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Jayma Suzette Mays (born July 16, 1979 as Jamia Suzette Mays) is an American actress and singer. Mays' most prominent roles include that of Emma Pillsbury on the American television series Glee, recurring appearances on Ugly Betty and on Heroes as characters named Charlie. Mays was born in Bristol, Tennessee and raised in Grundy, Virginia, the daughter of Paulette (née Norris) and James Mays, a high school teacher who also worked in the coal mining industry. Mays's interests as a child ranged from singing to mathematics. At the age of 15, Jayma was offered a job working on the local radio... MORE

Jayma Suzette Mays (born July 16, 1979 as Jamia Suzette Mays) is an American actress and singer. Mays' most prominent roles include that of Emma Pillsbury on the American television series Glee, recurring appearances on Ugly Betty and on Heroes as characters named Charlie. Mays was born in Bristol, Tennessee and raised in Grundy, Virginia, the daughter of Paulette (née Norris) and James Mays, a high school teacher who also worked in the coal mining industry. Mays's interests as a child ranged from singing to mathematics. At the age of 15, Jayma was offered a job working on the local radio station reading the obituaries. After graduating from Grundy High School, she earned an associate's degree from Southwest Virginia Community College. Mays then attended Virginia Tech for a year before transferring to Radford University, graduating in 2001 with a degree in theatre. In 2004, she made her first television appearance on Joey. The following year, she made her feature film debut with a supporting role in Red Eye. Mays's other credits include Six Feet Under, The Comeback, Entourage, Stacked, How I Met Your Mother, Heroes, Pushing Daisies where she played both Elsita and her mother Elsa LESS