(Ebony) – When we first met fresh-faced beauty Yaya DaCosta, who became the runner-up on Tyra Banks’s America’s Next Top Model back in 2004, it was clear then that it wasn’t the last time we’d be seeing her long legs, lovely smile and fluffy Afro on small screens. The Ivy League educated model and trained dancer had too many intriguing qualities not to turn that 15 minutes of fame into a long-lasting career. And that’s exactly what she’s done.
Today, with some 14 films later (including a scene-stealing performance in The Butler) and just as many television roles under her belt, Yaya is firmly planted as one of the bona fide sisters people love seeing represent on all screens, big and small. After a reoccurring role on the NBC drama Chicago Fire, she’s been cast as a regular on the spin-off, Chicago Med, premiering November 17.
After an exclusive EBONY.com chat with the 32-year-old actress, here are five things you’ll want to know about the inimitable Yaya DaCosta.