Allison Janney On Filming 'Mom' Sans Anna Faris: 'Very Odd And She's Very Missed'

Allison Janney missed filming the hit comedy sitcom "Mom" with former co-star Anna Faris.

Janney got candid about what it was like filming without Faris after the latter left the show before the eighth season premiered. Janney shared how she and the rest of the cast were adjusting to the big change.

"It was very odd, and she’s very missed. Anna is missed, and her character on the show is missed," the seven-time Emmy winner said on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Tuesday.

"We’re just happy that she’s doing what she wants to do now, and we’re happy even more so that we’re able to tell these stories about these great women in recovery. And I think there have been some really wonderful characters that have been established, and people love the show, so we’re going to keep telling the stories as long as we can."

Janney, 61, and Faris, 44, played as mother and daughter in the series that premiered in September 2013. They played as Christy and Bonnie Plunkett, respectively, and both were recovering addicts living in Napa, California.

In September 2020, Faris announced that she would be leaving the series after being part of it for seven seasons. Chris Pratt's ex-wife said she decided to leave to pursue new opportunities.

"The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career," Faris said in a statement.

"I’m so thankful to Chuck [Lorre], the writers and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience. While my journey as Christy has come to an end, allowing me to pursue new opportunities, I’ll be watching next season and rooting for my TV family."

Janney also said in a previous interview that not having Faris on the show was a "huge loss." The award-winning star said Faris was part of creating characters that everyone fell in love with and she was warm, gullible and funny, so she would be missed.

Warner Bros. Television, CBS and Chuck Lorre Productions did not recast Faris' character because Faris was their only choice to play Christy's character. Instead, they explained her absence by sending Christy off after she got a full scholarship to Georgetown Law in Washington D.C.