Joyful Drake

Joyful Drake

Born: September 24, 1976
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Joyful Drake, the much-loved Tasha on the iconic BET comedy series “Let’s Stay Together” is on the scene in a big way. In addition to a recurring role in Starz’s “P-Valley,” she also leads the eight-episode upcoming drama series “HUSH” for streamer ALLBLK. Creator Angela Burd Murray describes the series as, “a sexy drama about four dynamic women who will stop at nothing to get what they want.”

Drake starred opposite DJ Qualls in November Rule, opposite Ryan Phillippe in Catch Hell and was Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ girlfriend in Judd Apatow’s Get Him to the Greek. Other notable film roles include Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah, Phat Girlz with Mo’Nique and she starred as a woman trying to escape an abusive relationship in the independent drama feature Bad Ass opposite Danny Trejo and Ving Rhames. Drake has also guest starred in television episodes of “Jane the Virgin,” “One on One,” “Cuts,” “The Game,” “The Exes” and “The Quads.”

Born and raised in Milwaukee and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Drake is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. While in college, she experienced her first brush with the entertainment industry. For two and-a-half years she had an exciting time as a dancer for the NBA Milwaukee Bucks. She remains an avid fan and also loves the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. After graduation, she moved to New York to pursue an acting career. Her first job was a recurring role on the hit Showtime series “Soul Food.”

Drake makes her home in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter Beau.

Movies for Joyful Drake...

Title: Hush
Character: Draya Logan
Released: December 1, 2022
Type: TV
Dr. Draya Logan, a renowned marriage and sex therapist, finds herself entangled in lies, sex and murder.
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Unthinkably Good Things
Title: Unthinkably Good Things
Character: Melina
Released: August 28, 2022
Type: Movie
Follows Allison at a crossroads in her career and love life, in need of the love and support of her two friends. After visiting her in Tuscany, each woman will reexamine the state of her own life and relationships.
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Title: All American: Homecoming
Character: Pamela Mays
Released: February 21, 2022
Type: TV
Follow the journeys of Simone Hicks, a tennis hopeful from Beverly Hills, and elite baseball player Damon Sims from Chicago, as they navigate life at the prestigious HBCU Bringston University.
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Title: P-Valley
Character: Chanisse
Released: July 12, 2020
Type: TV
Down deep in the Mississippi Delta, Trap music meets film noir in this kaleidoscopic story of a little-strip-club-that-could and the big characters who come through its doors—the hopeful, the lost, the broken, the ballers, the beautiful, and the damned.
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Title: The Quad
Character: Venus Hardwick
Released: January 30, 2017
Type: TV
Dr. Eva Fletcher is the newly-elected President of the fictional Georgia A&M University. Upon arriving, Eva is charged with saving the prestigious HBCU from bankruptcy and her twenty-year marriage from crumbling while managing a tumultuous relationship with her rebellious only daughter. A diverse group of freshman also promises to keep Eva's hands full.
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Title: Lethal Weapon
Character: Tanya
Released: September 21, 2016
Type: TV
A slightly unhinged former Navy SEAL lands a job as a police officer in Los Angeles where he's partnered with a veteran detective trying to keep maintain a low stress level in his life.
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Chasing Waterfalls
Title: Chasing Waterfalls
Character: Doreen
Released: May 8, 2016
Type: Movie
David is transported to the cut-throat world of fashion. Olivia, an up-and-coming fashion designer who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work for icon Salma Barrie. But things go out of control when Olivia must step up to save the company and fight against a former co-worker who has started a competing company.
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November Rule
Title: November Rule
Character: Jean Worther
Released: February 14, 2015
Type: Movie
Up-and-coming sports shoe entrepreneur Steve, who is still reeling from the death of his dad, has made a "November rule" in order to keep his distance from the women who seem to be getting too serious about their relationship. Every November 1st, Steve makes up a whopping lie in order to break up with his current girlfriend. However, this year, when he gives the beautiful Leah her walking papers, he realizes his immature and arbitrary rule has just lost him the woman of his dreams. But whether he can win Leah back seems increasingly doubtful, especially after she starts dating pro sports star, James Avedon.
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Title: Jane the Virgin
Character: Dr. Bolton
Released: October 13, 2014
Type: TV
A comedy-drama following a chaste young woman who is accidentally impregnated via artificial insemination as she struggles to inform her devoutly religious family and make the right choices concerning the child. Based on the telenovela "Juana la virgen."
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Catch Hell
Title: Catch Hell
Character: Diane
Released: October 10, 2014
Type: Movie
Former Hollywood star Reagan Pearce is kidnapped by two men connected to his past while on location in Louisiana. When he wakes up bound and chained in a rundown shack, he soon discovers the real motives of his captors and finds himself in the middle of a twisted scheme with little chance to survive. With no rescue in sight, Reagan must use every ounce of strength he has left to break free and get his revenge.
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Bad Ass
Title: Bad Ass
Character: Amber Lamps
Released: April 12, 2012
Type: Movie
Decorated Vietnam hero, Frank Vega returns home only to get shunned by society leaving him without a job or his high school sweetheart. It's not until forty years later when an incident on a commuter bus makes him a local hero where he's suddenly celebrated once again. But his good fortune suddenly turns for the worse when his best friend is murdered and the police aren't doing anything about it.
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Title: The Exes
Character: Carol
Released: November 30, 2011
Type: TV
A sitcom about three divorced men sharing an apartment across the hall from their female divorce attorney, who is also their landlord.
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Title: Let's Stay Together
Character: Tasha Woodson
Released: January 11, 2011
Type: TV
Let's Stay Together is an American romantic comedy television series created by Jacque Edmonds Cofer. It premiered on BET on January 11, 2011. The title of the series refers to the Al Green landmark 1972 song of the same name. The series premiere drew 4.4 million viewers. Initially, Soul Food star Malinda Williams was cast in the lead role of Stacy. For undisclosed reasons, she was recast with Nadine Ellis. On April 20, 2013, BET announced that the series was renewed for a second season which aired 22 episodes starting in January 2012. For its second season, Erica Hubbard appeared infrequently due to her pregnancy. New cast member Kyla Pratt joined the cast portraying Crystal, Charles and Kita's cousin. At the 2012 BET Upfront on April 13, 2012, it was revealed that the show has been renewed for a third season. The third season premiered on March 26, 2013. In April 2013, BET Networks announced the show had been renewed for a fourth season that will premiere in early 2014.
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Get Him to the Greek
Title: Get Him to the Greek
Character: Sergio's Baby Mama
Released: June 3, 2010
Type: Movie
Pinnacle records has the perfect plan to get their sinking company back on track: a comeback concert in LA featuring Aldous Snow, a fading rockstar who has dropped off the radar in recent years. Record company intern Aaron Green is faced with the monumental task of bringing his idol, out of control rock star Aldous Snow, back to LA for his comeback show.
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Tournament of Dreams
Title: Tournament of Dreams
Character: Capricorn
Released: April 24, 2007
Type: Movie
The Lady Cavaliers high school girls' basketball team is on the verge of extinction because of school budget cuts. The school's principal is just about consign the Cavs to oblivion when the team and certain faculty members fight back alongside a new coach who could take the team to new heights and prove that they belong. In addition to winning games, the girls face other obstacles such as love, loss and divorce.
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Title: The Game
Character: Sheila
Released: October 1, 2006
Type: TV
When her boyfriend Derwin Davis is chosen as the new third-string wide receiver for the San Diego Sabers, Melanie Barnett decides to attend a local college so she can be with him. While Derwin worries about the plays on the field, Melanie adjusts to her new lifestyle. She gets a play-by-play account of the lives and relationships among NFL wives, girlfriends and mom/managers who use their best game to help their men stay on the field and on their arm.
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Phat Girlz
Title: Phat Girlz
Character: Mia
Released: April 7, 2006
Type: Movie
Two large women struggle to find love and acceptance in a culture where thin is in. Their lives take a dramatic turn when they meet the men of their dreams in completely unexpected ways.
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Beauty Shop
Title: Beauty Shop
Character: Mercedes
Released: April 22, 2005
Type: Movie
Far from Chicago, hairdresser Gina Norris has relocated to Atlanta with her daughter and has quickly established herself as a rare talent in her profession. But after repeatedly butting heads with her shady, over-the-top boss, Jorge, Norris sets out to create her own salon -- even snagging a few of Jorge's employees and clients. Now, Jorge will do anything to shut her down.
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Title: Cuts
Character: Lani
Released: February 14, 2005
Type: TV
Cuts is an American sitcom that aired on the UPN network from February 14, 2005, to May 11, 2006, and is a spin-off of another UPN series, One on One. The show was canceled along with many other shows when the UPN and WB networks merged to form The CW.
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Hair Show
Title: Hair Show
Character: Stephanie Cole
Released: October 17, 2004
Type: Movie
Peaches, a hair stylist from Baltimore, and her estranged sister, Angela, the owner of an upscale salon in Beverly Hills, get reacquainted when Peaches decides to attend a celebration for Angela in LA. The reunion is bittersweet and worsens when Angela finds out that Peaches is on the run from the IRS and has only a few days to pay $50,000 in back taxes. After some hilarious moments and passionate exchanges, the two sisters join forces to fight off a pesky rival salon owner Marcella and save Peaches from her troubles by competing for a lucrative cash prize and bragging rights at the city's annual hair show. BEAUTY SHOP proves that blood and family run thicker than water.
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Title: Soul Food
Character: Tamara
Released: June 28, 2000
Type: TV
Soul Food: The Series is a television drama that aired Wednesday nights on Showtime from June 28, 2000 to May 26, 2004. Created by filmmaker George Tillman, Jr. and developed for television by Felicia D. Henderson, Soul Food is based upon Tillman's childhood experiences growing up in Wisconsin, and is a continuation of his successful 1997 film of the same name. Having aired for 74 episodes, it is the longest running drama with a predominantly black cast in the history of North American prime-time television.