Alison Bartlett
Acting • Born 1971-07-14
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
53 credits
Sesame Street: Friends to the Rescue
Movie • 2010
Gina
Sesame Street Stays Up Late!
Movie • 1993
Gina Jefferson
Sesame Street: Three Bears and a New Baby
Movie • 2003
Gina Gefferson
The Innkeepers
Movie • 2011
Angry Mom
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
Movie • 2010
Gina (uncredited) (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas
Movie • 1996
Gina
Karaoke!
Movie • 2013
Mom
Sesame Street: Rock & Roll!
Movie • 1990
Gina Jefferson
Corn
Movie • 2004
Sara Jameson
Sesame Street: Elmo Visits the Doctor
Movie • 2005
Gina
Sesame Street: Elmo's Potty Time
Movie • 2006
Gina
Right to Kill?
Movie • 1985
Candy
Sick Girl
Movie • 2006
Wife
Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!
Movie • 1998
Gina
Sesame Street: Elmo's Magic Numbers
Movie • 2012
Gina
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
Movie • 1999
Gina
Submission
Movie • 2018
Angela's Mother
The History of Sound
Movie • 2025
Samantha
Sesame Street: Sesame Sings Karaoke
Movie • 2003
Gina
Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
Movie • 1988
Gina
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Movie • 2019
Gina
Sesame Street: Big Bird Sings!
Movie • 2005
Gina Jefferson
Sesame Street 'A Is for Asthma'
Movie • 1998
Gina Jefferson
Crooked Lines
Movie • 2003
Andrea
Materialists
Movie • 2025
Jaime
It's Only Rock & Roll
Movie • 1991
Halle Angelisi
A Sesame Street Christmas Carol
Movie • 2006
Gina (archive footage)
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland: Sing and Play
Movie • 1999
Gina (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Kids' Guide to Life: Telling the Truth
Movie • 1997
Gina
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
Movie • 2025
Self
Sesame Street: What's the Name of That Song?
Movie • 2004
Gina
Marty Supreme
Movie • 2025
Rockwell Receptionist Voice (voice)
Sesame Street: Ready for School!
Movie • 2007
Jim Henson Idea Man
Movie • 2024
Self (archive footage)
Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On!
Movie • 2004
Gina
Sesame Street: Big Bird's Favorite Party Games
Movie
Gina
Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures
Movie • 2011
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
Movie • 1993
Gina Jefferson
Sesame Street: Play All Day with Elmo!
Movie • 2015
Gina
Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: The Letter Quest and Other Magical Tales
Movie • 2009
The Sopranos
TV • 1999
Gwen MacIntyre
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Sergeant Haywood
Kidnapped
TV • 2006
Canterbury's Law
TV • 2008
Rescue Me
TV • 2004
Deb Stackhouse
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV • 2001
Allison Dean
The Jury
TV • 2004
Mercy
TV • 2009
Golden Boy
TV • 2013
Jeanie Novak
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Mrs. Cole
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Officer Angela Donahue
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV • 2001
Hope Daniels
FBI
TV • 2018
Joan Collier