Actress Allison Janney, 66, has spoken candidly about her decision to never marry or have children, stating that it "didn't happen for me." The "I, Tonya" star discussed her personal life on the "Reclaiming With Monica Lewinsky" podcast, which was released on Tuesday.

Janney admitted that she had previously envisioned marriage, as it was a common expectation during her upbringing. "I always thought I would get married, just because at the time I was growing up, that’s what you did," she said. However, her career aspirations led her to New York, where she was in long-term relationships with partners who also did not want children.

During a four-year relationship in her mid-30s, Janney considered starting a family but realized her partner was not the right person to have children with. "So I was like, 'OK, well, I guess that didn’t happen,'" she recalled, expressing a sense of relief.

She elaborated on the loneliness felt in relationships that are not the right fit. "The way you feel in a relationship that you know is probably not the one and you’re kind of in it and you don’t know how to get out of it — that’s the most lonely feeling in the world to be with someone and feel alone," Janney shared.

Janney also revealed that she has always known she did not want children. Nevertheless, in her 40s, she felt pressure to try and visited a fertility specialist. The doctor informed her that her chances of conceiving were low. "The first I heard that I wouldn’t be able to have a kid at 40-something was in this fertility doctor’s office. She was like, ‘The odds are not in your favor,'" Janney recounted, noting she had previously believed it was possible to have children in one's 50s.

The doctor also inquired about her partner's presence, and Janney took his absence from the appointment as a significant sign. "And the guy that I was with, he didn’t even come with me and I was like, ‘I guess that is a sign, isn’t it?'" she said.

Beyond human relationships, Janney expressed that her dogs are her true loves, alongside her friends and family. "Animals, especially dogs, are my heart. I could not love dogs more."

Janney has maintained a degree of privacy regarding her romantic life. She previously dated actor Dennis Gagomiros from 1994 to 2001. She was also engaged to her "Our Very Own" co-star Richard Jenik, though they ended their engagement in 2006 after four years together. Her most recent known relationship was with production manager Philip Joncas, whom she dated for five years until their separation in 2017.

In a 2021 appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," Janney stated her contentment with the possibility of never marrying. "I really am this time in my life getting to know who I am and what I want," she said. "I’d love to eventually find someone to share my life with, but if it doesn’t happen, I’ll be just fine."

Regarding children, she added, "I would rather regret not having kids than have kids and regret that. I’m OK with it."