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Yaya DaCosta facts for kids

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Yaya DaCosta
Yaya DaCosta, Afropunk 2023 (cropped).png
DaCosta at Afropunk Festival in 2023
Born
Camara DaCosta Johnson

(1982-11-15) November 15, 1982 (age 42)
New York City, U.S.
Alma mater Brown University
Years active 2004–present
Children 1
Modeling information
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Hair color Dark brown
Eye color Brown
Agency Ford Models

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.

Early life and education

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

Career

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

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), in L'Officiel (in November 2010), and in Vogue (in January 2011 by Patrick Demarchelier). In 2013, she also appeared as Carol in the historical drama film The Butler, starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.

DaCosta Nice Guys
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.

Also from 2015 to 2021, DaCosta starred in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med as April Sexton, an ED nurse. 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 in the lead role; the new series was cancelled after 12 episodes.

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.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Take the Lead LaRhette
2007 Honeydripper China Doll
2009 Messenger, TheThe Messenger Monica Washington
2010 Kids Are All Right, TheThe Kids Are All Right Tanya
Tron: Legacy Siren
Lost and Found - Short film
2011 In Time Greta
Whole Lotta Sole Sophie
The Shanghai Hotel Kendra
2013 Mother of George Sade
Big Words Annie
The Butler Carol Hammie
2014 And So It Goes Kennedy
2016 The Nice Guys Tally
2019 Peel Sarah
Bolden Nora Bolden

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 America's Next Top Model Cycle 3; Contestant Runner-up
2005 Eve Ms. Jenkins Episode: "Prom Night"
2008 Racing for Time Vanessa TV movie
All My Children Cassandra Foster Recurring role
2009 Ugly Betty Nico Slater Recurring role (season 4)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Audrina Episode: "Anchor"
2010 Mercy Brooke Sullivan Episode: "There Is No Room for You on My ..."
Army Wives Specialist Amber Stiles Episode: "AWOL"
2011 Body of Proof Holly Bennett Episode: "Helping Hand"
Weekends at Bellevue Vanessa TV movie
2011–2012 House Anita 2 episodes
2012 Dark Horse Amy TV movie
2014 Unforgettable Molly McGinty Episode: "Cashing Out"
2015 The Simpsons Princess Kemi (voice) Episode: "The Princess Guide"
Whitney Whitney Houston TV movie
2015–2021 Chicago Fire April Sexton 12 episodes, crossover cast
2015–2022 Chicago Med Main cast (seasons 1–6); Recurring role (season 8)
2017, 2019 Chicago P.D. 3 episodes, crossover cast
2018 Faith Under Fire Kendra TV movie
2021–2022 Our Kind of People Angela Vaughn Main cast
2023–2024 The Lincoln Lawyer Andrea "Andy" Freeman Recurring role (season 2); Main cast (season 3)

Music videos

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

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Yaya DaCosta para niños

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