‘Abbott Elementary’s Lisa Ann Walter Shares Melissa’s Body Confidence
Abbott Elementary is an ABC sitcom that features the staff of an inner-city, underfunded elementary school in Philadelphia. The cast features Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Lisa Ann Walter. The comedy is a mock-documentary style and tackles real-life education issues that come with being in an underfunded school system.
Walter may be best known for her role as Chessy in 1998’s The Parent Trap. Her many years in Hollywood mean she’s no stranger to those who pick apart the appearance of actors in the industry. That is why Walter was pleasantly surprised recently when a tweet about her looks made her thankful for those who pay attention.
Lisa Ann Walter brings life to the role of Melissa Schemmenti
Lisa Ann Walter’s role in Abbott Elementary is that of seasoned teacher Melissa Schemmenti. One of the characters’ most noteworthy characteristics is that she may or may not have questionable connections that help her get the supplies and other things she needs for her second-grade classroom. The character embodies the no-nonsense, experienced teacher the younger teachers go to for blunt advice. In the pilot episode, Melissa uses a “friend” to acquire new rugs for the staff’s classrooms.
In another episode, Melissa flirts with the man who stock’s the Abbott Elementary vending machines. As a divorcee, she’s hesitant. But Melissa knows her worth. “I’m a Philly 11,” she declares.
Walter’s response to those who tweeted about her appearance
When it comes to the scrutiny that everyone in Hollywood faces, Walter has a good attitude about opinions of her appearance. After a tweet called her “a baddie,” showcasing photos of her in various, projects, Walter retweeted the post, writing, “Omg — I’m blown away. THANK YOU.” She then added, “Also – why was Hollywood making me feel like I was fat?”
The conversation didn’t end there. This interaction prompted many to share their own experiences, specifically those who saw the scrutiny in Hollywood in the ’90s and ’00s and internalized that when looking at their own appearance. Walter then cited her book of essays, The Best Thing About My A— Is That It’s Behind Me, which touches on the subject. “Remember — it’s all just fashion,” she told a fan on Twitter. “My bouncy butt is in style after a lifetime of imagery teaching me to hate it.”
Walter isn’t from Philadelphia
Although Lisa Ann Walter plays a convincing Philadelphia native on Abbott Elementary, she didn’t grow up there. According to The Morning Call, she was born in Pennsylvania before moving around due to her father’s job. She went to college in Washington D.C., later pursuing a comedy career in New York City.
Even though Walter isn’t from Philadelphia (or Philly, as they call it in the show), she has her characters’ body confidence as a Sicilian woman. And it’s helped her in her career.
Walter explained how she landed a job while dressing for a regional look in another tweet exchange. “I had an audition where I had to look like ‘Jersey Trash,” she wrote on Twitter.
“I looked a mess – but Steven Spielberg gave me the job,” Walter added on the film War of the Worlds.
