Film Roles 2011 - 2021

  • Breaking News in Yuba County (2021)

    A woman takes advantage of her growing celebrity status when the police and the public think her dead husband is just missing. Allison plays Sue Buttons, the lead character in Tate Taylor’s ensemble full of hijinks and violence. Explore this section for photos, interviews, videos, behind the scenes content and more from the film:

  • Bad Education (2020)

    A Long Island school superintendent and his assistant are credited with bringing the district unprecedented prestige. That changes when a student reporter uncovers an embezzlement scheme of epic proportions, prompting an elaborate cover-up. Allison plays Pam Gluckin, the assistant who is enriching herself on the school district’s dime.

  • Lazy Susan (2020)

    Allison plays the role of Velvet in Sean Hayes’ star-studded comedy about a woman named Susan who wakes up one day and realizes her life is tanked. Watch a clip of Allison here.

  • Ma (2019)

    A lonely middle-aged woman befriends some teenagers and decides to let them party in the basement of her home. Terror ensues. Directed by Tate Taylor. Allison has a cameo as ‘Dr. Brooks’, the veterinarian who employs Octavia Spencer’s character.

  • Troop Zero (2019)

    A misfit girl who dreams of visiting outer space enters a national competition with a troupe of Birdie Scouts to achieve her goal. Allison plays Miss Massey, school teacher and Birdie Scout leader of a competing ‘perfect’ group of Birdie Scouts. Explore the below section to learn all about Troop Zero.

  • Bombshell (2018)

    The provocative real story of three whip-smart, ambitious, strong women who, after anchoring one of America's most powerful news networks, become headlines themselves when they risk everything to stand up to the man who made them famous.

  • I, Tonya (2018)

    Allison’s Oscar-winning role as Tonya Harding’s abusive mother Lavona was shot in just a week. Explore this section for photos, interviews, articles and more covering all things ‘I, Tonya’

  • Sun Dogs (2017)

    Jennifer Morrison’s directorial debut. Following his third failed attempt to join the military, a misfit takes a Marine officer's advice to protect the home front a little too seriously. He enlists the help of a young runaway, and, together, they form an unlikely anti-terrorism unit. Allison plays the boy’s mother. Netflix.

  • Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

    Allison plays the psychiatrist Dr. Golan in Tim Burton’s imaginative fantasy adventure.

  • The Girl on the Train (2016)

    Based on Paula Hawkins’ bestselling thriller that shocked the world. Rachel (Emily Blunt), devastated by her recent divorce, spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day. Everything changes when she sees something shocking happen there, and becomes entangled in the mystery that unfolds. Allison plays Detective Riley.

  • Tallulah (2016)

    Written and directed by Sian Heder (Orange is the New Black), this film tells the story of young vagabond, Lu (Elliot Page), who lives in a van and is fiercely independent in her hand-to-mouth existence. When a chance encounter incites her to impulsively ""rescue"" a baby from a negligent mother, Lu, at a loss for what to do, turns to the only responsible adult she knows: Allison’s character Margo.

    Explore this section for photos, interviews, and more about Allison’s work on this film, including content from 2016 Sundance and the film’s NYC press tour & premiere.

  • Spy (2015)

    CIA analyst Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) has spent her entire career as a desk jockey, working hand-in-hand with dashing agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law). Using high-tech equipment and a hidden earpiece, Susan is the guardian angel who helps Bradley avoid danger. However, when Bradley is assassinated by Bulgarian arms dealer Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne), Susan wrangles her way into her first undercover assignment to help capture Boyanov and avenge Bradley. Allison plays Susan’s boss, Elaine Crocker.

    Explore this section for photos, interviews, videos, and content from the London premiere of Spy:

  • The DUFF (2015)

    Frumpy high-school senior Bianca (Mae Whitman) has a rude awakening when she learns that her classmates secretly know her as the DUFF -- designated ugly fat friend -- to her prettier and more popular pals. Allison plays Bianca’s divorced mother.

  • The Rewrite (2014)

    A washed-up screenwriter (Hugh Grant) reluctantly takes a college teaching job and meets a single mother (Marisa Tomei) who changes his life in more ways than one. Allison plays English Professor Mary Weldon who is less-than-amused by her new colleague.

  • Days and Nights (2014)

    In an adaption of Chekov’s ‘The Seagull’, Allison stars as Elizabeth, a movie star who brings her paramour Peter (first-time director Christian Camargo) to her lakeside estate to visit her family on Memorial Day weekend.

  • Tammy (2014)

    For Tammy (Melissa McCarthy), a burger-joint waitress, a bad day keeps getting worse. She wrecks her car, loses her job and finds her husband in a compromising position with their neighbor. It's time for Tammy to hit the road. Allison plays Tammy’s mother, Deb.

  • The Way, Way Back (2013)

    Allison plays Betty the drunk chatty neighbor in this coming of age summer tale. Duncan (Liam James) is an awkward teen who must spend the summer at a beach house with his mother (Toni Collette), her boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and Trent's obnoxious daughter. He gets a job at a local water park and finds a friend in Sam Rockwell.

    Explore here for photos, video, interviews and more from the LA & NY premieres of ‘The Way, Way Back’, as well as from the film’s time at Sundance:

  • Bad Words (2013)

    Guy Trilby (Jason Bateman), a 40-year-old misanthrope, makes waves at a regional spelling bee when, due to a loophole in the rules, he is allowed to enter -- and later wins. He advances to the national contest in Los Angeles, accompanied by a reporter (Kathryn Hahn) who wants to discover his hidden motives for entering the bee. Allison plays Dr. Bernice Deagan, the spelling bee head.

  • Touchy Feely (2013)

    A dentist (Josh Pais) gains the ability to heal his patients' physical pain while his sister Abby (Rosemarie DeWitt), a massage therapist, develops an aversion to touching and being touched. Alison plays a Reiki specialist and friend to Abby.

  • Trust Me (2013)

    Hollywood agent Howard Holloway cannot find any real success until he signs Lydia, a talented and troubled 14-year-old with an alcoholic father. Allison plays an associate at the same Hollywood agency.

  • A Thousand Words (2013)

    Jack McCall (Eddie Murphy) is a selfish literary agent whose fast-talking ways allow him to close any deal. His next target is New Age guru Dr. Sinja (Cliff Curtis), but the savvy doctor sees right through Jack. Allison plays Samantha, Jack’s boss at the literary agency.

  • Struck by Lightening (2012)

    Playing Chris Colfer’s mother in a role he wrote for her, the film touches on divorce, depression, teen overachieving and life in a small town.

  • Liberal Arts (2012)

    A New York college adviser (Josh Radnor) becomes involved with a student (Elizabeth Olsen) when he returns to his alma mater in Ohio for a favorite professor's (Richard Jenkins) retirement party. Allison plays Professor Judith Fairfield who takes Radnor’s character for a one night stand. Directed by Radnor, the film was shot at Kenyon College, his and Allison’s alma mater.

  • The Oranges (2012)

    This comedy is about two families who are best friends and neighbors - until one of the daughters (Leighton Meester) begins an affair with her father’s best friend (Hugh Laurie), and the comical and emotional aftermath of that affair. Allison plays Meester’s mother.

    Explore here for more photos, interviews, and content from Allison with the film at TIFF:

  • Margaret (2011)

    Called "nothing short of a masterwork" by The New Yorker, the film stars Anna Paquin as Lisa, a Manhattan teenager who tries to make sense of a bus accident she may have caused — one that resulted in the death of a woman played by Allison.

  • The Help (2011)

    In 1960s Mississippi, Southern society girl Skeeter (Emma Stone) returns from college with dreams of being a writer. She turns her small town on its ear by choosing to interview the Black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent white families. Only Aibileen (Viola Davis), the housekeeper of Skeeter's best friend, will talk at first. But as the pair continue the collaboration, more women decide to come forward, and as it turns out, they have quite a lot to say.