“Abbott Elementary” Creator Quinta Brunson Eyes Life After the Hit Show: “I’m Looking Forward to Moving Away From That”

While fans are still locked in with “Abbott Elementary,” the hit series she created and stars in, Quinta Brunson is looking for something different.

In a recent interview with Bustle, she revealed she’s ready to move on from the role of Janine Teagues and explore new territory as an actress.

“I’m always interested in playing against type. I think that’s any actor’s dream,” Brunson explained. “Right now, my type is ‘Janine’ and ‘teacher.’ I’m looking forward to moving away from that a little bit.”

After five successful seasons of “Abbott” and four Emmy wins to go with it, Brunson is proud of what the show has become. But with filming taking up the majority of the year, she admitted it’s hard for her and the rest of the cast to take on other projects.

“We are so fortunate and blessed to be on a network TV show for five seasons, and for people to still be fans,” the screenwriter said. “That being said, I have cast members who would love to pursue other projects, and our show is very time-consuming. We shoot about seven months out of the year. That can stop people from being able to do a lot of other things.”

Right now, she’s reviewing scripts and waiting for something that feels like the right next move. Brunson isn’t just thinking about herself, though. She’s also using the success of “Abbott Elementary” to support other creators and help develop new stories. While she’s not leaving “Abbott” just yet, it’s clear Brunson is looking to grow beyond it. For now, she’s keeping her eyes open for the role that will challenge everything people think they know about her.