It’s been 20 years since Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford were walking and talking together on The West Wing.
Twenty years after making history together in a fictional White House headed by Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet, Janney won the trophy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series at the 2026 Emmys Sept. 14 for her performance alongside Whitford in The Diplomat. The Juno star joked that while she's enjoyed starting a new chapter with her friend, she has boundaries for how she'll go in their new role as onscreen spouses.
"I said, Deborah, do not write any bedroom scenes, please," Janney said during Live from E!: 2026 Emmys, referring to head writer Debora Cahn. "She did write one. We were in a fight, and we got into bed and just curled up, snuggled. But you know, that's about as far as I want to go with that."
In fact, the I, Tonya star quipped, "I'll spoon, but I will not French kiss him."
Still, Janney couldn't help to share earnest praise for her costar.
"He's an amazing actor," she continued, adding, "he's also one of the most the funniest people on the planet."
For this year’s event, Janney arrived in a glamorous gown with pink feathers paying homage to Old Hollywood, and looking just as elegant as her onscreen counterpart—though not nearly as ruthless as her Diplomat character, President Grace Penn.
For Janney, playing the political leader has been even more rewarding than earning accolades for her work.
As she shared following her Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination, “I’m absolutely delighted and grateful to the Television Academy. Playing Grace Penn continues to be one of the great privileges of my career.”
Whitford, meanwhile, looked dapper as ever when he walked the Creative Emmy Awards red carpet days earlier with his wife Amy Landecker. The 66-year-old donned a dapper suit with a bow tie to the Sept. 6 festivities, while the Transparent actress wore a sequined blue and gold number by his side.
After receiving his Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series nomination—the award ultimately went to The Pitt’s Ernest Harden Jr. at the earlier ceremony—in July, Whitford kept his reaction short and simple.
Under a picture of his The Diplomat character Todd Penn, The Handmaid’s Tale star wrote on Instagram, “Shucks…”
Though his and Janney’s onscreen ease was enough to earn them acting nods, the stars admitted IRL that pretending to be in love came with its own set of challenges.
"It’s kind of funny for us to be martial,” Whitford admitted fo Netflix’s Tudum. “She said that kissing me is like kissing her brother.”
Nevertheless, Janney is happy that of all people, Whitford was cast as Grace’s partner.
“It’s great that it’s Brad because we have such a relationship already,” she added. “We have years together.”
Overall, The Diplomat earned seven nominations, including nods for stars Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell, as well as nominations for writing, casting and for Outstanding Drama Series.
For more couples on the 2026 Emmys red carpet, read on.
—Reporting by Nikki Novak
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