Chicago Med is a series that has become incredibly popular with fans of all ages and interests. The high-intensity series is part of the famed Chicago franchise and features a variety of talented actors and actresses, who help to bring the characters to life.
One of the show’s fan-favorite actresses is Yaya DaCosta, who has been a mainstay on the series for more than five years. DaCosta has had a multitude of other roles in television in addition to her work in Chicago Med — most memorably, the young actress once played the iconic Whitney Houston in a popular Lifetime movie.
How did Yaya DaCosta get into acting?
Yaya DaCosta was born in New York City in 1982. Raised with a multicultural sensibility, DaCosta can speak several languages, including French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
DaCosta’s early work was in modeling, and after she appeared on Cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model, she rose to national prominence. Over the next few years, DaCosta worked with several top brands, including Garnier Fructis and Radioshack.
DaCosta’s first foray into television was in the soap opera All My Children. As Cassandra Foster, DaCosta made waves with fans but only remained on the series for a few months before leaving to work on other projects.
Yaya DaCosta has a prime role in the TV show ‘Chicago Med’
On set with Gary Carr (Buddy Bolden), and Yaya DaCosta (Nora Bolden), in Wilmington, NC on the banks of the Cape Fear River, filming part of a sequence from Buddy’s memory in #BoldenMovie. Own it now on Digital! pic.twitter.com/jIyWgO9cmO
— Bolden Movie (@boldenmovie) May 24, 2019From 2008 until 2015, Yaya DaCosta acted in a variety of different television shows and films. 2015 was the year that she got her big break when she was cast in the drama Chicago Med.
Playing April Sexton, DaCosta received positive reviews from both critics and fans. She has been a mainstay on the series ever since and has appeared in many crossover events on other shows in the Chicago franchise, including Chicago P.D.
Yaya DaCosta played Whitney Houston in a Lifetime biopic
Yaya DaCosta became a Hollywood heavyweight following her work in Chicago Med — but she has also appeared in other projects as well, including the 2015 Lifetime biopic Whitney. The film itself received positive press since it was Angela Bassett’s directorial debut — but it was the young actress DaCosta, who played musical icon Whitney Houston, who really took center stage.
DaCosta exquisitely portrayed the highs and lows of Houston’s life, including her battle with drug addiction and her troubled romance with Bobby Brown. However, when it came to one important aspect of Houston’s life, DaCosta had to call in some help from other artists.
Did Yaya DaCosta really sing when she played Whitney Houston?
There are many scenes in the Lifetime biopic Whitney that feature the icon belting out her signature tunes. However, Yaya DaCosta did not provide the vocals for all of the singing featured in the movie. Rather, as reported by People Magazine, Deborah Cox actually provided the singing voice that fans can hear in the film.
A few of the songs that Cox sang for the biopic included “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” “I’m Every Woman,” “The Greatest Love of All,” and Houston’s most popular ballad, “I Will Always Love You.”
Ultimately, the fact that DaCosta didn’t provide the singing voice didn’t seem to phase critics much, since the actress received a lot of positive reviews for her nuanced acting — and in the years since, she has only continued to impress viewers. Stay tuned to Showbiz Cheat Sheet for all the latest entertainment news!
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