Allison Janney has said she would like to see a West Wing reunion – in animated form.

The actress, who played press secretary turned White House Chief of Staff Claudia Jean “CJ” Cregg on the show, joked that was the only way they could all stay young.

West Wing stars Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney, John Spencer, Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Dule Hill, Allison Janney and Richard Schiff
The West Wing stars – Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney, John Spencer, Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Dule Hill, Allison Janney and Richard Schiff (Kevork Djansezian/AP)

“I did think recently, the only way we could do a reunion now would be an animated West Wing reunion. Maybe, so we could all look the same,” she said.

“I’ve just decided it should be in the works, but whether or not it could be is completely out of my hands.”

The Golden Globe and Emmy-winning show, created by Aaron Sorkin, ended its seven-year run in 2006.

“I can’t believe it’s been that long really. It feels like it was just a couple of years ago,” Allison added.

The 55-year-old star, who won an Emmy for her performance as Bonnie Plunkett in ITV2 sitcom Mom, voices villainous mum Madge Nelson in Minions.

“I’ve always wanted to play an evil woman in an action movie and I get to do that finally with Madge in this movie,” she said.

“I had to do a lot of grunting and shooting of guns. There was a lot of action I had to vocalise. I was running around the sound booth making a complete fool of myself. I’d apologise before and say, ‘Ok, I’m going to be a little bit crazy here’.”

Allison’s close friend – producer and head of Illumination Entertainment Chris Meledandri – got her the part.

Allison Janney and producer Chris Meledandri
Allison Janney and producer Chris Meledandri (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

“Chris Meledandri is a friend. We went to school together so I have been following his career and love the success of these movies,” she said.

“He told me way back that the Minions were going to get their own spin-off movie and I was so thrilled, and even more excited that he asked me to be a part of it. I wasn’t pushing our history together.”

Minions is in cinemas now.