Alison Bartlett
Born: 1971-07-14 in New York City, New York, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Alison Bartlett O'Reilly (born 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 as Joanne in the 1984 stage production of Landscape of The Body, co-starring Dann Florek and directed by Gary Sinise. 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 director Jon 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. Taking time off to have three children, O'Reilly's work was primarily limited to Sesame Street. However, in 2002, she began actively seeking other roles. In addition to appearing in the 2003 independent film Crooked Lines (directed by her husband), the actress began appearing in a variety of roles in different TV crime dramas, including the short-lived FOX series The Jury, various episodes of the Law & Order franchise, and a two episode stint on HBO's The Sopranos as Gwen McIntyre, a maternal woman who has fallen in love with an ex-con (Steve Buscemi's Tony Blundatto). In 2006, she appeared in several episodes of the FX show Rescue Me as Deb Stackhouse, the wife of a firefighter injured in a fire.
Filmography
2025
- Marty Supreme as Rockwell Receptionist Voice
- Materialists as Jaime
- The History of Sound as Samantha
- STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon as Self
2024
- Jim Henson Idea Man as Self (archive footage)
2019
2018
- FBI as Joan Collier
- Submission as Angela's Mother
2013
- Golden Boy as Jeanie Novak
- Karaoke! as Mom
2012
2011
- The Innkeepers as Angry Mom
2010
- Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days as Gina (uncredited) (archive footage)
- Sesame Street: Friends to the Rescue as Gina
2009
2008
2006
- Sick Girl as Wife
- Kidnapped
- A Sesame Street Christmas Carol as Gina (archive footage)
- Sesame Street: Elmo's Potty Time as Gina
2005
- Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings! as Gina Jefferson
- Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the Doctor as Gina
2004
- Rescue Me as Deb Stackhouse
- Corn as Sara Jameson
- The Jury
- Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On! as Gina
- Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song? as Gina
2003
- Crooked Lines as Andrea
- Sesame Street: Three Bears and a New Baby as Gina Gefferson
- Sesame Street: Sesame Sings Karaoke as Gina
2001
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Allison Dean
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Mrs. Cole
- The Sopranos as Gwen MacIntyre
- The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland as Gina
- The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland: Sing and Play as Gina (archive footage)
1998
- Sesame Street: Elmopalooza! as Gina
- Sesame Street 'A Is for Asthma' as Gina Jefferson
1996
1993
- Sesame Street Stays Up Late! as Gina Jefferson
- Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration as Gina
1991
- It's Only Rock & Roll as Halle Angelisi
1990
- Law & Order as Sergeant Haywood
- Sesame Street: Rock & Roll! as Gina Jefferson
1988
1985
- Right to Kill? as Candy