Mays has played the love interest of a character played by Masi Oka in two different roles: Charlie Andrews on "Heroes" and Nina in the direct-to-DVD film "". She has also been cast as a love interest twice for "Glee" co-star Matthew Morrison; in an unaired TV show called "Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office", and as mysophobic guidance counsellor Emma Pillsbury on the Fox show "Glee", which premiered on May 19, 2009. She was part of the main cast of "Glee" for the first three seasons, then was made a guest star in seasons four, five, and six. She has also performed musical numbers on "Glee" including her solo performance of "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a Touch Me" from "The Rocky Horror Show" during the themed episode "The Rocky Horror Glee Show"; which was also the song she had sung for her audition for the role. In March 2010, Mays played Grace Winslow, the female lead in the live-action/animated film adaptation of "The Smurfs". She also played the role of Charlotte, Henry Grubstick's ex-girlfriend on "Ugly Betty". In August 2014, Mays helped to raise awareness of the disease ALS by participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge. She also appeared in the music video for Switchfoot's single "Awakening".