JAMAICAN ACTRESS, CABARET SINGER, LIFESTYLE MODEL, AUTHOR, and COACH.
My artistic spirit is constantly seeking new experiences that push the boundaries and challenge the status quo.
I’m Donna Marie Hayes, the author of These Broken Roads: Scammed and Vindicated, One Woman's Story. My book was published by Sibylline Press, a women-owned press dedicated to publishing the brilliant work of women over 50. I’m also a SAG actress, cabaret singer, New York City resident, and performer who can be found on a stage or in front of a camera.
I’ve been featured on the Dr. Oz Show (Defy Your Age), Orange Is the New Black (Netflix), Black Girls Rock (BET), Celebrity Ghost Stories (Biography Channel) as well as in several other New York City Off-Broadway and TV productions. Most recently, I was cast in my first regular role in a TV series, Miss Education, set to debut soon.
My corporate life includes serving as a senior human resources professional in the financial services industry. I’m also an ICF-certified coach and owner of a coaching practice company. I immigrated to the United States from Jamaica at age 14.
I trained at the William Esper Studio and Wickham Vocal Studios in New York City.
ON THE SCREEN
Orange is the New Black (Netflix)
Celebrity Ghost Stories (Biography)
Investigation Discovery Episodes:
My Dirty Little Secret
Scorned: Love Kills
Deadly Sins
The Katie Couric Show
The Dr. Oz Show
Passing (Netflix)
Miss Education (Block Exchange)
Commercials:
Walt Disney World
Prolia
WABC (Channel 7) Eyewitness News
Western Union
Ridgewood Savings Bank
ON STAGE
Wrote and performed 5 one-woman shows, each with over a dozen songs performed.
Torched (2010—The Laurie Beechman Theatre)
Stop This Train—The Ride of My Life (2011—The Laurie Beechman Theatre & Don’t Tell Mama)
Human Resources: The Musical (2012—The Laurie Beechman Theatre & Don’t Tell Mama)
The People We Meet Along The Way (2013—Metropolitan Room)
Ordinary Miracles (2014—Metropolitan Room)
These Broken Roads (2023—The Cutting Room)
Featured soloist in various cabaret shows in New York City.
My RESUME.
DONNA HAYES
SAG-AFTRA / IMDB
TELEVISION
Miss Education (Block Exchange) / Series Regular / RH Bless
Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) / Featured / Michael Trim
Black Girls Rock! BET Awards Show (BET) / Guest Star / Howard Ross
Celebrity Ghost Stories (Biography) / Principal / Charlie Mysak
My Dirty Little Secret (Discovery) / Guest Star / Joen Pincosy
Scorned: Love Kills (Discovery) / Principal / Gregory Kohn
Century Tree (Web Series) / Principal / J. Freeman
Downtown Girls (Web Series) / Mother
COMMERCIAL / PRINT
Walt Disney World / Mother / HSI Productions
WABC—Eyewitness News / Executive / Most Remarkable Productions
Ridgewood Savings Bank / Banker / Sharpleft Studios
Western Union / Mother / Gravity Entertainment
FILM
Passing / Featured / Rebecca Hall
Pain and Suffering / Principal / Paul Dansker
The Sun is Also a Star / Featured / Ry Russo
See You Yesterday / Supporting / Exec. Director: Spike Lee
THEATER
Bellevue Sketches (Off-Broadway) / Georgina / T.G. Waites
Rivers Current (Staged Reading) / Estelle/Soloist / Brad Reigner
CABARET
Written and performed six “one-woman” cabaret shows in New York City performance venues.
Torched
Stop This Train
Human Resources the Musical
The People We Meet Along the Way
Ordinary Miracles
These Broken Roads
TRAINING
Hunter College / B.A. Theatre
Performance Career Center / Advanced Acting
Thomas G. Waites / TGW Acting Studio
William Esper Studio / Advanced Acting
Amy Gossels / On-Camera Techniques
These Broken Roads: Scammed and Vindicated, One Woman’s Story
My award-winning memoir chronicles my remarkable journey from poverty in Jamaica, West Indies to Wall Street boardrooms. My life story is riddled with abandonment, abuse, bullying, violence, and a well-orchestrated scam. However, this story is one of resilience and hope as I triumph over adversity to find redemption.
