Mika Abdalla
| Personal Details | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 May 2000 Plano, Texas, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Career & Education | |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Alma Mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Known For | Project Mc², Sex Appeal, Snack Shack, Off Campus |
| Years Active | 2008–present |
| Recognition & Links | |
| Awards | Two Young Artist Award nominations (2016) |
Mika Abdalla (born Mikayla Sofia Abdalla; 13 May 2000) is an American actress. She began her acting career as a child and became widely recognized for portraying McKeyla McAlister in the Netflix series Project Mc² from 2015 to 2017. She subsequently appeared in the films Sex Appeal (2022) and Snack Shack (2024), and in television productions including The Flash, The Pitt, and Suits LA. In 2026, she began portraying Allie Hayes in the Prime Video series Off Campus.
Early life and education
Mikayla Sofia Abdalla was born on 13 May 2000 in Plano, Texas, United States. She was raised in the Dallas area. Abdalla is a first-generation American and has Bulgarian, Lebanese, Greek, Italian, and German ancestry.
She developed an interest in performing during childhood and began participating in print modeling before pursuing acting. Her early professional work included appearances in television and film while she continued her education.
Abdalla attended Spring Creek Academy, a school that accommodated her professional acting schedule. She completed her secondary education a year earlier than the standard schedule. She later attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she studied philosophy and earned a bachelor's degree.
During her childhood and teenage years, Abdalla also participated in competitive ballroom dancing and equestrian activities.
Career
Early roles
Abdalla began her acting career in 2008 with an appearance as Jill on Barney & Friends. She was eight years old at the time. Her early film credits included The Fandango Sisters, Departure, An American Girl: Saige Paints the Sky, and Summer's Shadow.
She later appeared in the film The Violet in 2017 and had a television role in S.W.A.T. in 2020.
Project Mc²
In 2015, Abdalla was cast as McKeyla McAlister in the Netflix series Project Mc². The series follows a group of teenage girls whose activities involve science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly referred to as STEM subjects.
Abdalla played McKeyla throughout the series' run from 2015 to 2017. The role became a significant early part of her career and brought her recognition among viewers of the series.
Her performance in Project Mc² resulted in two nominations at the 2016 Young Artist Awards. She was nominated for Best Performance in a TV Series – Leading Young Actress and Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Web or VOD Series.
Film work
After Project Mc², Abdalla continued working in film while pursuing her university education. In 2022, she starred as Avery Hansen-White in the Hulu film Sex Appeal. The coming-of-age comedy follows a high-school student navigating relationships and personal discovery.
In the same year, Abdalla appeared in The Flash, portraying Tinya Wazzo.
In 2024, she played Brooke in Snack Shack, a coming-of-age film directed by Adam Rehmeier. The film is set in Nebraska City, Nebraska, in 1991 and follows two teenage friends during a summer that changes their relationship and circumstances.
Television work
Abdalla continued to expand her television work during the 2020s. In 2025, she appeared in the medical drama The Pitt as Jenna. She also appeared in the legal drama Suits LA, playing Sierra Carson.
These roles followed her earlier work in youth-oriented television and contributed to a broader range of film and television appearances.
Off Campus
In 2026, Abdalla began starring as Allie Hayes in Off Campus, a Prime Video television series based on the novel series by Elle Kennedy. The series follows a group of college students and their relationships and personal experiences.
Abdalla's role as Allie Hayes marked one of her first major leading roles in a television series aimed at an adult and young-adult audience. Prime Video renewed the series for a second season before the premiere of its first season.
Influences
Abdalla has cited actors Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio among her acting influences. She has discussed Lawrence's willingness to express her views and DiCaprio's preparation and research for acting roles as qualities she admires.
Personal life
Abdalla's interests outside acting have included ballroom dancing and equestrian activities. She has generally kept her personal life separate from her professional work, although details of her relationships have occasionally been reported in entertainment media.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Fandango Sisters | Lil' Jackie |
| 2012 | Departure | Evelyn |
| 2013 | An American Girl: Saige Paints the Sky | Dylan Patterson |
| 2014 | Summer's Shadow | |
| 2017 | The Violet | Oona |
| 2022 | Sex Appeal | Avery Hansen-White |
| 2024 | Snack Shack | Brooke |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Barney & Friends | Jill |
| 2010 | Fun to Grow On | |
| 2015–2017 | Project Mc² | McKeyla McAlister |
| 2020 | S.W.A.T. | Zoey |
| 2022 | The Flash | Tinya Wazzo |
| 2025 | The Pitt | Jenna |
| 2025 | Suits LA | Sierra Carson |
| 2026–present | Off Campus | Allie Hayes |
Audio
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Rent Free | Nora |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Series – Leading Young Actress | Project Mc² | Nominated |
| 2016 | Young Artist Awards | Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Web or VOD Series | Project Mc² | Nominated |
References
External links
- Mika Abdalla at IMDb
- Mika Abdalla at Apple TV