Acting
Yaya DaCosta
Born 1982-11-15
Harlem, New York, New York, USA
Department: Acting
Biography
Camara DaCosta Johnson, professionally known as Yaya Alafia (formerly Yaya DaCosta), is an American actress and model. She's best known for her starring role as April Sexton on NBC's Chicago Med, as Andrea Vaughn in Our Kind of People, and as Whitney Houston in the TV movie Whitney. She was the runner-up in Cycle 3 of America's Next Top Model. She eventually went to star as Cassandra in ABC's daytime soap All My Children, as Nico Slater in ABC's comedy-drama Ugly Betty, and as April Sexton on NBC's medical drama Chicago Med. She's also appeared in films including The Kids Are All Right, In Time, The Messenger, The Butler, And So It Goes, and The Nice Guys.
Known For
Prominent works featuring Yaya DaCosta
TV
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The Simpsons
1989
TMDB4.0
Movie
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In Time
2011
TMDB3.5
TV
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House
2004
TMDB4.3
Movie
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The Nice Guys
2016
TMDB3.5
Movie
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TRON: Legacy
2010
TMDB3.3
TV
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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
TMDB4.0
TV
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Chicago P.D.
2014
TMDB4.2
TV
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Chicago Fire
2012
TMDB4.2
Movie
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The Butler
2013
TMDB3.6
TV
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Chicago Med
2015
TMDB4.2
Filmography & Credits
Complete career catalog (36 titles)
| Poster | Title | Character / Role | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story | Monique Smith | Movie | 2025 |
 | The Lincoln Lawyer | Andrea Freemann | TV Series | 2022 |
 | Our Kind of People | Angela Vaughn | TV Series | 2021 |
 | Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts | Self | TV Series | 2021 |
 | Bolden | Nora Bolden | Movie | 2019 |
 | Peel | Sarah | Movie | 2019 |
 | Faith Under Fire: The Antoinette Tuff Story | Kendra | Movie | 2018 |
 | The Nice Guys | Tally | Movie | 2016 |
 | Chicago Med | April Sexton | TV Series | 2015 |
 | Whitney | Whitney Houston | Movie | 2015 |
 | And So It Goes | Kennedy | Movie | 2014 |
 | Chicago P.D. | April Sexton | TV Series | 2014 |
 | Mother of George | Sade Bakare | Movie | 2013 |
 | The Butler | Carol Hammie | Movie | 2013 |
 | Big Words | Annie | Movie | 2013 |
 | Chicago Fire | April Sexton | TV Series | 2012 |
 | In Time | Greta | Movie | 2011 |
 | Unforgettable | Molly McGinty | TV Series | 2011 |
 | Whole Lotta Sole | Sophie | Movie | 2011 |
 | Body of Proof | Holly Bennett | TV Series | 2011 |
 | Weekends at Bellevue | Vanessa | Movie | 2011 |
 | TRON: Legacy | Siren #3 | Movie | 2010 |
 | The Kids Are All Right | Tanya | Movie | 2010 |
 | The Messenger | Monica Washington | Movie | 2009 |
 | Mercy | Brooke Sullivan | TV Series | 2009 |
 | Racing for Time | Vanessa | Movie | 2008 |
 | Honeydripper | China Doll | Movie | 2007 |
 | Army Wives | Specialist Amber Stiles | TV Series | 2007 |
 | Ugly Betty | Nico Slater | TV Series | 2006 |
 | Take the Lead | LaRhette | Movie | 2006 |
 | House | Anita | TV Series | 2004 |
 | Eve | Ms. Jenkins | TV Series | 2003 |
 | America's Next Top Model | Self - Contestant | TV Series | 2003 |
| America's Next Top Model | Self - Top Model in Action | TV Series | 2003 |
 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Audrina | TV Series | 1999 |
 | The Simpsons | Princess Kemi (voice) | TV Series | 1989 |