Maya Jama reveals she’s landed her first movie role

Maya Jama has revealed she’s landed her first movie role during this week’s Sunday Brunch.

The broadcaster, 26, explained how she was scheduled to start filming for the top-secret project in April, but was unable to kick off production due to the coronavirus pandemic.

DJ Maya, who has become one of the most recognised presenters in the UK, surprised hosts Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer when she said she missed out on a part in E4’s Skins months before she moved from Bristol to London as a teenager.

Teasing details behind about her upcoming portrayal as a ‘shy girl’, the TV and radio star said: ‘I am supposed to be doing a film but because of Covid everything has been pushed back.

‘It was supposed to be in April then it got moved to the next month, next month, and now fingers crossed February. 

‘It’s secret-y at the moment but I am playing somebody really shy that’s the opposite to me and it’s in the Caribbean, so that’s why it can’t go ahead. So those are my two clues but I don’t know if I am allowed to give out anything else.

‘As a presenter you spend so much time just being yourself and coming across as yourself on camera, transitioning into acting, it’s like, ”Now be someone just completely different,” which is really hard.

‘But I am having a go. I have been sitting in front of my mirror a lot, watching closely actors on films and trying to fake cry.’

The media personality revealed acting has always been a career goal, but she was put off the profession when she lost out on appearing in teen comedy-drama Skins.  

Without disclosing who got the coveted role, the DJ shared: ‘I have wanted to act for ages. When I was younger that is what I originally wanted to do. 

‘I auditioned for Skins when I was like 15 and got to the final round and it was between me and one other girl, and she got it, and then I was like, ”No, I am rubbish, I never want to act again” and went into presenting.’

The Mij Masks founder, who recently made a brief appearance in Katherine Ryan’s Netflix series The Duchess, elaborated: ‘Now I am like, ”This is a good time for me to try.. I spoke to Katherine about it. 

‘She was like, ”I am doing this series.” So I do my little audition and got the role of Sandra. It was a small role but hopefully there is more from that. Scary though.’ 

Maya kicked off her successful broadcasting career in 2014 when she was appointed as a weekday DJ on Rinse FM, and also fronted MTV’s The Wrap Up in the same year.

She has gone on to front ITV’s one-series game show Cannonball, the MOBO Awards, her own BBC Radio 1 and more recently, game series Don’t Hate the Playaz.