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‘Abbott Elementary’ star Janelle James on why she and Principal Ava Coleman won’t be boxed in by expectations
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ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” stars Janelle James as Ava Coleman.
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Pamela Littky
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Disney
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Viewers of the ABC sitcom "Abbott Elementary” — set in a Philadelphia public school — will be familiar with comedian Janelle James as the stylish, vain, and quick-witted Principal Ava Coleman.
While in early episodes, the character of Ava could be dismissed as mainly comic relief, over the seasons, she’s become one of the most layered and beloved characters on the show.
For her work as Ava, Janelle James is now on her fourth Emmy nomination in the category of supporting actress in a comedy series.
James spoke with LAist’s Antonia Cereijido about how neither she nor Ava can be boxed in by expectations.
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'I know how to intake hate'
Janelle James didn’t sweat it when some Abbott Elementary viewers’ initial reactions to Principal Ava Coleman weren’t positive.
Janelle James: From standup and also just from being on stage, I know how to intake hate.
Antonia Cereijido: What does that mean?
Janelle James: One of my favorite things about doing standup is manipulating people's emotions – basically that's what comedy is. You start off and the joke might sound so awful, and you're like, ‘oh my God, I hate this joke’ and then the punchline hits and you're like, ‘ah, this is hilarious!’ I think I learned that from standup. So all those first season people who were worried and didn't like the character, I was never worried because I'm used to people coming back around on Janelle James.
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Janelle James on subverting expectations on 'Abbott Elementary' and in comedy
Taking Ava seriously
Janelle James and Keith David in a scene from season four of ABC's "Abbott Elementary."
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Gilles Mingasson/Disney
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Disney
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Season 4 of Abbott Elementary, which concluded earlier this spring, pushed James to bring a deeper side to her role. Working for years alongside castmates with more acting experience made her feel ready to delve into Ava’s backstory.
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Janelle James: I feel like I can do anything, you know what I mean? I have to keep up with them and make sure I don't look like the slouch next to them.
Season 4 followed a plotline in which Ava’s estranged father tried coming into her life.
Janelle James: To have Keith David, who's an excellent actor, to come in and play my father and match him in a dramatic moment — it wasn't easy — but it wasn't as daunting as it would've been if I hadn't been part of this excellent ensemble already.
The tears behind the laughter
An aspect James liked about her scenes with Keith David, who plays her father, is that there would be serious moments, then right after, her character would break up the tension with a joke.
Janelle James: To show that I can do that switch up, which I've been doing in comedy forever. ‘Oh, it — what a sad moment. … Hi! Here's a laugh!’ So that was super enjoyable for me.
That switch up between darkness and comedy was present when James got her very first laughs at an open mic in Peoria, Ill.
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Janelle James: I remember my first laugh on stage. I can summon that feeling by closing my eyes, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh, this is what I do now.’
Antonia: That's so cool. Do you remember what that first joke was about?
Janelle James: I don't know what that particular joke [was], but I know my first year of comedy — talk about tears behind the laughter — was all about my dad dying. My dad was sick and it was all about him and how I felt about that, very morose. But for me to be like, ‘My dad is dying,’ and then everybody's like, ‘Bahahahah’... I was like ‘Wow! The power!'
Antonia: I love that.
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