Alison Bartlett

Alison Bartlett OReilly born July 14 1971 is a New Yorkbased actress who has portrayed Gina Jefferson on Sesame Street since 1987 and has reprised the role in various related specials directtovideo 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 costarring 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 Gordons science students Despite warm feelings towards the show she passed on the part having been convinced shed 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 selfdepreciation In 1991 she starred in the ABC AfterSchool Special Its Only Rock and Roll where she met her husband to be writerdirector Harry OReilly at this point she began receiving credit on Sesame Street under her married name Alison Bartlett OReilly She also guest starred on NYPD Blue in 1995 Taking time off to have three children OReillys 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 shortlived FOX series The Jury various episodes of the Law Order franchise and a two episode stint on HBOs The Sopranos as Gwen McIntyre a maternal woman who has fallen in love with an excon Steve Buscemis 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