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| Jayma Mays | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jayma Mays |
| Birth date | 1979-07-16 |
| Birth place | Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse | Adam Campbell (m. 2007) |
Jayma Mays is an American actress and singer known for roles in television series and films spanning comedy, drama, and musical genres. She rose to prominence through recurring and main roles that showcased her vocal talents and comedic timing, working with prominent creators, studios, and ensembles across television networks and feature productions. Mays has appeared alongside notable actors and directors across Hollywood, and has maintained a steady presence in both network television and independent film.
Born in Bristol, Tennessee, Mays grew up in a region associated with Appalachian culture and nearby cities such as Knoxville, Tennessee and Nashville, Tennessee. She attended local schools before pursuing higher education at institutions including Tennessee Technological University and Queens University of Charlotte, where she studied theater and music disciplines relevant to stage and screen performance. Early influences included exposure to regional theater companies and touring productions from organizations like Actors Theatre of Louisville and touring companies associated with National Endowment for the Arts. Her formative years in the American South connected her to performance traditions seen in venues across Chattanooga, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina, and she later moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a professional acting career.
Mays began her professional career with guest appearances and supporting roles on television programs produced by major studios and networks such as NBC, ABC, and Fox Broadcasting Company. Early credits included appearances on series alongside performers from ensembles associated with shows like Will & Grace and Frasier, working with creators who had credits on programs for Sony Pictures Television and Paramount Television. She garnered wider recognition with a breakout role on a musical comedy-drama series developed by producers previously involved with Glee and Desperate Housewives, where her singing and acting were showcased.
Transitioning between television and film, Mays collaborated with filmmakers from the independent sector as well as studio comedies and genre pictures distributed by companies such as Universal Pictures and Lionsgate. She performed in comedies with actors connected to ensembles from Saturday Night Live and the Groundlings, and in genre features alongside performers with credits in franchises like The Hunger Games and Marvel Cinematic Universe. Her television work included starring and recurring roles on series created by showrunners with histories on 30 Rock, Community, and The Office (American TV series), and she worked under directors who had helmed episodes for Mad Men and Breaking Bad.
Mays's range allowed her to appear in guest roles on procedural dramas and in satirical comedies, interacting with casts from shows such as Grey's Anatomy, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Law & Order. She also participated in voice and motion projects connected to animated series produced by studios like Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, expanding her credits into multiple media formats. Throughout her career, Mays has been represented by agencies and managers connected to talent networks that place actors in series for networks including The CW and streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu.
Film - Appeared in studio and independent films distributed by Universal Pictures, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros. Pictures, working with directors who had credits on titles from SXSW and Sundance Film Festival circuits. - Roles included performances in comedies and genre films alongside actors with credits in Anchorman, Knocked Up, and Mean Girls.
Television - Series regular and recurring roles on network and cable series produced by studios such as NBCUniversal Television, 20th Century Fox Television, and ABC Signature Studios. - Guest-starred on programs linked to franchises including Law & Order, CSI, and medical dramas related to Grey's Anatomy and ER. - Cast in streaming projects and miniseries with connections to festivals and awards circuits like Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.
Stage and other media - Performed in regional theater and touring productions related to companies such as Steppenwolf Theatre Company and South Coast Repertory. - Contributed voice work for animated series and video game projects produced by studios including Capcom and Electronic Arts.
Mays married actor Adam Campbell in a ceremony attended by colleagues from television and film; their partnership links to broader entertainment communities in Los Angeles and Hollywood Hills. The couple have one child and maintain residences that keep them close to industry centers such as Burbank, California and Studio City, Los Angeles. Mays has participated in charitable events and fundraising efforts alongside organizations associated with causes supported by celebrities from The Actors Fund, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and philanthropic initiatives linked to film festivals like Sundance Film Festival.
Mays's performances have been recognized in ensemble and genre categories by industry groups and festival juries. She has been part of nominated casts for awards presented by organizations such as the Screen Actors Guild and has appeared in projects that received nominations from bodies including the Primetime Emmy Awards and critics' circles associated with festivals like Sundance Film Festival and South by Southwest. Individual nominations have come from media and fan-driven awards highlighting performances in comedy and musical television series.
Category:1979 births Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Living people