America's Next Top Model, season 3 debuted in 2004. By 2005, Yaya DaCosta had broken into the business, guest-starring in UPN's Eve. She's since played parts in 33 other TV shows and movies. You may have watched her in All My Children, Ugly Betty, The Butler, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, House, Chicago PD, and, of course, Chicago Med, where she's been killing it as April Sexton since 2015 (via IMDb).
But according to the actress, her most challenging role was playing Whitney Houston in the memorial film, Whitney (via Complex). While the movie was met with mediocre reviews, DaCosta hit it out of the park. She credits her success to Director Angela Basset's constant support, "You are everything," she would tell DaCosta when she began to doubt herself (via E!). Making the movie challenged DaCosta in part because it hit close to home. The actress knows what it's like to lose a family member too early. Having herself lost a brother to a tragic accident, she's admitted to Ebony that, "'Every time someone comes up to me and says 'great job in Whitney,' like, I want to cry."
What's next up for DaCosta? The self-proclaimed "undercover martial artist" is itching after an action film, and would love to play the goddess, Storm from the X-Men franchise (MEAWW). She is also an avid writer and is anxious to become more involved in Hollywood's producing scene (via Atlanta Black Star). We're eager to see that side of her, too.
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