Alison Bartlett

Alison Bartlett O'Reilly, born on July 14, 1971, in New York, is a renowned actress best known for her long-standing role as Gina Jefferson on the beloved children's program *Sesame Street*, a role she has held since 1987. Over the years, she has reprised her character in various specials, direct-to-video projects, and the feature film *The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland*.

Bartlett's acting journey commenced at the tender age of 12 when she portrayed Joanne in the 1984 stage production of *Landscape of the Body*, sharing the stage with Dann Florek and under the direction of Gary Sinise. She later showcased her talent in the Broadway production *Hurly Burly* in 1985 and had an Off-Broadway performance in *Jersey City* in 1990.

In a pivotal moment in her career, she was initially hesitant to audition for the role of Gina on *Sesame Street* due to fears of typecasting. However, her agent encouraged her, and she credits director Jon Stone for recognizing her potential. In 1991, she starred in the ABC After-School Special *It's Only Rock and Roll*, where she met her future husband, writer-director Harry O'Reilly, and subsequently began to receive credits under her married name.

After taking time off for family, Bartlett returned to the screen in 2002, pursuing diverse roles in television crime dramas, including a memorable two-episode arc on HBO's *The Sopranos* as Gwen McIntyre, and multiple appearances on *Law & Order*. In 2006, she was featured in the FX series *Rescue Me* as Deb Stackhouse, further solidifying her versatile acting repertoire.