Janelle James Reveals Why She Doesn’t Like Her ‘Abbott Elementary’ Character

The fierce, hilarious, and unapologetically chaotic principal of “Abbott Elementary,” Ava Coleman, has been a beloved character since the show first aired in 2021. But there’s one person who isn’t the biggest fan of Ava—and it’s the woman who plays her, Janelle James.

In a recent panel conversation with The Ankler, an independent publication covering the business of Hollywood, James spoke about what surprises her most about returning season after season to play Ava, and how fans respond to her. James offered a simple answer: “I’ve never said this before, but the thing that surprises me about Ava is—and this has been since the first season—I don’t like her. And I don’t think people know that, but people do [like Ava] and that’s the skill.”

Going deeper, James noted that she gets upset when people think she’s anything like the character she plays on TV. “People really not only think I’m her, but they think she’s a real person. That’s why I say she’s a character. She exists in the world for people like in real life, in a way that has been surprising, but I don’t like her very much. So, my job is to make this person likable and charming, and that’s what keeps me engaged.”

James’s dislike of the character isn’t due to bad writing or a lack of understanding of who Ava is, but rather because she knows her character so well. When asked whether the headstrong principal likes herself, James gave an expert breakdown of Ava’s inner struggles.

Related: Janelle James Reveals Why It Was So Hard Finding Young, Black ‘Abbott Elementary’ Actors

“Ava doesn’t like herself. So, that’s part of it. A false confidence that she’s been doing, and that’s what the show has been doing so great with the character—you’re discovering that as you go on,” she said. “She’s very insecure in a lot of ways and damaged in a lot of ways and immature and mean, and all of those things, but my job is to keep her someone that people like.”

Despite James not liking her on-screen character, her fans often praise her for her acting chops.

“It’s really insane she hasn’t won an Emmy for this role yet,” wrote one user on X, responding to a clip from the panel conversation.

“I’ve always wondered how actors deal with a bad script or the reality that the character they’re playing is just unlikeable. Janelle broke this down so eloquently and helped me understand the real job of an actor. Shoutout to her,” posted another.

“This is a WORKING ACTOR. It takes true skill and artistry to do this,” commented a third.

While James might not like Ava right now—labeling her “the friend you party with, but you don’t tell her your secrets”—she remains confident in the school principal’s growth over time to become a likable character.

“[The] seasons reveal more about who she is, and then hopefully she gets to somebody you would like,” James explained. “Through the lessons she’s learning, she becomes someone you’re like, ‘Okay, I get why you’re like this, and you’ve changed enough for me to tolerate you.’”