Yaya DaCosta
Biography
Yaya DaCosta is an American actress and model. Born on November 15, 1982, in Harlem, New York, she is known for her work in television and film. DaCosta was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. She has appeared in various TV shows, including Chicago Med, Our Kind of People, and Ugly Betty. Her film credits include The Kids Are All Right, In Time, The Messenger, The Butler, And So It Goes, and The Nice Guys. DaCosta has also portrayed Whitney Houston in a TV movie. She has 35 known credits in the acting field.
Career overview
Yaya DaCosta is an American actress and model. She began her career in the entertainment industry as a contestant on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 3. This exposure led to her first notable role as Cassandra on the ABC daytime soap All My Children.
DaCosta's subsequent appearances include the ABC comedy-drama Ugly Betty, where she played Nico Slater, and the NBC medical drama Chicago Med, where she portrayed April Sexton. She has also appeared in other television shows, including Our Kind of People, where she played Andrea Vaughn. Additionally, she portrayed Whitney Houston in a TV movie.
DaCosta's film career includes appearances in The Kids Are All Right, In Time, The Messenger, The Butler, And So It Goes, and The Nice Guys. Her acting credits span multiple genres and platforms, showcasing her versatility as a performer.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story (2025) as Monique Smith
- The Lincoln Lawyer (2022) as Andrea Freemann
- Our Kind of People (2021) as Angela Vaughn
- Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts (2021) as Self
- Bolden (2019) as Nora Bolden
- Peel (2019) as Sarah
- Faith Under Fire: The Antoinette Tuff Story (2018) as Kendra
- The Nice Guys (2016) as Tally
- Chicago Med (2015) as April Sexton
- Whitney (2015) as Whitney Houston
- Chicago P.D. (2014) as April Sexton
- And So It Goes (2014) as Kennedy
- The Butler (2013) as Carol Hammie
- Big Words (2013) as Annie
- Mother of George (2013) as Sade Bakare
- Chicago Fire (2012) as April Sexton
- Unforgettable (2011) as Molly McGinty
- Body of Proof (2011) as Holly Bennett
- In Time (2011) as Greta
- Whole Lotta Sole (2011) as Sophie
- Weekends at Bellevue (2011) as Vanessa
- TRON: Legacy (2010) as Siren #3
- The Kids Are All Right (2010) as Tanya
- Mercy (2009) as Brooke Sullivan
- The Messenger (2009) as Monica Washington
- Racing for Time (2008) as Vanessa
- Army Wives (2007) as Specialist Amber Stiles
- Honeydripper (2007) as China Doll
- Ugly Betty (2006) as Nico Slater
- Take the Lead (2006) as LaRhette
- House (2004) as Anita
- America's Next Top Model (2003) as Self - Contestant
- America's Next Top Model (2003) as Self - Top Model in Action
- Eve (2003) as Ms. Jenkins
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Audrina
- The Simpsons (1989) as Princess Kemi (voice)