Janel Wallace Moloney (born October 3, 1969) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Donna Moss on the television series The West Wing, a role for which she received Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nominations in 2002 and 2004. From 2014 to 2017, she starred on the acclaimed HBO drama, The Leftovers.
Born in Woodland Hills, California, Moloney is the niece of actress Christine Ebersole, and attended the acting conservatory at SUNY Purchase. During the 2004 U.S. Presidential campaign, she was an active supporter of John Kerry's presidential campaign and made public appearances on its behalf. Moloney has two children with composer Marcelo Zarvos.
Her early work included television guest roles on ER, Sports Night, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., and Murder, She Wrote. Starting in 1999, Moloney had a recurring role on The West Wing as Donna Moss, assistant and eventual love interest to Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford). Moloney was originally credited only as a guest star, but she appeared in every episode of the first season. From the second season onward, Moloney was listed in the main credits. Moloney has received two Emmy Award nominations, one in 2002 and one in 2004, for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama.