Jayma Mays

Jayma Mays

Born Jamia Suzette Mays
(1979-07-16) July 16, 1979
Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma mater Radford University
Occupation Actress, singer
Years active 2004–present
Spouse(s) Adam Campbell (m. 2007)

Jamia Suzette "Jayma" Mays (born July 16, 1979)[1] is an American actress and singer. She is known for playing Emma Pillsbury on the Fox musical series Glee, her recurring role as Charlie Andrews on the NBC sci-fi serial Heroes, and for starring in the films Paul Blart: Mall Cop and The Smurfs. From October 2013 until November 2014, she played the role of Debbie on the sitcom The Millers.

Early life

Mays was born in Bristol, Tennessee[1] and raised in Grundy, Virginia, the daughter of Susan Paulette (née Norris) and James Edwin Mays, a high school teacher who also worked in the coal mining industry.[1][2] At age 15, she was offered a job working on the local radio station reading the obituaries. After graduating from Grundy High School, she earned an associate's degree from Southwest Virginia Community College. Mays then attended Virginia Tech for a year before transferring to Radford University.[1]

Career

Mays in 2009

In 2004, she made her first television appearance on Joey. The following year, she made her feature film debut with a supporting role in Red Eye. Mays' other credits include Six Feet Under, Stacked, How I Met Your Mother, Heroes, Pushing Daisies, The Comeback, Entourage, Ghost Whisperer, and Ugly Betty.[3]

Mays was in other movies, such as Bar Starz, Flags of Our Fathers and Blind Guy Driving. She starred in the spoof film Epic Movie and as Amy in Paul Blart: Mall Cop. She was a patient on House in the episode "Sleeping Dogs Lie" in 2006.[3]

Mays has played the love interest of a character played by Masi Oka in two different roles: Charlie Andrews on Heroes and Nina in the direct-to-DVD film Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control. She has also been cast as a love interest twice for Glee co-star Matthew Morrison; in an unaired TV show called Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office, where Mays landed the lead role and she starred as Emma Pillsbury on the Fox show Glee, which premiered on May 19, 2009. She was part of the main cast for the first three seasons, then was made a guest in seasons four, five, and six. In March 2010, Mays played the female lead in a live action/animation hybrid film version of The Smurfs.[3][4] She is also cast as a character named "Charlie" twice: Charlie Andrews on Heroes; Charlotte, Henry Grubstick's ex-girlfriend on Ugly Betty.[3] In August 2014, Mays helped to raise awareness of the disease ALS by participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge.[5]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Red Eye Cynthia
2006 Blind Dating Mandy also known as "Blind Guy Driving"
Flags of Our Fathers Nurse in Hawaii
2007 Smiley Face Actress in Waiting Room
Epic Movie Lucy Main character
Bar Starz Tiffany
2008 Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control Nina
2009 Paul Blart: Mall Cop Amy Anderson Main character
2011 The Smurfs Grace Winslow
2013 The Smurfs 2
2013 Last Weekend Blake Curtis
2015 Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant April Farnekowski
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Amy Anderson Cameo
2017 Mena Dana Sibota Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Joey Molly Episode: "Joey and the Party"
2005 The Comeback Sales Girl Episode: "Valerie Demands Dignity"
Six Feet Under Donna Episode: "The Rainbow of Her Reasons"
Stacked Brenda Episode: "Nobody Says I Love You"
2005, 2013 How I Met Your Mother Coat Check Girl "Okay Awesome",
"The Time Travelers"
2006 If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now Sandra Series pilot
30 Even Scarier Movie Moments Herself Miniseries
House Hannah Episode: "Sleeping Dogs Lie"
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Daphne Episode: "Pilot"
Entourage Jen Episode: "Sorry, Ari"
2006–10 Heroes Charlie Andrews 5 episodes
2007 Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office Angela Series pilot
2007–08 Ugly Betty Charlie 8 episodes
2007 Ghost Whisperer Jennifer Billings Episode: "The Underneath"
Pushing Daisies Elsita / Elsa Episode: "Pigeon"
Drunk History Annabelle Episode: "Drunk History Vol. 2.5: Featuring Jack Black"
2008 Back to You Shelley Ken Episode: "Date Night"
2009–15 Glee Emma Pillsbury Main role (seasons 1–3); recurring (season 4–6); 61 episodes
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
2012–14 The League Trixie Von Stein 6 episodes
2013–14 The Millers Debbie Main character
2014 Drunk History Abigail Adams Episode: "Philadelphia"
2014–2015 Getting On Suzi Sasso 4 episodes
2015–present The Adventures of Puss in Boots Dulcinea Main character; voice role
2015 Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Jessica 2 episodes

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Tennis, Joe (March 2, 2009). "Living A Hollywood Dream". Bristol Herald Courier, A! Magazine for the Arts. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  2. ↑ Mays' family genealogy site, accessed August 19, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jayma Mays at the Internet Movie Database
  4. ↑ Kit, Borys (March 17, 2010). "Glee's Jayma Mays cast in 'Smurfs'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_91TY14jBs

External links

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