Person

Yaya DaCosta

Acting · Born 1982-11-15 · Harlem, New York, New York, USA

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

Filmography

2025Not My Family: The Monique Smith StoryMonique Smith
2022The Lincoln LawyerAndrea Freemann
2021Our Kind of PeopleAngela Vaughn
2021Turning the Tables with Robin RobertsSelf
2019BoldenNora Bolden
2019PeelSarah
2018Faith Under Fire: The Antoinette Tuff StoryKendra
2016The Nice GuysTally
2015Chicago MedApril Sexton
2015WhitneyWhitney Houston
2014And So It GoesKennedy
2014Chicago P.D.April Sexton
2013Mother of GeorgeSade Bakare
2013The ButlerCarol Hammie
2013Big WordsAnnie
2012Chicago FireApril Sexton
2011In TimeGreta
2011UnforgettableMolly McGinty
2011Whole Lotta SoleSophie
2011Body of ProofHolly Bennett
2011Weekends at BellevueVanessa
2010TRON: LegacySiren #3
2010The Kids Are All RightTanya
2009The MessengerMonica Washington
2009MercyBrooke Sullivan
2008Racing for TimeVanessa
2007HoneydripperChina Doll
2007Army WivesSpecialist Amber Stiles
2006Ugly BettyNico Slater
2006Take the LeadLaRhette
2004HouseAnita
2003EveMs. Jenkins
2003America's Next Top ModelSelf - Contestant
1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAudrina
1989The SimpsonsPrincess Kemi (voice)

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