Mya Harrison Biography

Date of Birth: October 10, 1979

Trained as a dancer, Mya appeared onstage at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Smithsonian and the Shakespeare Theater before releasing her self-titled debut CD at the age of 18. Three songs from the CD made the top 10, and she became a star, even playing herself on an episode of the sitcom Sister, Sister early in 1999. Later that year she made her feature film debut with a small role in In Too Deep, starring Omar Epps and LL Cool J.

May played a show-stopping supporting role as Mona in the critically acclaimed 2003 Academy Award-winner, Chicago. The cast of Chicago also won a Screen Actors Guild award for best ensemble. Working on the film was a wonderful experience for Mya, who as a teen had dreamed about moving from her native Maryland to pursue a career on Broadway.

In between recording albums and doing concert tours, Mya found time to play a Latin big band singer in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004). Of her experience she said, "I thought about Lena Horne, Dionne Warwick and all those Ricky Ricardo performances on I Love Lucy. It was another chance to try something new and let people see me as a well-rounded entertainer." She has also completed a role in the Winnipeg-filmed Shall We Dance? (2004), starring Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere.

Mya has been featured in several ad campaigns including a successful spot for Coke. She has also served in past years on the advisory board of the Secret to Self Esteem program (an alliance between the Partnership of Women's Health and Secret Anti-perspirant), dedicated to helping girls become strong women; and with the Pantene-sponsored Pro-Voice Program.

Filmography:

Shall We Dance? (2004)
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
Chicago (2002)
In Too Deep (1999)