13 Facts About 'Bold and Beautiful' Star Karla Mosley

There's More Than Meets the Eye to the Actress Who Plays Maya

Karla Mosley in profile holding a microphone.

Harry How/Staff/Getty Images

Ever since Karla Mosley arrived on the scene of "The Bold and the Beautiful," her character, Maya Avant, has caused quite a commotion. But all that intrigue was nothing compared to the soap sensation heard 'round the world when Maya's sister showed up and revealed that Maya gave been born Myron. It turns out that the beautiful supermodel who’d captured the heart of Rick Forrester (Jacob Young) is transgender.

Karla Mosley Facts

While viewers have the full scoop on Maya, there are some things you might not know about Mosley.

1. Born: August 27, 1981

2. Hometown: She was raised in Westchester County, New York, a suburban area of New York City

3. Marital status: Married to civil rights attorney Jeremiah Frei-Pearson. The couple met at summer camp and were together more than a decade before they got married. 

4. Current home: Frei-Pearson’s advocacy work is based on the East Coast, so Mosley splits her time between Los Angeles, where "B&B" is taped, and New York City.

5. Debut: "Hi-5" (2003-2006)

6. Education: BFA in drama from New York University Tisch School of the Arts

7. Published work: "Short Poems for a Long and Happy Life: A Poem for Every Day of the Year" was published in 2014.

8. Music: Performed “Spirit of Season” on "B&B," an original song written for the show’s 2014 Christmas episode that was taped on Los Angeles’ Skid Row. In the 1990s, Mosley performed in Sugar Beats, a group that recorded classic rock and pop songs arranged to appeal to children.

9. "Bold and the Beautiful:" Mosley made her first appearance on "The Bold and the Beautiful" on January 22, 2013.

10. Honors: Nominated for an​ NAACP Image Award in 2014 for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series.

11. Other series:

  • "Hart of Dixie" 
  • "The Price Is Right"
  • "Gossip Girl"
  • "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
  • "Castle"
  • "Blood Brothers"
  • "Guiding Light"

12. On her transgender role: Mosley told CBS News that moving forward with the transgender storyline was a brave decision by the show and the network. “We’re excited and we’re standing behind it and we feel that it’s important,” she said, adding that she’s honored “to be able to make a change in the world through my art.”

13. Web series: Working with co-star Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter) and head writer/executive producer Bradley Bell, Mosley co-created and co-wrote the "B&B" web series "Room 8," a show-within-a-show which starred Maya (an aspiring actress at the time) and Carter. All eight episodes can be viewed online. Mosley and Saint-Victor also co-starred on "Guiding Light." After its cancellation, they created and starred in the online series "Wed-Locked."

Source

Mosley, Karla. "Short Poems for a Long and Happy Life." Paperback, Rockstar Publishing House, August 4, 2014.

Sacks, Ethan. "'The Bold and the Beautiful' reveals major character is transgender." New York Daily News, March 19, 2015.