China Anne McClain
Known for: Acting
China Anne McClain (born August 25, 1998) is an American actress and singer. McClain's career began when she was seven years old, portraying Alexis in the film The Gospel (2005), and then China James in Daddy's Little Girls (2007). She then received recognition for starring as Jazmine Payne in the television series Tyler Perry's House of Payne (2007–2012; 2020–present) and as Charlotte McKenzie in the film Grown Ups (2010); and became internationally known for starring as Chyna Parks in the Disney Channel television series A.N.T. Farm (2011–2014), and as Uma in the Disney Channel films Descendants 2 (2017) and Descendants 3 (2019). In 2018, McClain began starring in The CW superhero series Black Lightning (2018–2021) as Jennifer Pierce / Lightning. She also reprised her character Jazmine Payne on OWN's revival of The Paynes (2018). McClain began her musical career in 2005 as a member of the sister girl group the 3mcclaingirls with her sisters Sierra and Lauryn. Her first professional single was "Your Biggest Fan" with Nick Jonas on the soundtrack album Jonas L.A. (2010). In 2011, McClain signed with Hollywood Records both as a solo artist and with her sister girl group, known as the McClain Sisters. Her debut single as a solo artist was "Dynamite" which peaked at no. 2 on the US Kid Digital Songs, and her second single, "Calling All the Monsters", peaked at no. 1 on the same chart and earned 25,000 downloads within its first week of release. The A.N.T. Farm soundtrack album spent five weeks on the Billboard Kids chart in 2011 and sold 14,000 copies in its first week of release. Billboard also named her the sixth best-selling artist for digital kids' songs in 2012. In 2017, her single "What's My Name" from Descendants 2 peaked on several Billboard charts, and was certified gold, with 500,000 units sold, on November 10, 2017. In June 2020 her sister girl group changed their name to Thriii.
Filmography
Series
NCIS
Kayla Vance
2003
Series
Bones
Kathryn Walling
2005
Series
Project Runway
Self - Guest Judge
2004
Series
Hannah Montana
Isabel
2006
Series
Doc McStuffins
Tisha McStuffins (voice)
2012
Series
Black Lightning
Jennifer Pierce / Lightning
2018
Series
Wizards of Waverly Place
Tina
2007
Series
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
Sam
2010
Film
Grown Ups
Charlotte McKenzie
2010
Series
Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Jazmine Payne
2007
Film
Grown Ups 2
Charlotte Mackenzie
2013
Series
A.N.T. Farm
Chyna Parks
2011
Series
Radio Disney Music Awards
Self - Presenter
2013
Film
Descendants: The Rise of Red
Uma
2024
Film
Descendants 3
Uma
2019
Series
JONAS L.A.
Kiara
2009
Film
Descendants 2
Uma
2017
Series
Descendants: Wicked World
Freddie (voice)
2015
Series
So Random!
Self - Special / Musical Guest
2011
Film
Hubie Halloween
Miss Taylor
2020
Film
Madea's Family Reunion
Youth (uncredited)
2006
Film
Daddy's Little Girls
China James
2007
Series
PrankStars
Self
2011
Film
How to Build a Better Boy
Gabby Harrison
2014
Series
Disney's Friends for Change Games
Self
2011
Film
A Dennis the Menace Christmas
Margaret
2007
Film
Descendants: The Royal Wedding
Uma (voice)
2021
Film
Hurricane Season
Alana Collins
2010
Film
Bilal: A New Breed of Hero
Ghufaira (Teen) (voice)
2016
Film
Blood Brother
Darcy
2018
Film
Under the Sea: A Descendants Story
Uma
2018
Film
Disney Parks Presents: A Descendants Magical Holiday Celebration
2016
Film
Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade
Self
2011
Film
Brewster’s Millions: Christmas
Morgan Brewster
2024
Film
Ten: Murder Island
Meg
2017
Film
Wicked Woods: A Descendants Halloween Story
Uma (voice)
2019