Janelle James on Playing Abbott Elementary’s Ava Coleman
The Emmy-nominated actress talks about how she differs from (and resembles) her character, and what it's like to be directed by a co-star.
Janelle James clearly shows that the Ava we see on the show is very different from who she is as a person. The five-time Emmy nominee also shows no signs of slowing down the accolades for her hilarious and unpredictable performance as Principal Ava Coleman on ABC’s hit comedy Abbott Elementary.
During our chat, James reflects on Ava’s evolution throughout the series, how the writers continue to keep the show fresh and surprising, and why she is nothing like the character she plays. She also shares what it was like being directed by castmate Tyler James Williams, revealing how his clear vision helped bring out the best in the actors during his special episode.
Read on for a preview of the chat with Janelle James for Abbott Elementary.
Jacqueline Coley for Rotten Tomatoes: Abbott Elementary has been so successful for so long, and the show just keeps finding new and inventive ways to show Ava differently, to show her dynamic with the other folks differently. What was your favorite part of the new stuff you got to do this year?
Janelle James: Well, after much coaching, she’s excelling, you know. So two things. One thing I enjoyed this year was our mall arc, where she definitely had to be more responsible. I don’t know if you noticed, but even my wardrobe took a slight professional upgrade. And her interactions with the parents. I mean, the parents would come in to confront her about certain situations, and she still had to be coaxed into doing her job, but when she does, she does it well. So that’s one thing.
And two, part of what you mentioned. I love that they keep finding new ways to make her grow. But even though she’s growing and adapting and learning, she’s still, at the core, the character, you know? She hasn’t done a 180 and suddenly become the best principal in the world or the best friend or the best coworker. She’s still herself, and that’s how real people are. I think that’s a big part of the show’s success; the characters are so well drawn. We’re characters, but we’re not caricatures.
Abbott Elementary currently airs on Wednesdays on ABC and streams on Hulu the next day.
