Golden Brooks

Biography

Golden Ameda Brooks, born on December 1, 1970, is an American actress renowned for her role as Maya Wilkes on the UPN/CW comedy series Girlfriends, which aired from 2000 to 2008. A former figure skating competitor, Brooks won several trophies in her youth and is a classically trained dancer, having studied and taught ballet, jazz, and modern dance. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in literature and sociology, focusing on media representation of minorities, and holds a Master's degree from Sarah Lawrence College. In addition to her acting, Brooks directed the 2006 episode "Hustle & Dough" and wrote the 2007 episode "Snap Back" of Girlfriends. She has a daughter, Dakota Tao Brooks-Woodside, born on September 1, 2009, from her previous relationship with actor D.B. Woodside. Brooks is notable for portraying a character who is younger than her fellow cast members, despite being the oldest among them.