In 2021, “Abbott Elementary” premiered on Hulu.
By 2022, the show had earned 60 Emmy nominations, winning 46.
The hit TV series follows the fictional storyline of a Philadelphia public school staff.
This hilarious and lovable group of characters faces just about every challenge they can in the line of education.
James stars as the school principal, Ava Coleman.
You would never guess what her road to becoming a top comedian and actress in Hollywood looked like.
In an interview withVanity Fair, James remarked, “My whole family is very private.
James has successfully kept much of her background out of the public eye.
Janelle James spent her childhood in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands until she reached high school.
At that point, James and her mother moved to Maryland.
When James was off to college, she was a world away from beginning her journey in comedy.
After graduation, she resigned from this dream and began taking work she wasn’t exactly passionate about.
In an interview withVariety, she explained, “I was just making money.
That’s what New York was about.”
A good chunk of time would pass before James made her way to comedy.
Refreshingly, this is not the case for Janelle James.
While living in Champaign, Illinois, she took a flyer for an event with an open mic.
She revealed what this was like to Vanity Fair, saying, “Getting laughs is addicting.
That’s why we stand-ups never quit.”
Kimmel asked her, “What were you doing at the time?”
James responded, “Being a mom.”
