Rochelle Aytes

Rochelle Aytes is an American actress and model. She is best known for portraying April Malloy on the ABC drama series Mistresses and providing the voice of Rochelle in the video game Left 4 Dead 2. She has also gained recognition for her television roles on series such as S.W.A.T., The Forgotten, and Criminal Minds, as well as her appearances in feature films including White Chicks and Madea's Family Reunion.

Born in Harlem, New York City, Aytes attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. She continued her education at the State University of New York at Purchase college, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts. Aytes began her career as a model, appearing in commercial campaigns for major brands including McDonald's, L'Oreal, Coca-Cola, and Mercedes-Benz.

Aytes transitioned into television acting in 2003 with a debut appearance as a hostess on Sex and the City. This led to early roles on series such as Jonny Zero, Half & Half, and a test pilot appearance as Nicole Jamieson on Tyler Perry's House of Payne. In 2004, she made her feature film debut playing Denise Porter in the comedy White Chicks. She followed this with roles as Lisa Breaux in Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion and an appearance in the independent film Trick 'r Treat.

Throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, Aytes built a varied television résumé. She guest-starred on Bones as Felicia Saroyan and played Leigh Barnthouse in the series Drive, alongside roles in NCIS and Dark Blue. From 2009 to 2010, she was a regular on the ABC drama series The Forgotten, playing Detective Grace Russell. She subsequently held recurring roles as prosecutor Alice Williams on Detroit 1-8-7 and Amber James on Desperate Housewives, in addition to starring in the sitcom Work It.

In 2012, Aytes was cast as one of four leads in the ABC drama series Mistresses alongside Alyssa Milano, Yunjin Kim, and Jes Macallan, a show that aired from 2013 to 2016. In 2013, she portrayed music executive Perri "Pebbles" Reid in the biographical television film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story and began a recurring role as Dr. Savannah Hayes on the crime thriller series Criminal Minds. She also recurred as ex-CIA officer Agent Greer on the series Hawaii Five-0.

From 2019 to 2024, Aytes portrayed Nichelle Carmichael on the CBS action series S.W.A.T., joining in season three and becoming a main cast member by season six. She was cast as a lead character, Dr. Mary Morstan, in the mystery-medical drama series Watson, which began airing in 2025. As a result of joining Watson, Aytes stepped back from her main cast role on S.W.A.T. for its final season while continuing to appear as a guest star.