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Janelle James on Ava's challenging year on ‘Abbot Elementary': ‘They kind of threw everything at me this season'
Tough and sassy Ava Coleman was put through the wringer in Season 4 of Abbott Elementary, but Janelle James can look back at her onscreen persona and confidently say, 'They kind of threw everything at me this season and I feel like I delivered.' And then some!
On the positive side, Ava may have fought it at first, but she eventually eased into a mature romance with chill I.T. guy O'Shon (Matthew Law), a relationship that helped balance out the bigger story arcs that were the opposite of happy. First, Ava reluctantly faced her estranged father Frank (Keith David), and then took a major career punch when she was fired as principal of Abbott for accepting bribes in the form of new computers for the budget-challenged elementary school. "I'm just honored that the writers trust me with the material that they've been giving me," James says.
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Given all those compelling story arcs this year, James, who's scored three Best Comedy Supporting Actress Emmy nominations for the ABC sitcom, is closer than ever to landing the trophy that's eluded her thus far. Here, the St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands native talks about how Ava has evolved since the show's first season, how she approached working with veteran actor David as her father, and her take on how Ava felt about her Abbott colleagues coming to her aid to help her get her job back.
Gold Derby: It's been a nice, slow evolution for Ava since season and the audience has gotten to know her better and better. How has that been for you over the last four years?
Janelle James: It's been very satisfying. I like that you said that because it really has been such a build and such a true character arc. And, for me, satisfying in the not only fan reaction, but character world-building for her. The satisfaction of seeing people come around to her in such a way has been amazing. It's always a testament to the writing, but I always thought she was much more complex than she seemed in the beginning [of the series], and those are my favorite kind of characters and those are my favorite type of humans.
Back in the first season, Ava was always coming at Janine (Quinta Brunson) so hard and she had her flirt on with Gregory (Tyler James Williams). Did you ever worry that maybe audiences wouldn't like her when those first episodes are rolling out?
I didn't worry, but I also knew for a fact that some people didn't like her, so I didn't even have to worry about it. Of course, in the pilot, she did a horrible thing of taking money from the school, but we all have to introduce our characters as the most heightened version of themselves, and then after that, not immediately, they started her arc.
SEE Abbott Elementary bosses on subverting finale expectations, 'the season of Ava,' and their dream crossover
A lot has happened to Ava in the back half of Season 4, like the "Rally" episode where she's been fired and everyone comes together to help her get her job back. How you were playing that as Ava with all these people coming to help her, which probably wouldn't have happened in Season 1?
I think she was surprised. She's not used to anyone stepping up for her with her whole abandonment issues. She was shocked, and even in the episode when people are coming in the different doors [to help her], I'm playing it as, "What? I can't believe it." Even when she got fired, she kind of took it on the chin and moved on, so she was very surprised that all these people came together to rally for her.
Keith David came on this season to appear as Ava's father Frank, who she doesn't have the closest relationship with. How has that been to play that arc, given it's revealed even more layers of Ava?
I mean, what amazing casting. First of all, he could totally be my dad. We do look related! And they did a great job for all the guest relatives for each character that we've had on the show. And [Keith is] a legend, and then also someone with such gravitas in voice and standing is amazing. It's also flattering that he would want to come on our show and portray this character and act alongside me.
I always try to convince myself that I will rise to the occasion, so I wasn't nervous. I'm more honored to be in the same space as these people. Like, "Oh, this person being here is going to just elevate me to rise" because I'm never going to embarrass myself. For me, it's been gratifying to show that I do have these skills and that I can go toe to toe with these actors that have been around for so long.
Disney/Gilles Mingasson
There's a moment in the "Rally" episode where Frank sincerely says, "I'm proud of you. I'm here for you." Was that a hard scene for you to shoot?
I don't know how that relationship is going to go, but based on the information I have now and how I think of Ava, a couple of visits is not going to repair this relationship. While she was surprised that he said that, she's not entirely convinced, and I also don't think that that was some sacred sacrament moment for them. That's how I played it. He says, "You've got to give me another chance. You always get other chances." And I forget the line, but I say, "Well, I did a good job the first time, and that's why I got a second chance."
I love how Quinta and the writers are playing that and giving it nuance. It's not the cliché sitcom thing that would be for me to be like, "Oh, daddy!" and then we hug. In real life, that's not how it works. No one changes overnight. No one defrosts overnight. Ava has ice around her heart for this man and it's warranted, so she's not gonna let him off that easy.
It's always fun to see a character go through a romantic relationship since you see different shades of them. How has it been to play Ava's romance with O'Shon? There's also a nice chemistry between the characters, which can be tough to make happen!
If anything, I was nervous about that because, like you said, it doesn't happen a lot. That's what I've heard. I'm confident in my skills of pretending we have chemistry, but it's always great when it's already there. Mutually, we just really just put each other at ease. He's a great actor and although he's not as known as Keith David, he came in with the same professionalism and skill. "Oh, this guy is for real!" So I had to match him.
And what we know about Ava is that all her relationships seems to be pretty superficial, and here is a guy that's completely different than what she's used to, so that's just been fun to play. But I'm really proud of that relationship because he's also not in every episode and we've told a whole story in such a short time. When he is there, we're onscreen maybe four minutes, so for it to be a fully realized thing and have people making fan videos about us and all of that from such a short interactions is amazing.
SEE Abbott Elementary director Randall Einhorn on capturing Ava's 'moment of humility' and the 'surreal' crossover with It's Always Sunny
The season finale is always in Philly and this year it was at the Please Touch Museum. Is there a field trip feel to it for you all since you're on location in Philadelphia, where the show is set?
This was my first time going to Philly and just to be on the plane with everyone, like, "Well, this plane can't go down." It's like our school bus in the sky and we even had some of our kids from L.A. come on location as well so that was cool. And then, as famous as I am, I'm super famous in Philly, so that was awesome. [Laughs]
The show has done so well the last couple years and you're still out there doing stand-up. Is there a difference in how audiences receive you or how hard or not hard you have to work for the audience?
I don't know if it's changed based on the audience. I'm approaching it differently in that my goal for myself now is to separate myself from the character and introduce me as a real person. I'm doing something else, and that's been the challenge for me. And when I say challenge, not that it's hard, but that's the assignment I've given myself. I am a separate person and I am also hilarious in a totally different way, so that's been fun. And what has changed audience-wise is I have a wider audience now, and who can complain about that? I have a bigger audience coming out now, so I love it.
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