I, Tonya

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Allison Janney, dressed as a waitress in a maroon uniform, stands holding a coffee pot in a diner with red lighting in a scene from the film I, Tonya.

I, Tonya

film by Gillespie [2017]

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July 22, 2026

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Allison Janney, dressed as a waitress in a maroon uniform, stands holding a coffee pot in a diner with red lighting in a scene from the film I, Tonya. — I, Tonya Allison Janney in I, Tonya (2017).

The film I, Tonya (2017) is a biographical sports comedy-drama that focuses on the life of American figure skater Tonya Harding. It highlights her athletic achievements, including being the first American woman to land a triple axel in competition. The film also delves into her tumultuous personal life, her challenging upbringing, and her relationships with her mother and ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly.12

A central event depicted is the infamous 1994 attack on her rival, Nancy Kerrigan, which occurred just before the Winter Olympics. Harding pleaded guilty to hindering the prosecution of this attack and faced significant consequences, including a lifetime ban from competitive figure skating. The film offers a nuanced portrayal of Harding, exploring the discrimination she faced as an athlete from a less privileged background.132

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Attack on Nancy Kerrigan
Timeline: The assault of Nancy Kerrigan
The 2017 mockumentary I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie as Harding, emphasizes her relationships with her allegedly abusive mother (played by Allison Janney, who wins an Academy Award for the role) and Jeff Gillooly (played by Sebastian Stan). It also digs into the difficulties Harding faced as an athlete…
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The 2017 mockumentary I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie as Harding, emphasizes her relationships with her allegedly abusive mother (played by Allison Janney, who wins an Academy Award for the role) and Jeff Gillooly (played by Sebastian Stan). It also digs into the difficulties Harding faced as an athlete…
Read More

Tonya Harding
Harding in pop culture
The 2017 mockumentary biopic I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie, emphasizes Harding’s relationships with her allegedly abusive mother (played by Allison Janney, who won an Academy Award for the role) and husband Jeff Gillooly (played by Sebastian Stan). The film also contends with the discrimination she faced as an athlete…
Read More
The 2017 mockumentary biopic I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie, emphasizes Harding’s relationships with her allegedly abusive mother (played by Allison Janney, who won an Academy Award for the role) and husband Jeff Gillooly (played by Sebastian Stan). The film also contends with the discrimination she faced as an athlete…
Read More

Allison Janney
I, Tonya and Mom
…had a supporting role in I, Tonya, a biopic about figure skater Tonya Harding (played by Margot Robbie). She was cast as Harding’s allegedly abusive mother, and, in an interview with People magazine, Janney described the character as “one of the cruelest people I’ve ever played.” Her performance drew critical…
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…had a supporting role in I, Tonya, a biopic about figure skater Tonya Harding (played by Margot Robbie). She was cast as Harding’s allegedly abusive mother, and, in an interview with People magazine, Janney described the character as “one of the cruelest people I’ve ever played.” Her performance drew critical…
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Margot Robbie
From ice-skating as Tonya Harding to waltzing as Harley Quinn
In I, Tonya (2017) Robbie appeared in her first leading role, playing ill-fated Olympic ice skating star Tonya Harding. For her performance, Robbie received an Academy Award nomination. She also won praise for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots (2018), starring Saoirse…
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In I, Tonya (2017) Robbie appeared in her first leading role, playing ill-fated Olympic ice skating star Tonya Harding. For her performance, Robbie received an Academy Award nomination. She also won praise for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots (2018), starring Saoirse…
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