Yaya DaCosta explained

Birth Name:Camara DaCosta Johnson
Birth Date:November 15, 1982
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Alma Mater:Brown University
Children:1
Haircolor:Dark brown
Eyecolor:Brown
Agency:Ford Models
Years Active:2004–present

Camara DaCosta Johnson (born November 15, 1982), known as Yaya DaCosta, is an American actress and model. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. DaCosta eventually went on 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 appeared 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

DaCosta was born on November 15, 1982. She was raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.[2] In addition to English, she speaks Portuguese, French, Spanish and conversational Japanese.[3] She attended the elite Northfield Mount Hermon School during high school before attending Brown University, where she majored in Africana studies and international relations. [4]

Career

After being the runner-up on Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model, DaCosta went on to have a successful career.[5] 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,[6] Hype Hair,[7] Splash and Global Modeling. In 2014, she landed a spot in Tom Ford’s Fall/Winter advertising campaign.[8] DaCosta began acting in 2005 after guest-starring in an episode of the UPN sitcom Eve.[9] She then starred opposite Rob Brown, Antonio Banderas and Alfre Woodard in the 2006 dance film Take the Lead.[10] 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).[11] According to an interview with All My Childrens 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 Negro Ensemble Company.[12] 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.[13]

In 2010, DaCosta had supporting roles in the comedy-drama film The Kids Are All Right and the science fiction action-adventure film . Later, she appeared in the magazines, including on the cover of W (September 2010),[14] in L'Officiel (in November 2010),[15] and in Vogue (in January 2011 by Patrick Demarchelier).[16] In 2013, she also appeared as Carol in the historical drama film The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.[17]

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.[18]

Also from 2015 to 2021, DaCosta starred in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med as April Sexton, an ED nurse.[19] On May 14, 2021, DaCosta announced that she was leaving Chicago Med after six seasons and that before her exit she would be joining Fox's drama series Our Kind of People as Angela Vaughn.[20] [21]

Personal life

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.[22]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Take the LeadLaRhette
2007HoneydripperChina Doll
2008Racing for TimeVanessaTV movie
2009Monica Washington
2010Tanya
Siren
Lost and Found-Short
2011In TimeGreta
Whole Lotta SoleSophie[23]
Weekends at BellevueVanessaTV movie
The Shanghai HotelKendra
2012Dark HorseAmyTV movie
2013Mother of GeorgeSade
Big WordsAnnie
The ButlerCarol Hammie
2014And So It GoesKennedy
2015WhitneyWhitney HoustonTV movie
2016The Nice GuysTally
2018Faith Under FireKendraTV movie
2019PeelSarah
BoldenNora Bolden

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004America's Next Top ModelCycle 3; ContestantRunner-up
2005EveMs. JenkinsEpisode: "Prom Night"
2008All My ChildrenCassandra FosterRegular cast
2009Ugly BettyNico SlaterRecurring cast: Season 4
AudrinaEpisode: "Anchor"
2010MercyBrooke SullivanEpisode: "There Is No Room for You on My Ass"
Army WivesSpecialist Amber StilesEpisode: "AWOL"
2011Body of ProofHolly BennettEpisode: "Helping Hand"
2011–12HouseAnitaRecurring cast: Season 8
2014UnforgettableMolly McGintyEpisode: "Cashing Out"
2015The SimpsonsPrincess Kemi (voice)Episode: "The Princess Guide"
2015–22Chicago MedApril SextonMain cast (seasons 1–6); Recurring cast (season 8)
Chicago FireCrossover cast: seasons 3–6 & 8–9
2017–19Chicago P.D.Crossover cast: seasons 4–5 & 7
2021–22Our Kind of PeopleAngela VaughnMain cast
2023The Lincoln LawyerAndrea "Andy" FreemanRecurring role (season 2)

Music videos

YearTitleArtist
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

YearAwardCategoryFilmResult
2006Teen Choice AwardMovies – Choice Breakout (Female)Take the Lead
2008Black Reel AwardsBest EnsembleHoneydripper
2010Gotham AwardsBest Ensemble CastThe Kids Are All Right
Phoenix Film Critics Society AwardsBest Ensemble Acting
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association AwardsBest Acting Ensemble
2011Black Reel AwardBest Breakthrough Performance
Critics' Choice Movie AwardsBest Acting Ensemble
Central Ohio Film Critics AssociationBest Ensemble
2016Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited SeriesWhitney[24]

Notes and References

  1. News: Critics express faith in lifetimes upcoming Whitney Houston biopic. 19 January 2018. Clutch magazine.
  2. Web site: 5 Things About Yaya DaCosta, Star of Whitney Houston Biopic. .
  3. Web site: Yaya DaCosta squashes Nigerian roots. 20 November 2015 .
  4. Web site: Getting Even Better. 2021-07-30. brownalumnimagazine.com. en.
  5. Web site: Top Model Contestants We Can't Forget. AOL Entertainment Canada. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081218085850/http://entertainment.aol.ca/article/top-model-contestants-we-cant-forget/97152/. 2008-12-18.
  6. Web site: 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. 2019-09-05.
  7. Web site: Digital Cover: Yaya DaCosta On Celebrating Her Natural Tresses On & Off The Big Screen. 9 May 2019 . en-US. 2019-09-05.
  8. Web site: Yaya DaCosta Stars in new Tom Ford Ad. Essence. en-US. 2019-09-05.
  9. News: Where are the models of ANTM now?. 18 January 2018.
  10. News: Antonio Banderas and Katya Virshilas in 'Take the Lead'. LA Times. 19 January 2018.
  11. Web site: All My Children's Next Top Model . 2008-04-03 . ABC.com.
  12. Web site: The First Breeze of Summer. 22 August 2008 . variety.com. 18 January 2018.
  13. 'Ugly Betty' recast: 'Top Model' alum is Willie's daughter!. 18 January 2018. Entertainment Weekly.
  14. Web site: Film: Young Actresses . W. Magazine. 1 September 2010.
  15. Web site: Sulmers . Claire . Snapshot: Yaya DaCosta for L'Officiel Paris November 2010 . 30 November 2010 . 12 January 2019.
  16. Web site: Sulmers . Claire . Snapshot: Yaya DaCosta by Patrick DeMarchelier for Vogue US January 2011 . 12 January 2019.
  17. News: EXCLUSIVE: Yaya DaCosta On 'The Butler' & Maintaining Those Gorgeous Locks. 18 January 2018. latina.com.
  18. News: Lifetime's 'Whitney': What the Critics Are Saying. 18 January 2018. hollywood reporter.
  19. News: Yaya DaCosta Says 'Chicago Med' Opened Her Eyes on Beauty and Western Medicine. 18 January 2018. essence.com.
  20. Web site: 'Chicago Med': Yaya DaCosta & Torrey DeVitto Exit NBC Drama, Remaining Original Cast Members To Return. Deadline Hollywood. Andreeva. Nellie. May 14, 2021. May 23, 2021.
  21. Web site: Yaya DaCosta To Headline 'Our Kind Of People' Fox Drama Series Following 'Chicago Med' Exit. Deadline Hollywood. Andreeva. Nellie. May 14, 2021. May 23, 2021.
  22. News: Yoonsoo Kim . Kristen . Yaya DaCosta's Journey From 'America's Next Top Model' to Top Billing . 14 April 2020 . Complex . 2016-05-13.
  23. News: TFF 2012: Spotlight. tribecafilm.com, Inc.. March 8, 2012. 2012-03-28. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120410193413/http://www.tribecafilm.com/news-features/TFF_2012_Spotlight.html. April 10, 2012.
  24. Web site: 16th Annual Black Reel Award Nominations . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161016182500/http://blackreelawards.com/16th-annual-black-reel-award-nominations/ . 2016-10-16 . 2015-12-18.