Alison Bartlett
Alison Bartlett
Alison Bartlett O'Reilly (b. July 14, 1971) is a New York-based actress who has portrayed Gina Jefferson on Sesame Street since 1987, and has reprised the role in various related specials, direct-to-video productions, and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. Bartlett began her career as a child actress, appearing at the age of 12 in the 1984 stage production of Landscape of The Body, co-starring Dann Florek and directed by Gary Sinise. In contrast to her later image as the cheerful Gina, the young actress played Joanne, who chops off her boyfriend's head. Other stage credits include the role of Donna in the Broadway show Hurly Burly from 1985, and Off Broadway in Jersey City (1990). In September 1985, her agent presented her with a "day player role" of Gina, one of Gordon's science students. Despite "warm feelings towards the show", she passed on the part, having been convinced she'd permanently maintain her tough girl typecasting; a rejection from Sesame Street would "sting too much", and destroy its place in her mind. Her agent urged her into an audition, and she credits show directorJon Stone for seeing past her self-depreciation. In 1991, she starred in the ABC After-School Special It's Only Rock and Roll, where she met her husband to be, writer/director Harry O'Reilly; at this point, she began receiving credit on Sesame Street under her married name, Alison Bartlett O'Reilly. She also guest starred on NYPD Blue in 1995.
