Sun Apr 13 22:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Chicago Med Alum Yaya DaCosta Tackles Demanding Role in Lifetime’s “Not My Family”

**Atlanta, GA** – Actress Yaya DaCosta, known for her role in “Chicago Med,” takes on a challenging new role as executive producer and star of Lifetime’s “Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story,” premiering April 12th. The film tells the true story of Monique Smith, a woman who discovered her abusive childhood family wasn’t her biological family after years of mistreatment. The revelation came after her assumed mother refused to provide her birth certificate, sparking a journey of self-discovery.

DaCosta, who also starred in Lifetime’s “Racing for Time” and “Whitney,” faced a whirlwind production schedule, filming the movie in just 13 days. This tight timeline, even challenging for a seasoned actress, was made more difficult by her simultaneous executive producer responsibilities. She draws strength from past experiences, notably the loss of her brother while filming “Big Words” in 2013. This experience taught her resilience and the ability to manage intense emotions while maintaining a professional performance.

Despite the demanding schedule, DaCosta expresses pride in the final product. She credits the experience with pushing her creative boundaries, highlighting her capacity for quick adaptation and emotional control. She praises the film’s subject, Monique Smith, as a phenomenal woman dedicated to her cause. “Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story” premieres on Lifetime this Friday at 8 p.m. ET and streams the following day. The film also features Robert Hamilton III, Solace Kimbro Jones, Kadeem Isaiah, Morgan-Rose Jordan and Djassi DaCosta Johnson.

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