister Sheila 5 episodes 2026 Furious Raquel
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