Janelle James, the enigmatic star of ABC's hit sitcom Abbott Elementary, recently opened up on her personal life, sharing her thoughts on fame, age, and her role on the show.
The comedian maintains an air of mystery in her personal life, declining to share details such as her age or the age of her children.
Janelle explains to Variety: "I'm grown. I have a 20-year-old son. I'm not ashamed of my age... But for women... it gives an idea of what you are in people's heads."
The mom-of-two believes this perception can be limiting, as fame often leads to people placing her in a box.
The talented actress portrays the endearingly flawed principal Ava Coleman on Abbott Elementary, a role she cherishes but doesn't want to let define her.
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"I want people to see me outside of the character of Ava. I am not Ava; I am acting," she states.
Janelle’s dedication to her role is evident, as she remarks: "I'm doing a lot of work to bring this [expletive] to life."
Before landing her iconic role, Janelle opened for Chris Rock on his 2017 Total Blackout Tour and later joined the writing team of Showtime's 2019 comedy series Black Monday.
When Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson saw Janelle’s' audition tape, she knew she had found the perfect actress. "It was just exactly what I was looking for," Quinta recalls. "Once I saw her, it was case closed."
The critically acclaimed Abbott Elementary has been praised for its honest and heartwarming portrayal of teachers striving to provide their students with the best education possible despite systemic challenges.
The cast has received numerous accolades, including an Emmy nomination for Janelle herself.
The show's success can be attributed to its diverse writers' room, which she believes is crucial for capturing the authentic voices of each character. "It makes things more natural to have people who get how a Black woman would speak," she says.
With Abbott Elementary already renewed for a third season, Janelle acknowledges that the show will not last forever and embraces the idea of exploring new projects.
In the event that ABC wishes to continue the series without her, Janelle jests that her character could be written off with Ava being fired, adding: "That's when I quit."
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