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)
Children 1

Jamia (Jayma) Suzette 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. Since March 2017 she has been starring as prosecutor Carol Anne Keane in the NBC sitcom Trial & Error.

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 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, Mays 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 appeared 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, and as mysophobic guidance counsellor Emma Pillsbury on the Fox show Glee, which premiered on May 19, 2009. She was part of the main cast of Glee for the first three seasons, then was made a guest star in seasons four, five, and six. She has also performed musical numbers on Glee including her solo performance of "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me" from The Rocky Horror Show during the themed episode "The Rocky Horror Glee Show"; which was also the song she had sung for her audition for the role. In March 2010, Mays played Grace Winslow, the female lead in the live-action/animated film adaptation of The Smurfs.[3][4] She also played the role of 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] She also appeared in the music video for Switchfoot's single "Awakening".

Personal life

Mays met her husband Adam Campbell on the set of Epic Movie in 2006. In April 2016, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child. In August 2016, they welcomed their son Jude.[6]

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
Bar Starz Tiffany
2008 Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control Nina
2009 Paul Blart: Mall Cop Amy Anderson
2011 The Smurfs Grace Winslow
2013 The Smurfs 2 Grace Winslow
2013 Last Weekend Blake Curtis
2015 Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant April Farnekowski
2017 American Made Dana Sibota

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 2 episodes
2006 If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now Sandra Unsold television 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"
2006–2010 Heroes Charlie Andrews Recurring role; 5 episodes
2007 Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office Angela Unsold television pilot
2007–2008 Ugly Betty Charlie Recurring role; 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"
2009–2015 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
2012–2014 The League Trixie Von Stein Recurring role; 6 episodes
2013–2015 The Millers Debbie Main role; 34 episodes
2014, 2018 Drunk History Various 2 episodes
2014–2015 Getting On Suzi Sasso 4 episodes
2015–2018 The Adventures of Puss in Boots Dulcinea Main role; 52 episodes; voice role
2015 Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Jessica 2 episodes
2017–present Trial & Error Carol Anne Keane Main role; 13 episodes
2018 Great News Cat Episode: "Catfight"

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 on IMDb
  4. ↑ Kit, Borys (March 17, 2010). "Glee's Jayma Mays cast in 'Smurfs'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  5. ↑ Benign Ginger (August 20, 2014). "Jayma Mays Ice Bucket". Retrieved October 6, 2018 – via YouTube.
  6. ↑ "Glee's Jayma Mays Welcomes a Son With Husband Adam Campbell". November 6, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
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