Biography
Shamika Cotton is a multi-hyphenate actor, producer, and entrepreneur best known for her powerful portrayal of Raylene Lee on HBO's history-making series The Wire. A dynamic performer with range across television, film, and theatre, she delivered a standout performance as Farrah Haynes in the record-breaking second season of Starz's P-Valley, where her work was widely discussed for its depth and vulnerability. Her additional television credits include Dear Edward (Apple TV+), FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), Bruh (BET+), The Equalizer (CBS), Prodigal Son (Fox), and New Amsterdam (NBC).
Her feature film credits include The Sun Is Also a Star (Warner Bros.), Pariah (Criterion Collection), Frank the Bastard, Game Nite, and other independent films. Cotton's artistic roots trace back to Cincinnati's School for the Creative and Performing Arts, where she first discovered her passion for acting. She went on to hone her craft in New York theatre, performing Off-Broadway and regionally in acclaimed productions such as Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death (The Classical Theatre of Harlem, Drama Desk Nominee for Best Revival), Seven Deadly Sins (Drama Desk Award for Best Theatrical Experience), and Bullet for Adolf (directed by Woody Harrelson).
She earned her Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering with honors from Central State University, an HBCU, and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A trained improviser, she studied at Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) and performed improv and sketch comedy throughout New York City.
Beyond the screen, Shamika is a businesswoman and mentor. In 2022, she founded TenTen Talent and Creative Services, a storytelling-driven creative agency helping brands and organizations connect with audiences through purpose-driven content. She also launched the TenTen Talent Internship Program (T3iP(TM)), an incubator designed to mentor and empower emerging creatives.
On Saturday mornings, you can find her hosting Saturday Morning Tap-In, a weekly live show simulcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook, where she leads audiences in uplifting stories, intention setting, and live journaling.
This Ohio native continues to build a career defined by storytelling, impact, and purpose-on screen, on stage, and beyond.
