Janelle James, born September 23, 1979, 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 two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. Her writing credits include Black Monday, and she acted on the programs Crashing, Corporate, and Central Park.