EXCLUSIVE | 'Chicago Med' star Yaya DaCosta wants to do an action film: 'I'm an undercover martial artist'

In a chat with MEAWW, DaCosta spoke of practicing capoeira and wanting to do an action film to show off her skills
PUBLISHED JAN 30, 2020
Yaya DaCosta (Getty Images)
Yaya DaCosta (Getty Images)

Yaya DaCosta is best known for playing nurse April Sexton on NBC's 'Chicago Med'. She has also played the enigmatic singer Whitney Houston in 2015 Lifetime television film, 'Whitney'. However, DaCosta would very much like to do an action film.

DaCosta received a lot of praise for her performance as Whitney Houston and has played supporting roles in 'The Kids Are All Right', 'Tron: Legacy' and 'The Nice Guys'. But it is her as April on 'Chicago Med' that has catapulted her to fame.

MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) caught up with DaCosta at the 2020 NBCUniversal Winter Press Tour in Pasadena to talk about what kind of roles she might like to do in the future. DaCosta said, "I am very ready for my action film. I am [an] undercover martial artist."

DaCosta said she is ready to show her martial arts skills, having practiced capoeira — an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music — since she was a child. This is not surprising as DaCosta is of Brazilian and African-American descent.

Of course, DaCosta was quick to answer that she would like to play Storm from the 'X-Men' franchise when MEAWW asked her what superhero she would like to play. We can certainly see DaCosta "kick some booty" as Storm and we hope Disney is listening.

In the meantime, however, DaCosta has some booty to kick as April in 'Chicago Med'. Though her character, April is in a happy relationship with Dr Ethan Choi (Brian Tee), she does seem to be having lingering feelings for Dr Crockett Marcel (Dominic Rains), with whom she shared a kiss in the Season 5 fall finale, something she has not told Ethan about yet. 

'Chicago Med' airs on NBC on Wednesday nights.



 

RELATED TOPICS DISNEY+ NEWS

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Kathleen Robertson and Mark Engelhardt have been cast in recurring roles for the third instalment
5 hours ago
Middle-earth is moving closer to its next chapter, and new signs suggest ‘The Rings of Power’ may return sooner than fans ever expected.
11 hours ago
‘Euphoria’ footage is finally out and the first glimpse of Season 3 suggests that growing up may be far more dangerous than staying young.
16 hours ago
A Reddit user recently shared a Google Earth image showing the words "Come Back" written on a pavement
1 day ago
'Pluribus' reunited Gilligan with his long-time collaborators, music supervisor Thomas Golubić and music composer Dave Porter
1 day ago
Viewers are left wondering whether 'Heated Rivalry' will follow the books closely or embrace the subtle changes hinted at by the cast.
1 day ago
‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Season 2 dropped on December 10, 2025, and Rick Riordan has already teased something incredible for Season 3
1 day ago
In the latest 'Pluribus' episode, titled 'The Gap', Rhea Seehorn's Carol grapples with her longing for human interaction
1 day ago
After years in development, ‘Skinny Dip’ lands at Prime Video with Amanda Seyfried in the lead role of Joey Perrone
1 day ago
The six-episode thriller series starring Thompson and Bernthal releases on January 8, 2026
2 days ago