Northern actor Maya aspires to become one of the most hardworking and influential figures in the entertainment industry. Born and raised in Yorkshire, Maya always knew she wanted a career in show business. Without a university or drama school degree, she moved to London and carved a successful career for herself.

She was one of twelve actors selected for the Stratford East Young Company and subsequently joined the cast of the Stratford East Theatre’s Maryland by Lucy Kirkwood, performing alongside The Witcher’s Anya Chalotra. Most recently, Maya performed at the Royal Court Theatre in Expendable by Emteaz Hussain which has just won the 2025 Best Stage Production award at the Asian Media Awards. Click here to read more.

Maya also starred in a proof-of-concept film funded by executives at Warner Bros LA, which is currently being developed into a feature-length script. She can also be seen on all major viewing platforms in a Vodafone commercial alongside Roman Kemp.

Outside of acting, Maya co-runs Broken Flames Productions; an award-winning Forbes 30 Under 30 company, where she is Head of Production. Her work has been screened at BAFTA and Academy-qualifying festivals worldwide. She is also the Co-Director of the Lucas A. Ferrara Film Fund and leads the development of Broken Flames’ upcoming projects, including feature films, documentaries, and TV shows. Additionally, Maya has worked on the production teams for major broadcasters such as ITV, Channel 4, and BBC.

FILM + TV + THEATRE

  • Royal Court Expendable | Director: Esther Richardson | Writer: Emteaz Hussain

    • Expendable wins 2025 Best Stage Production award at the Asian Media Awards. Click here to read more

    • “Maya Bartley O’Dea plays local ally Jade in an understated but faultless performance” – Everything Theatre 

    • “the standouts are the younger cast members, Maya Bartley O’Dea as Jade, a white girl who finds herself at the centre of the scandal” – Broadway World

    • Click here to hear Maya and the cast talk about the play and the Royal Court

  • Once Upon a Riot | Proof of concept film | Director/Writer: Paul James

    • A proof of concept film currently in the hands of ‘Warner Bros’, being reviewed to make a feature

    • Click here to hear Maya talk about the film in a recent interview

  • Stratford East Theatre | Maryland | Director: Eve Sampson | Writer: Lucy Kirkwood

    • A new play by Lucy Kirkwood, originally performed at the Royal Court Theatre, MARYLAND, written in response to the murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa

    • Anya Chalotra and Tamzin Outhwaite also cast in the show

  • Tara Theatre | 2120 | Director: Trina Haldar | Writer: Ilina Jha

    • Made in association with Kali theatre for the Seedlings Climate festival

  • Stratford East Theatre | Punk Rock | Director: Toby Clarke | Writer: Simon Stephens

    • Punk Rock is a play by the British playwright Simon Stephens. The cast had the privilege of performing for him

    • Historically played by a male, Bartley O’Dea took on the role of Bennett Francis

    • A play about eight sixth-formers in the North of England preparing for their mock-A Levels and nearing the end of their school lives

  • Pilot Theatre | Northern Girls | Director: Julia Levi

    • The show travelled to three locations for a series of captivating outdoor performances in York, Bridlington, and Redcar, exploring what it means to be a Northern Girl

  • Maya has appeared in an Argos Christmas commercial and most recently can be seen in a Vodafone commercial alongside Roman Kemp.

  • Maya has starred in many short films, including ‘You’re a Long time dead’, a two-hander exploring grief, and ‘The Cake Craze’ made in association with the MetFilm school.

PRODUCTION

Maya entered the world of production to gain greater influence within the industry and take control of her own career. She is the Head of Production at Broken Flames, a Forbes 30 Under 30 production company with a focus on mental health, social action, and female-led stories.

Maya began her producing career with Why Wouldn’t I Be?, starring Harry Collett (House of the Dragon) and Tut Nyuot (The Long Walk). The film was made in support of the mental health charity HUMEN and premiered at the BAFTA-qualifying Manchester Film Festival. Since then, Maya has produced a number of award-winning short films, including Twofold – which marks her seventh project – which stars Phoebe Campbell (House of the Dragon) and Rebecca Calder (The Conjuring: Last Rites). Twofold was most recently selected for the Amazon MGM Studios Short Film Competition.

Maya is also Co-Director of the Lucas A. Ferrara Film Fund, which was granted to the short 'Bibimbap for One' in its first year and premiered at BAFTA Qualifying Norwich Film Festival.  She is a Producer on ‘Once upon a Riot' which is a Broken Flames & Dreamotion Studios production that was filmed in London and Los Angeles. She leads the development of Broken Flames' upcoming projects including features, documentaries and TV shows. 

Outside of Broken Flames, Maya has worked on a number of TV shows and live events broadcast by BBC, ITV and Channel 4. She was part of the production team for RAYE at the Royal Albert Hall, which was nominated at both the Royal Television Society and the Broadcast Awards, as well as being part of the latest series of Channel 4’s Narrow Escapes. 

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