We know it’s cliché, but Allison Janney honestly needs no introduction.

For the past 25 years, you’ve seen her face on television (The West Wing, Mom), on the big screen (Juno, The Help), and on Broadway (9 to 5, A View From The Bridge). But starting this Friday, you’ll hear her voice as Madge Nelson—a committed mother of a family of villains—in Minions, the prequel to Universal’s Despicable Me franchise. Janney sat down to talk about the process of working on an animated project, what she’s currently working on, and what she would do with her very own Minion.

In Minions, your character (Madge Nelson) is traveling with her family to Orlando to attend Villain Con. In your career, have you ever had to attend an actual convention, be it Comic-Con or otherwise?

You know, I’ve always wanted to go to Comic-Con, (but) I’ve never been. I’ve never had a reason to go, or if I had been invited I didn’t know because I was working. So I’ve never actually attended one of them.

Were you a fan of the Despicable Me films before working on Minions?

Yes, and my friend [producer] Chris Meledandri, who runs Illumination, we went to high school together, so (there’s) sort of a wonderful history there; the two of us, our careers in the entertainment industry, never crossing until now. I was really excited that he asked me to be part of the Minions movie and play Madge.

She was a great character for me to play. I think she’s my first evil character, though there’s nothing evil about them, just as there’s nothing evil about the Minions. You know what I mean? They do evil things, but they’re so lovely you just fall in love with them. Madge is a good mom... she just happens to rob banks. (laughs)

Were you able to work with the other voice talent during the recording process?

No. That’s the one sad thing about doing these animated films, and I’ve done a few of them. You’re never in the same room with the other actors. And I’ve found one of the things I love about acting is other actors; looking into their eyes, working off them, and listening and responding to them. So it’s very different, this kind of work.

The thing that’s great about it is I can go in without hair and makeup, and I go in my sweatpants usually—I’m a sweatpants and t-shirt kind of girl—and I love to be in bare feet when I work, so I don’t have any shoes on. I just stand there and create all these different sounds.

I have to be willing to make a complete fool out of myself, and I know that they are recording it (laughs), for whatever reasons. Maybe the animators get some inspiration watching the actual actress do the voice, so that they can have the character reflect that. I think a lot of Madge’s eye movements came from me, those sly little eye looks. So it’s a strange process.

And it’s, of course, over a year, and you go in for two-hour sessions here and there, but you don’t have anybody to act with, you just do the lines. You do the same line over and over again, many different ways, and try to get into the character. It’s very creative work, but it’s very solitary (which is) a little strange. Pierre Coffin, the director, was actually in Paris when he was directing me, so that added to it.

I just saw Jon Hamm [who voices villain Herb Overkill in Minions] and he was like, “You’re in this?” (laughs) I saw Michael Keaton getting out of a limo going into a pre-Oscar party, and he goes, “There’s my wife.” [Keaton does the voice of Walter Nelson, Madge’s husband, in the film.] I didn’t know what he was talking about. He told me that he was my husband, but I didn’t even know he had been cast. So it’s a very funny process.

Since the animation process takes so long, do you experience a sense of disconnect when you do finally get to see the film?

It’s a little weird accepting your voice coming out of an animated character. You don’t buy it at first because it’s your voice, and none of us like our voices when we hear them (played) back. It’s like, “That’s what I sound like? (gasps) Horrible!” So it’s a little strange, but I feel like I’ve seen Madge enough in some of the trailer clips—I’ve been watching it over and over because it’s so funny—and I’ve gotten used to hearing my voice come out of her mouth.

I think most of us would like to have our own Minions. If you could, what would you have your Minions do for you?

It would be so great to have Minions, just to go pick up the dry cleaning, do the grocery shopping, find a parking space at Whole Foods—because I can never find one—have them set up for parties and clean up after parties... and have them walk the dogs. Oh my gosh. If I could have Minions walk my dogs I would be in heaven. Everyone’s lives would run much smoother with some Minions. (laughs) I would love to have a little Bob in my pocket everywhere I go. I just love Bob so much.

Are you on hiatus right now (from CBS’ Mom)?

I am, but I’m doing a movie in New York. I never stop. I don’t want to stop because I’m afraid it will all end, so I never say no.

But I am working in New York with Ellen Page in this movie called Tallulah, which I love. I’m having a great time with her in New York, so I’ve got to go back after this press junket to finish that movie. But, yes, I am on hiatus from Mom, and I’m so glad we get a season three. We go back at the end of July.

You’ve done television, film, stage, and animation... pretty much everything. Is it easy for you to shift from one to another?

It all feels pretty comfortable to me, no matter where I’m acting. There are different demands, but I feel very comfortable working in each medium. There’s a certain fluidity to doing theater that I miss, because everything’s so chopped up.

For an animated role, is there anything you do differently to get into a character? Maybe a certain mindset you get yourself in?

No, I just come in ready to work. I come in open to taking direction; basically being willing to just make a fool of myself (and) do all different kinds of crazy voices. And then, when we found the right voice for Madge, just to be playful.

That’s the only thing I have to bring—my sense of play—to do an animated picture.