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Jayma Mays

Jayma Mays

Actor · Born July 16, 1979 (47) · Bristol, Tennessee, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award winner

Jamia Suzette "Jayma" Mays (born July 16, 1979) is an American actress. She is known for playing Emma Pillsbury in the Fox musical series Glee (2009–2015) and for her starring roles in the films Red Eye (2005), Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) and The Smurfs (2011). She is also known for portraying Debbie in the sitcom The Millers (2013–2014) and her recurring role as Charlie Andrews on the NBC sci-fi series Heroes (2006–2010). Mays starred as prosecutor Carol Anne Keane in the NBC sitcom Trial & Error (2017–2018).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 16, 1979 (47)
From
Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
40 on MovieCove · 45 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 25% in 30 days

What are Jayma Mays' films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
35%
Self
32%
Power
10%
Morality
9%
Survival
8%
Society
4%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 7 · Charged 3 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 2

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 9

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 4

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 8 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 8
Threshold guardian
1 of 8
Herald
1 of 8
Trickster
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
11
Absurd
8
Tense
4
Warm
4
Thrilling
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Fun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jayma Mays' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 40 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jayma Mays' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

45 credits, 40 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Leanne(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mary

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • St. Denis Medical(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Kelly

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Disenchanted(2022)

    as Ruby

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • United States of Al(2021)

    Show 6 episodes · as Cindy

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Bill & Ted Face the Music(2020)

    as Joanna

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Little Willy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Mrs. Caruthers

  • American Made(2017)

    as Dana Sibota

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Dulcinea (voice)

  • Great News(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Cat

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Trial & Error(2017)

    Show 23 episodes · as Carol Anne Keane

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Gigi Does It(2015)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jessica

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant(2015)

    as April Elizabeth Farnekowski

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Resident Advisors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Michaela Roberts

  • Resident Advisors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Michaela Roberts

  • The Adventures of Puss in Boots(2015)

    Show 77 episodes · as Dulcinea (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Last Weekend(2014)

    as Blake Curtis

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Getting On(2013)

    Show 5 episodes · as Suzi Sasso

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Millers(2013)

    Show 34 episodes · as Debbie Stoker

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • The Smurfs 2(2013)

    as Grace Winslow

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Drunk History(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Florence Schaffner

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • The Smurfs(2011)

    as Grace Winslow

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • NTSF:SD:SUV(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Clock

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The League(2009)

    Show 6 episodes · as Trixie Von Stein

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Glee(2009)

    Show 81 episodes · as Emma Pillsbury

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Paul Blart: Mall Cop(2009)

    as Amy

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control(2008)

    as Nina

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Bar Starz(2008)

    as Tiffany

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Smiley Face(2007)

    as Actress in Waiting Room

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Pushing Daisies(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Elsita / Elsa

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Back to You(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Shelley

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Blind Dating(2006)

    as Mandy

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Epic Movie(2007)

    as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Flags of Our Fathers(2006)

    as Nurse in Hawaii

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Ugly Betty(2006)

    Show 8 episodes · as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Heroes(2006)

    Show 6 episodes · as Charlie Andrews

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Daphne

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Ghost Whisperer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Jennifer Billings

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • How I Met Your Mother(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Coat Check Girl

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Red Eye(2005)

    as Cynthia

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Stacked(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • House(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Hannah

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Joey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Molly

  • Entourage(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jennifer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Six Feet Under(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Donna

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 45 titles from 2001 to 2025; peak year 2008.

Biggest box office

The Smurfs (2011)

$564M worldwide

Highest rated

American Made (2017)

Midcredits 87th

Most popular right now

The Smurfs 2 (2013)

Film career

MilestoneAward win
20012025

Peak 2008 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting45 of 45: 45 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score48th

By decade

2000s22 · acting2010s17 · acting2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 13 roles
0510

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Screen Actors Guild Award from 4 major nominations, 2010–2013.

WinNomination
  1. 2013
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  2. 2012
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  3. 2011
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  4. 2010
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Jayma Mays' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 26th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 24th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

97thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 40 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 40 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Bar Starz (2008)

99th percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The League (2009)

Midcredits 91st · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jayma Mays' work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles21–57 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles15–55 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles17–76 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles19–64 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles28–49 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jayma Mays work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jayma Mays' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; David N. Weiss shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers