Shamika Cotton

Shamika Cotton is an American actress hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio. She gained recognition for her portrayal of Raylene Lee, the drug-addicted mother of Michael Lee, in the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire. Cotton attended the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati and made a notable appearance on the reality series I Wanna Be A Soap Star in 2006. Her talent caught attention, with her performances from the show even showcased on Entertainment Tonight. In 2007, Cotton started a YouTube videocast called the 'Shamika Chronicles' to offer an authentic glimpse into the life of an aspiring actress. In 2019, she had a small role in the film The Sun Is Also a Star.