
Janelle James is “killing it” in Abbott Elementaryand her latest nomination just proved it.
The actress, who plays hilariously charming principal Ava Coleman in the sitcom, got another reason to celebrate as she scored her fifth consecutive Emmy nomination for her role.
“Every year it happens, I’m like, ‘Oh, wow, that’s surreal,’” James, 46, reacted on her latest Emmy nom, adding that it reminds her that she’s “still killing it.”
She continued, “It means that I’m standing out among all these super-talented people who are nominated. It means that the show is doing well and only getting better.”
“Not only [is it] a fifth nomination for me, but [there are] five seasons of [the show]. We’re doing such good work that we can be paired up against all these cable shows and still be in the running and recognized as a sitcom. That’s all amazing,” the actress, whose on-screen persona’s quick wit and unapologetic nature have captured the hearts of viewers and the Television Academy alike, told People.
During the interview, she jokes that the first thing that came into her head when she heard the news that she earned yet another nod was think, “Hopefully, my dress has a built-in corset this year!”
She elaborates, “I had a mishap last year [my dress was] sliding down the whole night. My goodness. So that was my first thought. And then after that? Honored. What an honor. Throw that in there.”
2026-08-18 11:37:00









