Abbott Elementary follows a group of staff working at an underfunded Philadelphia elementary school. ABC's hit mockumentary has garnered praise for its realistic view of the public school system and talented cast and crew. Since its 2021 pilot episode, Janelle James has appeared as Ava Coleman, Abbott Elementary's school principal. James portrays the character so convincingly that it is hard to imagine the two are radically different. According to James, though, the two have little in common. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, James shares:

"My character is 'iconic,' as the kids say. And that's lovely and I like it. But a lot of people can't separate the person from the character. So I go outside looking like Inspector Gadget now. I never want to disappoint anyone by not giving them Ava, but I'm not going to do it off the clock."

Principal Coleman loves attention, often sharing her life on social media in hopes of making it as an influencer. James, on the other hand, cherishes privacy:

"To be able to turn that off internally and be this person who's so extroverted and so wants the spotlight on her is a big reach for someone like me because I am not like that." She continues: "I am reluctantly famous and because of that, I'm protecting the people around me as well. My whole family is very private. So I don't know how realistic it is, but I'd like to keep part of myself out of this machine if possible," she tells the publication.

Regardless of the differences, there is a notable similarity. "I'm funny," James says about what she has in common with Ava. Knowing how to land a joke is something she credits to her past in stand-up. After joining the stand-up circuit in 2011, James toured with Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, and David Cross. In 2017, she released the comedy album Black and Mild. Behind the scenes, she served as a writer for series including The Rundown With Robin Thede and Black Monday. Landing on a hit show was never one of James' goals, but Quinta Brunson's pilot script for Abbott Elementary changed that.

"I was just so impressed, because I've read so many bad scripts, including my own that I've tried to write," she says. "It's very hard to write a pilot that sticks out and is funny."

Related: Why We Love the Characters in Abbott Elementary

Ava Coleman's Character Arc

Janelle James in Abbott Elementary.
ABC

As a school principal, Ava often leaves a lot to be desired; she's misappropriated school funding, can be harsh with her staff, and often fails to take accountability for her slipups. Like any good television character, though, Ava has a softer side, where she shows up for her students and staff.

"The writers have really opened her up. She could be such a corny, mean, stereotypical, burned-out lady, and they've done such a good job of peeling back the layers of this character. I mean, I don't want to say it, but I feel like I'm the most complex character on there."

For the first season of Abbott Elementary, James earned Emmy, Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and Independent Spirit Award acting nominations. The second season of the hit series currently airs on Wednesdays on ABC. Abbott Elementary was renewed for a third season earlier this year.