Janelle James

Actor

Born September 23, 1979 in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Janelle James is an American comedian, actress, and writer. She is best known for her role as Ava Coleman in the ABC television series Abbott Elementary, for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an NAACP Image Award, in addition to nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.

Acting

Strip Law
TV series, 2026
as Sheila Flambé (voice)
The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday 2025
Film, 2025
Super Duper Bunny League
TV series, 2025
as Narrator (voice)
One of Them Days
Film, 2025
as Ruby
Kite Man: Hell Yeah!
TV series, 2024
as Queen of Fables (voice)
The Garfield Movie
Film, 2024
as Olivia (voice)
Abbott Elementary
TV series, 2021
as Ava Coleman
Teenage Euthanasia
TV series, 2021
2 episodes
Monsters at Work
TV series, 2021
as Joy (voice)
Tom of Your Life
Film, 2020
Star Trek: Lower Decks
TV series, 2020
as Katrot (voice)
Central Park
TV series, 2020
as Fran (voice)
Sixteen Thousand Dollars
Film, 2020
as Catherine
Black Monday
TV series, 2019
as Joyce
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
TV series, 2005
as Ava Coleman