‘Abbott Elementary’s’ Janelle James On How 15 Years Of Stand-up Led To A Whole New Acting Career And 5 Consecutive Emmy Nominations – The Actor’s Side

Janelle James didn’t set out to be an actor on purpose. Her passion was stand-up comedy, which remains a key part of her life and career to this day, but the opportunity to play Principal Ava Coleman on ABC’s hit comedy series Abbott Elementary was something she couldn’t resist. And the rest is history.

Janelle James has been performing stand-up for over 15 years, which significantly shaped her comedic style and character portrayal on 'Abbott Elementary.'