Janelle James became an instant fan-favorite when “Abbott Elementary” debuted in 2021. She was relatively new to the acting game when she joined the sitcom, having previously focused mainly on stand-up. But stepping into the role of the glamorous, rule-breaking school principal, Ava Coleman, brought her blunt humor and wide-eyed gags to a larger audience, earning her Emmy nominations for three years in a row and constant praise from critics. (Take her recent appearance on Variety‘s list of the 100 best TV performances of the 21st century, for example.)
In the beginning of the series, Ava came off as incompetent and uncaring, constantly causing problems for the Abbott Elementary
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