China Anne McClain
1.2Acting

China Anne McClain

Aug 25, 1998 - Atlanta, Georgia, USA

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.

Credits

Cast

Media
Movie2007A Dennis the Menace ChristmasMargaret
Movie2019Wicked Woods: A Descendants Halloween StoryUma (voice)
Movie2007Daddy's Little GirlsChina James
Movie2013Grown Ups 2Charlotte Mackenzie
Movie2014How to Build a Better BoyGabby Harrison
Movie2024Descendants: The Rise of RedUma
Movie2016Bilal: A New Breed of HeroGhufaira (Teen) (voice)
Movie2017Descendants 2Uma
Movie2024Brewster’s Millions: ChristmasMorgan Brewster
Movie2017Ten: Murder IslandMeg
Movie2010Grown UpsCharlotte McKenzie
Movie2016Disney Parks Presents: A Descendants Magical Holiday Celebration
Movie2019Descendants 3Uma
Movie2018Under the Sea: A Descendants StoryUma
Movie2018Blood BrotherDarcy
Movie2020Hubie HalloweenMiss Taylor
Movie2011Disney Parks Christmas Day ParadeSelf
Movie2009Hurricane SeasonAlana Collins
Movie2021Descendants: The Royal WeddingUma (voice)
TV Show2007Tyler Perry's House of PayneJazmine Payne292
TV Show2006Hannah MontanaIsabel1
TV Show2003NCISKayla Vance1
TV Show2011A.N.T. FarmChyna Parks62
TV Show2011Disney's Friends for Change GamesSelf1
TV Show2015Descendants: Wicked WorldFreddie (voice)15
TV Show2013Radio Disney Music AwardsSelf - Presenter2
TV Show2011PrankStarsSelf1
TV Show2018Black LightningJennifer Pierce / Lightning58
TV Show2012Doc McStuffinsTisha McStuffins (voice)1
TV Show2004Project RunwaySelf - Guest Judge1
TV Show2010R. L. Stine's The Haunting HourSam1
TV Show2009JONAS L.A.Kiara3
TV Show2011So Random!Self - Special / Musical Guest1
TV Show2007Wizards of Waverly PlaceTina2
TV Show2005BonesKathryn Walling1

Crew

Media
TV Show2015Descendants: Wicked WorldSongsSound
TV Show2012Doc McStuffinsTheme Song PerformanceSound