Mya filmography
Feature films18
Theatrical plays1
Television30
Commercials5
Video game1

American recording artist and entertainer Mya has worked in eighteen feature films (eleven an actress), seven documentaries, thirty television episodes, one theatrical play, and featured or appeared in five commercials.

Following the success of her debut album Mýa (1998), Mya began reading and receiving movie scripts. Her first foray into acting was Aussie director Michael Rymer's crime action thriller film In Too Deep starring opposite LL Cool J and Omar Epps. She made her cinematic debut with a small role portraying Omar Epps character's girlfriend Loretta.[1] Released August 1999, In Too Deep received generally mixed reviews, but managed to recoup its budget.[2][3][4]

In 2002, Mya landed her "most notable" role to date in the Tony Award-winning musical adaptation Chicago.[5] Originally, centered around two 1920s entertainers who get involved in homicide, the film's adaptation of the Broadway musical, under director Rob Marshall's vision was a completely new and stylized version, in which all of the original parts had been rewritten.[5] In the big-screen adaptation, Mya co-starred as Mona, one of the cell block prisoners guilty of murder. The role featured her singing and dancing in a solo section during the "Cell Block Tango" sequence.[5] Prior to securing the role, Mya went through an audition process. At first, reluctant because she had to audition with no script and no tape, however she devised and created a scenario from the description given about the character and improvised the rest winning her the role.[6] After securing the part and with the inclusion of "Lipshitz" now incorporated into the movie, Mya spent two months in Canada in rehearsals working closely with Rob Marshall to perfect her solo monologue and Cell Block Tango dance sequence.[6] Released December 2002, Chicago was a box office hit and grossed 306.8 million worldwide. As well as, critically lauded,[7] the film received 13 Oscar nominations and 8 Golden Globes nomination while winning Mya several awards in the ensemble categories including a Critics' Choice Movie Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.[8][9]

In 2004, Mya had two minor roles–Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and Shall We Dance?. First, she appeared in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. A re-imaging of the 1987 film starring Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, filmed in Puerto Rico and set in the 1950s follows an American family during the Cuban Revolution. In the film, Mya portrays Lola Martinez, a Tropicana girl-cum-nightclub singer and serenades the crowd during one of the ballroom dance sequence singing "Do You Only Wanna Dance?."[10] A box office bomb, the film grossed $27 million at the box office and received largely negative reviews.[11][12] Next, Mya appeared in Shall We Dance?, a remake of the 1996 Japanese film of the same name. A tidbit part, Mya portrays Omar Benson Miller's character Vern's fiancée. The singer's most challenging role yet, it required her along with the cast to learn ballroom dance numbers–paso doble, the waltz, the tango and the cha-cha choreographed by choreographer JoAnn Jansen.[13] Released Fall 2004, Shall We Dance? was a box office hit, however received generally mixed reviews.[14][15][16]

In February 2005, after going through development hell with reshoots and casting, Mya secured a supporting role in Wes Craven's film Cursed.[17] A horror comedy, Mya co-starred as Jenny Tate, a socialite and best friend to Shannon Elizabeth's character Becky Morton.[17] Excited to work with Wes Craven, during filming and as a suggestion to him, Mya was able to improv her character's big chase scene. When released Cursed tanked at the box office and received overwhelmingly negative reviews.[18][19] Despite the film's overall box office performance, Mya earned a Best Frightened Performance nomination at 2005 MTV Movie Awards.[20]

The following year in 2006, she co-starred in the romantic comedy drama The Heart Specialist, written, produced and directed by Dennis Cooper, and starred Wood Harris, Zoe Saldana, and Brian J. White. Originally released under the title Ways of the Flesh,[21] it initially premiered at the 2006 Boston Film Festival[22] however had remain unreleased until 2011, when it was granted a limited theatrical release.[21] Still fairly new to acting, in 2006 as well, Mya was honored with the Crossover Award (singer to actor) at the Palm Beach International Film Festival.[23]

In the latter half of her career, Mya appeared in low budget independent films. Beginning in 2007, she had a minor role in the indie sex comedy The Metrosexual.[24] [25] Starring Shaun Benson in the titular role, she portrays Jessica, an ex-girlfriend. Unreleased and screened at the Boston Film Festival it received mixed reviews.[26] The next year in 2008, Mya received a supporting role in Bill Duke's directed drama thriller Cover where she portrayed an AIDS victim named Cynda. The film dealt with the subject of men who are on the down-low in society and opened at selective theaters. It grossed $79,436 in the United States and received negative reviews.[24][27][28] In the same year, Mya landed her first starring role. She starred in the direct-to-dvd romantic comedy Love For Sale. Starring opposite Jackie Long and Jason Weaver, Mya played Kiely, a college student in a bad relationship. Love For Sale was released on DVD October 21, 2008.

The following year in 2009, Mya had supporting role in the comedy drama indie film Bottleworld. Cast as Bree, it featured an ensemble cast of Anna Camp, Christopher Denham and Scott Wilson. In March 2010, she appeared in The Penthouse starring Rider Strong. The sex comedy earned largely negative reviews.[29] Next, Mya starred as Lt. Plummer opposite Linda Hamilton in the Syfy original television movie Bermuda Tentacles. Directed by Nick Lyon the made-for-television film premiered April 12, 2014 and garnered largely negative reviews.[30] Following its years in development hell, in February 2021, Mya had a minor role in the Tubi streaming platform action movie Lazarus.[31] Later that year, she starred in Lifetime original holiday film My Favorite Christmas Melody. She starred as Abby Walker, once a promising singer-songwriter who now finds herself writing uninspired jingles for commercials. As she heads home for the holidays, she's enlisted by the local high school music teacher to help save the school arts program. In the process, Abby rediscovers her voice and regains the confidence to go after her dreams and lets the possibility of love in too. It aired December 5, 2021, apart of Lifetime's It's a Wonderful Lifetime holiday movie event.[32] Returning to the silver screen, in January 2023, Mya made a cameo in the rebooted comedy film House Party. Considered a legitimate supporting role, she appeared as the major love interest for actor Tosin Cole's character Damon.[33][34] House Party received largely mixed reviews.[35]

Aside from film appearances, Mya made television appearances as well. In 2004 and 2005, she guest starred on television series 1-800-Missing and NCIS. In 2009, she competed in the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars. A fan favorite among viewers, she earned the runner-up title in the competition.[36][37] For two seasons, she starred in the ALLBLK television drama 5th Ward The Series. Based on director Greg Carter's first movie of the same name, Mya starred as Mina Kennedy, a single mother raising her three sons in Houston's historic district Fifth Ward.[38] In 2019, she made her first foray into reality television and appeared in the Vh1 show Girls Cruise alongside Lil' Kim and Chilli of TLC.[39]

Feature films

Key
Indicates a cameo appearance
Indicates a documentary appearance
Mya film appearances
Year Title Role Credit(s) Ref.
1999 In Too Deep Loretta Actress [1]
2002 Chicago Mona Actress [40]
2003 Volcano High Jade Voice Actress [41]
The Blues Herself Appearance [42]
2004 Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Lola Martinez Actress [43]
Shall We Dance? Vern's Fiancée Actress [44]
Freestyle With Brian Friedman Herself Appearance
2005 Cursed Jenny Tate Actress [17]
2007 The Metrosexual Jessica Actress [25][45]
2008 Cover Cynda Actress [46]
Love For Sale Keiley Actress [47]
2009 Bottleworld Bree Actress [48]
2010 The Penthouse Mitra Actress [29]
2011 The Heart Specialist Valerie Actress [49]
2012 Sunset Strip Herself Appearance [50]
2014 Bermuda Tentacles Lt. Plummer Actress [30]
2017 Vegan Roundtable[A] Herself Appearance [51]
2018 Changing the Game[B] Herself [52]
2019 Slice of Life:The Future of Food Herself [53]
2021 Lazarus Flora Actress [31]
They're Trying To Kill Us Herself Appearance [54]
My Favorite Christmas Melody Abby Actress [32]
2023 House Party Herself Actress [55]

Theatrical plays

Mya stage work
Year Title Role Playwright Stage Ref.
2008 Chicago[C] Velma Kelly Ambassador Theatre [56]

Television

Mya television appearances
Year Title Role Episode Notes Ref.
1999 Sister, Sister Herself "FreakNik" Guest Appearance [57]
All That "All That Live!" (100th Episode) Host [58]
Figure It Out "Tickled Lizard with Feather to Win Race/Won Best Trick with Snoring Dog" Panelist [59]
FANatic "Mya/Mary J. Blige" Appearance
2001 2GE+HER: The Series Herself "Lyrics" Guest Appearance [60]
Making the Video "Lady Marmalade" Appearance [61]
2002 Haunted Voodoo Priest "Abby" Actress [62]
VH-1 Behind the Movie Herself "Chicago" Appearance [63]
2003 Punk'd Herself "Mya/Katie Holmes/Tracy Morgan" Appearance [64]
MADtv Season 9, Episode 9 Guest Appearance [65]
Making the Video "My Love Is Like...Wo" Appearance [66]
Access Granted "Fallen" [67]
2004 1-800-Missing Kira "Pop Star" Actress [68]
Beat Seeker Herself Season 2, Episode 16 Appearance [69]
2005 NCIS Samantha "Jade" King "Pop Life" Actress [70]
2006 Love Monkey Herself "Coming Out" Guest Appearance [71]
TV Land's Top Ten Herself "Top Ten Musical Moments" Appearance [72]
2007 Yo Gabba Gabba! Herself "Friends" Guest Appearance [73]
2008 Secret Talents of the Stars Herself "Pilot" Contestant [74]
2009 Dancing with the Stars Herself Season 9 [75]
Cubed Season 1, Episode 4 Appearance [76]
2010 The Real Housewives of D.C. Herself "Welcome to the District" Guest Appearance [77]
Biography P!nk Appearance [78]
2011 WWE Raw Herself "The Rock's Birthday Bash" Special Guest [79]
2017 Display Herself "Display 309" Appearance [80]
2018 Do or Dare Herself "T.I. Vs Mya" Contestant [81]
Gods of Medicine Jackie Garrett Heaven Can Wait... Actress [82]
5th Ward The Series Mina Kennedy 2 Seasons Actress [83]
2019 Girls Cruise Herself 1 Season Appearance [84]
2022 Shark Tank Herself Candi
  • Guest Appearance
  • Helper
[85]

Commercials

Mya in commercials
Year Company Promoting Title Theme song(s) Region Ref.
1999 MTV Music videos "Keep It Real" International [86][87]
2003 The Coca-Cola Company Soft drink beverage "Coca-Cola...Real" "Compared to What" [88]
Gap Clothing "Fit to feel groovy—GapStretch—the new pants" "Feelin' Groovy" [89]
Pantene Pro-voice contest [90][91]
2005 Motorola Motorola rokr "Phone Booth" "Hung Up" [92]
2011 NBC Universal[D] Bravo "Fashion By Bravo" "Fabulous Life" [93]
2013 Ford Motor Company[E] Ford Focus "Break Your Neck" [94]

Video game

Mya video game appearance
Year Title Role Credit(s) Ref.
2003 James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing Mya Starling Voice Actress [95]

See also

Notes

A A short video documentary where Waka Flocka Flame, Russell Simmons and Mya discuss why they decided to adopt a vegan lifestyle.
B A short video documentary with multiple female celebrities discussing the importance of vegan fashion.
C Due to unfortunate circumstances, Mya had to postpone her Broadway debut after she incurred a broken foot. Her stint was to began May 12, 2008 to July 13, 2008 at the Ambassador theatre.[96]
D NBC Universal licensed "Fabulous Life" to promote their Fashion By Bravo campaign.
E The Ford Motor Company licensed "Break Your Neck" to promote its 2013 Ford Focus.

References

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  2. "Cop Thriller 'In Too Deep' Rises Above Formulaic Plot". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  3. Maslin, Janet (August 25, 1999). "FILM REVIEW; A Conflicted Detective, A Drug Lord Named God". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  4. "Company Town : Company Town Film Profit Report". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Mya Signs On For 'Chicago'". Billboard. November 28, 2001. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Ritter, Rachael (March 14, 2003). "Mya discusses Oscar-nominated 'Chicago'". The Maroon. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  7. "Chicago Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  8. "The 8th Critics' Choice Movie Awards Winners and Nominees". BFCA. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  9. "The 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". SAG. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  10. "Mya: Flight Of The Swan". Mya Mya. Archived from the original on June 18, 2003. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  11. "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  12. "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  13. Cohen, Angel (March 3, 2004). "Uh-Oh! Mya Gets Dirty". TV Guide. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  14. Holden, Stephen (October 15, 2004). "He's a Fool for Dancing. Despite the Briefcase". The New York Times.
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  16. "Shall We Dance Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
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  21. 1 2 Scheck, Frank. "The Heart Specialist -- Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
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  31. 1 2 Hayes, Dade (February 4, 2021). "Tubi To Premiere Samuel Goldwyn Action Movie 'Lazarus' In Streaming Exclusive". Deadline. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  32. 1 2 Wang, K.L. Connie (September 30, 2021). "The Complete Lifetime Christmas Movie Schedule for It's a Wonderful Lifetime 2021". Parade. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  33. Walsh, Kate (January 12, 2023). "Movie Review: No need to RSVP for this 'House Party". Spokesman. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
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  38. "EXCLUSIVE: Singer Mya Talks About Her New Show, '5th Ward'". Ebony. March 2, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  39. "VH1 Orders 'Girls Cruise' Reality Series Starring & Executive Produced By Lil' Kim For July Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. June 10, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
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  45. "Oh, Mio, Mya". Out. July 31, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  46. "Eden Corrupted". The Los Angeles Times. February 22, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  47. "Love for Sale (2008)". The A.V. Club. October 21, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  48. "Film Description : Bottleworld : Bahamas International Film Festival". Bahamas Local. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  49. "Mya Talks 'The Heart Specialist,' Awkward Sex Scene, and Future Movie Roles". Rolling Out. November 11, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  50. "Slash, Billy Corgan Take a Ride Down 'Sunset Strip'". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  51. Penrose, Nerisha (August 22, 2017). "Waka Flocka Flame, Mya & Russell Simmons Discuss Their Vegan Lifestyles in New PETA Video". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  52. "These Women Are Game-Changers in the World of Fashion (VIDEO)". PETA. November 11, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
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  58. "All That Live! (100th Episode)". IMDB. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  59. "Tickled Lizard with Feather to Win Race/Won Best Trick with Snoring Dog". IMDB. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  60. "Lyrics". IMDB. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  61. "Lady Marmelade". IMDB. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  62. "Abby". IMDB. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  63. "Chicago". IMDB. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  64. "Punk'd - Season 2 Episode 3: Mya, Katie Holmes, Tracy Morgan". Metacritic. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  65. "Episode #9.9". IMDB. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
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  78. "Pink". IMDB. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  79. "Platinum Recording Artist Mya Sings Happy Birthday To The Rock Live On WWE Raw Lookin Extra Fine!". WorldStarHipHop. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
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  82. "Heaven Can Wait..." IMDB. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  83. "Watch The Exclusive Trailer For Houston-Set Series, 'Fifth Ward,' Starring Mya And Carl Anthony Payne". Shadow and Act. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  84. Scott, Sydney (February 27, 2019). "Lil Kim, Mya, And Chilli Spotted In Barbados Filming New Vh1 Project 'Girls Crew". Essence. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
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  87. Harrington, Richard (April 25, 1999). "Mya's High Rise". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 1, 2023. In a brightly lit working-class bar in this otherwise gray Jersey town, fledgling pop star Mya is getting a beatdown. Of course, it's not for real: She's surrounded by her fellow cast members and a crew, filming a promo for MTV.
  88. Weaver, Jane (January 9, 2003). "Coke gets 'real' with celebrities". NBC News. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  89. Mack, Ann (February 23, 2003). "Laird's Gap Is 'Groovy' for Spring". Ad Week. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  90. "Pantene Pro-Voice Commercial (2003)". Retrieved July 25, 2023 via YouTube.
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  92. "Madonna and Iggy Pop to star in Motorola iPod ad". Brand Republic. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  93. "MYA FABULOUS LIFE FASHION BY BRAVO COMMERCIAL". Retrieved July 27, 2023 via YouTube.
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