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.
With five consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, James looks at the nominations themselves as the win but still doesn’t believe in actors “competing” against one another. She knows it is an honor and is happy to be recognized, as she tells me in this week’s edition of my Deadline video series The Actor’s Side. Her win at the Critics Choice Awards this year was especially sweet too, and though she believes she has been steadily evolving Ava over the show’s most recent seasons, her love and appreciation of the craft of acting has been evolving with it.
We talk about all of this, as well as the stand-up comedy career that has turned her into a Vegas headliner and huge hit on tour and Netflix specials as well. She has been at it for 15 years and looks at doing stand-up as a natural bridge to acting, at least in the way she approaches her sets.
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Appearing for our interview in style as Janelle James, and not the character she is about to embark on her sixth season in the show with, James talks about how important it is to her to separate the two, even leading to disguising herself in public. That is what fame gets you, to be sure.
To watch our conversation and to get the “actor’s side” from Janelle James just click on the link above.
Join me every Wednesday this season for a new edition of The Actor’s Side.
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