Yaya DaCosta

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yaya DaCosta
DaCosta at Afropunk Festival in 2023
Born
Camara DaCosta Johnson

(1982-11-15) November 15, 1982 (age 41)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materBrown University
Years active2004–present
Children1
Modeling information
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Hair colorDark brown
Eye colorBrown
AgencyFord Models

Camara "Yaya" DaCosta Johnson (born November 15, 1982) is an American actress and model. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. DaCosta eventually went to star in ABC's daytime drama series All My Children (2008), ABC's comedy-drama Ugly Betty (2009), and NBC's medical drama Chicago Med (2015–2022).

In 2010, she starred in Lisa Cholodenko's film The Kids Are All Right, being nominated with the cast at the Critics' Choice Movie Award and at the Gotham Award. DaCosta starred in the Lifetime television film Whitney (2015) as singer Whitney Houston and received praise for her performance being nominated at the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

DaCosta was born on November 15, 1982, in New York City and is American, although often misreported as having Nigerian heritage. DaCosta has denied this, but states it might be possible given the history of the United States.[2] She was raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.[3][4] In addition to English, she speaks Portuguese, French, Spanish and conversational Japanese.[2] She attended the elite Northfield Mount Hermon School during high school before attending Brown University, where she majored in Africana studies and international relations. [5]

Career[edit]

After being the runner-up on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model, DaCosta went on to have a successful career.[6] DaCosta only appeared once in the bottom two during the competition. She has appeared in advertisements for Garnier Fructis, Lincoln Townhouse, Oil of Olay, Radioshack, Seda, Sephora and Dr. Scholl's. She has graced the covers of numerous magazines, including W,[7] Hype Hair,[8] Splash and Global Modeling. In 2014, she landed a spot in Tom Ford’s Fall/Winter advertising campaign.[9] DaCosta began acting in 2005 after guest-starring in an episode of the UPN sitcom Eve.[10] She then starred opposite Rob Brown, Antonio Banderas and Alfre Woodard in the 2006 dance film Take the Lead.[11] DaCosta had supporting roles in the independent films Honeydripper (2007) and The Messenger (2009).

She appeared in the ABC soap opera All My Children in 2008 as Cassandra Foster, the daughter of Angie Hubbard (Debbi Morgan).[12] According to an interview with All My Children's new head writer, Charles Pratt, Jr., DaCosta left the role some time in August 2008, less than four months after joining the show, to join the cast of The First Breeze of Summer on Broadway. The First Breeze of Summer was presented from 2008 to 2009 by the historic Negro Ensemble Company.[13] In 2009, she had a recurring role as Nico Slater, the daughter of Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) in the fourth and final season of the ABC comedy-drama series Ugly Betty.[14]

In 2010, DaCosta had supporting roles in the comedy-drama film The Kids Are All Right and the science fiction action-adventure film Tron: Legacy. Later, she appeared in the magazines, including on the cover of W (September 2010),[15] in L'Officiel (in November 2010),[16] and in Vogue (in January 2011 by Patrick Demarchelier).[17] In 2013, she also appeared as Carol in the historical drama film The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.[18]

DaCosta in 2016 at the premiere of The Nice Guys

In 2015, it was announced in an interview with actress Angela Bassett on CNN that DaCosta would star as musical icon Whitney Houston in a Lifetime television film about her life, which was Bassett's directorial debut. DaCosta received high praise for her performance.[19] Also from 2015 to 2021, DaCosta has starred in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med as April Sexton, an ED nurse.[20] On May 14, 2021, DaCosta announced that she is leaving Chicago Med after six seasons and before her exit she has joined Fox's drama series Our Kind of People as Angela Vaughn.[21][22]

Personal life[edit]

DaCosta was in a relationship with independent film producer and director Joshua Bee Alafia from 2012 to 2015. In September 2013, she gave birth to their son, Sankara. In November 2015, it was reported that DaCosta and Alafia broke up. Contrary to popular reports, DaCosta and Alafia were never officially married.[23]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Take the Lead LaRhette
2007 Honeydripper China Doll
2008 Racing for Time Vanessa TV movie
2009 The Messenger Monica Washington
2010 The Kids Are All Right Tanya
Tron: Legacy Siren
Lost and Found - Short
2011 In Time Greta
Whole Lotta Sole Sophie [24]
Weekends at Bellevue Vanessa TV movie
The Shanghai Hotel Kendra
2012 Dark Horse Amy TV movie
2013 Mother of George Sade
Big Words Annie
The Butler Carol Hammie
2014 And So It Goes Kennedy
2015 Whitney Whitney Houston TV movie
2016 The Nice Guys Tally
2018 Faith Under Fire Kendra TV movie
2019 Peel Sarah
Bolden Nora Bolden

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2004 America's Next Top Model Cycle 3; Contestant Runner-up
2005 Eve Ms. Jenkins Episode: "Prom Night"
2008 All My Children Cassandra Foster Regular cast
2009 Ugly Betty Nico Slater Recurring cast: Season 4
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Audrina Episode: "Anchor"
2010 Mercy Brooke Sullivan Episode: "There Is No Room for You on My Ass"
Army Wives Specialist Amber Stiles Episode: "AWOL"
2011 Body of Proof Holly Bennett Episode: "Helping Hand"
2011–12 House Anita Recurring cast: Season 8
2014 Unforgettable Molly McGinty Episode: "Cashing Out"
2015 The Simpsons Princess Kemi (voice) Episode: "The Princess Guide"
2015–22 Chicago Med April Sexton Main cast (seasons 1–6); Recurring cast (season 8)
Chicago Fire Crossover cast: seasons 3–6 & 8–9
2017–19 Chicago P.D. Crossover cast: seasons 4–5 & 7
2021–22 Our Kind of People Angela Vaughn Main cast
2023 The Lincoln Lawyer Andrea "Andy" Freeman Recurring role (season 2)

Music videos[edit]

Year Title Artist
2005 "Gold Digger" Kanye West
2006 "Pullin' Me Back" Chingy
2007 "Beautiful Girls" Sean Kingston
"Roc Boys" Jay-Z
2011 "Good Man" Raphael Saadiq

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Film Result
2006 Teen Choice Award Movies – Choice Breakout (Female) Take the Lead Nominated
2008 Black Reel Awards Best Ensemble Honeydripper Nominated
2010 Gotham Awards Best Ensemble Cast The Kids Are All Right Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Ensemble Acting Nominated
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
2011 Black Reel Award Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Best Ensemble Nominated
2016 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series Whitney Nominated [25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Critics express faith in lifetimes upcoming Whitney Houston biopic". Clutch magazine. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "yata slams nigerian roots". 20 November 2015.
  3. ^ Yaya Dacosta at Fashion Model Directory
  4. ^ "5 Things About Yaya DaCosta, Star of Whitney Houston Biopic". ABC News.
  5. ^ "Getting Even Better". www.brownalumnimagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  6. ^ "Top Model Contestants We Can't Forget". AOL Entertainment Canada. Archived from the original on 2008-12-18.
  7. ^ "Yaya DaCosta and Zoe Kravitz Cover W Magazine's September "New It Girls" Issue – Fashion Bomb Daily Style Magazine: Celebrity Fashion, Fashion News, What To Wear, Runway Show Reviews". fashionbombdaily.com. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  8. ^ "Digital Cover: Yaya DaCosta On Celebrating Her Natural Tresses On & Off The Big Screen". 9 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  9. ^ "Yaya DaCosta Stars in new Tom Ford Ad". Essence. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  10. ^ "Where are the models of ANTM now?". Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Antonio Banderas and Katya Virshilas in 'Take the Lead'". LA Times. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  12. ^ "All My Children's Next Top Model". ABC.com. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  13. ^ "The First Breeze of Summer". variety.com. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  14. ^ "'Ugly Betty' recast: 'Top Model' alum is Willie's daughter!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  15. ^ Magazine, W (1 September 2010). "Film: Young Actresses".
  16. ^ Sulmers, Claire. "Snapshot: Yaya DaCosta for L'Officiel Paris November 2010". 30 November 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  17. ^ Sulmers, Claire. "Snapshot: Yaya DaCosta by Patrick DeMarchelier for Vogue US January 2011". Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  18. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Yaya DaCosta On 'The Butler' & Maintaining Those Gorgeous Locks". latina.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  19. ^ "Lifetime's 'Whitney': What the Critics Are Saying". hollywood reporter. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  20. ^ "Yaya DaCosta Says 'Chicago Med' Opened Her Eyes on Beauty and Western Medicine". essence.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  21. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 14, 2021). "'Chicago Med': Yaya DaCosta & Torrey DeVitto Exit NBC Drama, Remaining Original Cast Members To Return". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  22. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 14, 2021). "Yaya DaCosta To Headline 'Our Kind Of People' Fox Drama Series Following 'Chicago Med' Exit". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  23. ^ Yoonsoo Kim, Kristen (2016-05-13). "Yaya DaCosta's Journey From 'America's Next Top Model' to Top Billing". Complex. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  24. ^ "TFF 2012: Spotlight". tribecafilm.com, Inc. March 8, 2012. Archived from the original on April 10, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  25. ^ "16th Annual Black Reel Award Nominations". Archived from the original on 2016-10-16. Retrieved 2015-12-18.

External links[edit]

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