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Alison Bartlett
New York City, New York, USA
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 relate…
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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
Movies and shows, newest first
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2025
Marty Supreme
Movie Rockwell Receptionist Voice (voice)
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2025
The History of Sound
Movie Samantha
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2025
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
Movie Self
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2025
Materialists
Movie Jaime
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2024
Jim Henson Idea Man
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2019
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Movie Gina
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2018
FBI
TV show Joan Collier
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2018
Submission
Movie Angela's Mother
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2015
Sesame Street: Play All Day with Elmo!
Movie Gina
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2013
Karaoke!
Movie Mom
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2013
Golden Boy
TV show Jeanie Novak
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2012
Sesame Street: Elmo's Magic Numbers
Movie Gina
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2012
The Innkeepers
Movie Angry Mom
- 2011
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2010
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
Movie Gina (uncredited) (archive footage)
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2010
Sesame Street: Friends to the Rescue
Movie Gina
More credits
- 2009
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2009
Mercy
TV show
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2008
Canterbury's Law
TV show
- 2007
-
2006
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol
Movie Gina (archive footage)
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2006
Kidnapped
TV show
-
2006
Sesame Street: Elmo's Potty Time
Movie Gina
-
2006
Sick Girl
Movie Wife
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2005
Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the Doctor
Movie Gina
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2005
Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings!
Movie Gina Jefferson
-
2004
Corn
Movie Sara Jameson
-
2004
Rescue Me
TV show Deb Stackhouse
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2004
The Jury
TV show
- 2004
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2004
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?
Movie Gina
-
2003
Sesame Street: Sesame Sings Karaoke
Movie Gina
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2003
Sesame Street: Three Bears and a New Baby
Movie Gina Gefferson
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2003
Crooked Lines
Movie Andrea
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2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV show Allison Dean
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1999
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
Movie Gina
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1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV show Mrs. Cole
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1999
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland: Sing and Play
Movie Gina (archive footage)
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1999
The Sopranos
TV show Gwen MacIntyre
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1998
Sesame Street 'A Is for Asthma'
Movie Gina Jefferson
