Quinta BrunsonjoinsMatthew McConaughey,Mila KunisandJennifer Hudsonas one of PEOPLE’s 2022 People of the Year! Look for all four covers on newsstands this week and read more below from Brunson’s revealing interview in the new issue.
What a difference a year can make. In late 2021 Quinta Brunson was working on her passion project, a sitcom about a public school in Philadelphia. As its creator, writer, showrunner and star, she was eagerly anticipating the Dec. 7 premiere ofAbbott Elementaryon ABC. “I wanted to bring back the straightforward 22-minute workplace comedy,” says Brunson, 32, whose previous credits include roles on HBO’sA Black Lady Sketch Showand TBS’sMiracle Workers. The Philly native loosely based herAbbottcharacter — hopelessly optimistic second-grade teacher Janine Teagues — on her mother, a former kindergarten teacher.
Abbottwas an instant hit, logging more than 7 million total viewers and becoming ABC’s highest-rated comedy since theModern Familyfinale. Aseason 2 renewalfollowed — Brunson evenpersuaded the network to redirect marketing money to buy school supplies for real teachers— and so didseven Emmy nominationsand three wins, including outstanding writing for a comedy series for Brunson, making her the second Black woman to take that prize.
For more on PEOPLE’s 2022 People of the Year issue, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
Looking back on what she has accomplished this year, Brunson, who has been married to Kevin Jay Anik since 2021, admits she’s playing with house money: “I just wanted to make a good show with good people, so everything else has been exciting additions to the plan.”
Kanya Iwana
It’s almost 2023, but thinking back to one year ago, did any of this year’s accomplishments make your list of New Year’s resolutions last year?
No, not necessarily. My main priority was just makingAbbott. All of the things that have been happening are because I got to make that and make it the way I wanted.
What did it take to bringAbbott Elementaryto life — and who didn’t see the vision?
To be honest, I didn’t have to deal with much “I don’t see it.” There was one other network that will remain nameless that didn’t understand the value of it, but that’s how it goes. ABC won that bidding war. My co-showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker also saw the vision right away. I was fortunate. It’s most certainly not a common L.A. story for Black creators, but I think [I’m] a sign that times are changing.
Speaking of origin stories, what’s yours, starting with your name? It means “fifth” in Spanish, right?
My name’s really simple. I’m the fifth child, and my parents [Norma Jean and Rick Brunson] weren’t necessarily creative, but I love it. My siblings [brothers Kwei and Kalid and sisters Njia and Kiyana] all have real names that mean things, and they have a lot to live up to. My name is just a number, and I could decide it meant whatever I wanted.
Long beforeAbbott Elementary, you made a name for yourself as a content creator, making popular comedy sketches on Instagram and BuzzFeed. What was life like back then?
I was doing improv around L.A. and broke. Very, very, very broke. A hearty meal was a banana and a Cup Noodles. If I could get both or get two bananas in one day, I was doing well. I was working at [an] Apple [Store], but I still loved comedy so much. At the timeSNLwas kind of a goal. Then Instagram added video. I loved making my friends laugh, and then it took off, and that kind of changed my life.
Where do you get your confidence?
I think it’s always been there. I was a very confident kid. My parents always taught me to look at people and situations like everything’s equal. Nothing seems too intimidating to not be confident. I think the most intimidating situation I was in recently was meetingMalala [Yousafzai, the Pakistani education rights activist].
You playedOprah Winfreyin the recentWeird Al Yankovicbiopic. Was that intimidating?
When the script got sent to my agent, and they saidDaniel Radcliffewas playing Weird Al, I was like, “Yeah, I would love to come hang with him.” And then they said Oprah, and I was like, “Whoa, hold on!” But I read it and thought I could do it justice. It wasn’t too serious, but it also wasn’t too dumb, because I didn’t want to insult Oprah or tarnish her legacy. The movie is so stupid, and I say that in the best way. I love dumb comedies.Austin Powers in Goldmemberwas my favorite movie growing up. My mom wanted to burn the DVD. She hates stupid stuff.
What’s been your husband Kevin’s highlight from this past year?
What was going through your head in that moment?
To be honest, I felt very confident about my chances, so it wasn’t shocking to me. It was just like, “Wow, I’m really winning an Emmy right now.” [My costar]Sheryl [Lee Ralph]had been working for so long to get that [outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series] acknowledgment, and I felt like I just got here. I’m extremely grateful.
DidJimmy Kimmellying on the ground during your speechtake away from that moment at all?
Afterwards someone told me what was going on [online], and I was like, “Really?” I’m a comedian, and I know him, so I just went along with it. It wasn’t a big deal to me, but that doesn’t change how people feel. It made them feel a way, and that’s just the way it is.
You won for your writing onAbbott, but you wear so many hats on the show. Now, while you’re in the midst of season 2, how do you keep it all together?
I don’t have a method. I just feel like I’m passionate about it. I recently talked withMindy Kaling, who’srunning two shows, and you just care about it so much that you’re able to organize stuff.
RELATED VIDEO: Quinta Brunson on the ‘Wild’ Success ofAbbott Elementary: ‘We Have Developed a Really Wonderful Fan Base’
What fan encounter touched you most this year?
I don’t go out that much to public places. I have a little bit of social anxiety that I’m working through. The biggest risk I’ll take is Universal Studios, ‘cause I kind of feel like that’s my turf, even though I have no right to say that. But I had a really interesting fan interaction at a party recently, where a girl came up to me and said she had a friend she was watching Abbott with before she passed away. One of the things her friend asked her to do was to finish the show. And now I’m crying at this party. Part of me was like, “Why would you tell me that right now?” But also I’m so happy she did. It put into perspective what a good comedy can do. The best thing I can hear is that it’s bringing people together.
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kanya iwana
Abbott Elementaryairs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.
For more of the exclusive interview with Quinta Brunson, and PEOPLE’s three other People of the Year cover honorees, pick up this week’s issue, on stands Friday.
source: people.com
