Today we’d like to introduce you to Amaris Davidson
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hi! I got started acting, dancing, modeling, singing and writing songs in high school. I was always drawn to creativity. I went on to get a theater scholarship in college, and was able to put those skills to use while learning in a safe space. I transferred colleges and found myself in Houston, Texas with a newfound interest in modeling and dancing professionally. I began a modeling career with Page Parkes modeling & Talent Agency almost as soon as I arrived. I also started mentoring model camps and went on the become a photo posing and runway instructor at the agency’s school while pursuing my own career. I danced for the WNBA & NBA, Houston Comets and Houston Rockets as well, and it was there that I really developed my love for teaching a coaching creatives. One of the ways I would know that I had fully learned all of the choreography and spacing was to show up early and stay late going over the materials with my teammates. During the time I was modeling and dancing, I teamed up with two fellow Houston Rockets Power Dancers to form the professional recording group Lady Lux signed to and managed by Beyonce’s former manager and father, Mathew Knowles, from 2005 to 2010. The ladies and I would record songs for iTunes & Spotify, become the voice for Wal-Mart’s VTech toys, Baby Jamz, and perform at the prestigious Spotlight Live in New York City. We also performed at The Tom Joiner Family Reunion in Palm Springs, Florida. When the group was met with an insurmountable number of roadblocks, we decided to pursue our passions individually. I moved to Los Angeles to continue pursuing a career in television and film. That was my first big lesson in pivoting. It took courage to begin again in something that I was essentially an intermediate in. However, it was lessons like this that developed an unyielding desire for growth. I happened to be in the process of getting my masters in Leadership when I moved. I inhaled knowledge from every direction: which acting classes worked best for me and why, which photographers worked best for me and why, which daily practices worked best for me and why. I attribute that to already being in an accelerated learning mindset. This dynamic offered great balance while I was in pursuit of a largely “no” centered business. I learned to documented everything. When I came across other creatives I began to share my learnings, insights, etc. Activated by Amaris was birthed from the overwhelming desire to help others but being subject to limited time. Coaching creatives is as big a passion of mine as storytelling. Helping others find their way, or simply get “unstuck”, feels like I am contributing to an even bigger unleashing of creativity. Currently, I diversify my creative efforts these days through auditioning, writing, coaching and working live events. The journey continues!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would be lying if I said the road would smooth. While I have a very positive mindset, recent reflection has made it abundantly clear that this is a truly special journey. It is not for the faint of heart. It is however, for the delusional. The ones willing to believe that your 199th “no” simply means you are one step closer to the “yes” that could either change your life, or pay your rent. I personally chose a unique path. I found myself meeting some success almost as soon as I arrived in LA, yet relationally challenged. Finding the balance in my work life and personal life was a real struggle for me. I began slowly losing my confidence and struggling with Imposter Syndrome almost every time I booked. I was reminded during that time that helping others has always brought me great joy, so I started serving at my church to help shift the focus off of my problems. Seven years later, I found that I was living a completely different dream than the one I moved to LA to live. Those seven years were amongst the most formative of my adult life, and I believe they set me up for the reality I am currently living and the future that is closer than I can imagine. The pandemic felt like a grand reset for me, but then the world and our work shut down. Ironically, I had spent the better part of 2019 at Den Meditation, meditating for 2 to 3 hours a day. When lockdown happened, I was unsure if I would ever be able to do the one of the things I love most in the world, but I was mentally prepared. I spent most of 2020 creating, dancing, working out and listening to music. A greater love for speaking | teaching and a newfound love for writing was birthed. For that, I am grateful. The Friday before LA closed, I was on hold for a guest star on NCIS. That hurt. I also booked the lead in an anthology series and was recast the day before shooting because I got Covid. I spent 12 days in a hotel room alone, in another city. I don’t think I am alone in any of my struggles. These are common to the actor. The string of strikes in the entertainment industry put the biggest damper on what most of us hoped would be a great return to work. Personally, I had a family issue develop that I gave everything to during the pandemic, and I found myself completely empty of all fight. I went back to Houston for 9 months. I was so spent, that it didn’t even feel like failure, which any previous thought of going home had always made me feel. I simply needed urgent, deep rest. Returning from time with my family, trees and all the places that help form my creative journey was met with a fresh focus, fresh mind and a burning desire to contribute to and not just watch my life go by.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a storyteller (actor), I specialize in television and film acting. Most recently you can catch me as a recurring guest star on Season 6 of the CW Hit series “All American” as Renata Booth, and co-starring on Season 2 of Netflix Original “Mindhunter.” Some of my other credits include Guest Starring on the number one show on television, NCIS as Olivia, recurring on Hulu original series Light as a Feather and CW’s “Hart of Dixie,” as well as Guest Starring on Nickelodeon’s Sam & Cat & Co-Starring on the CW’s “Jane the Virgin and “90210”,” TNT’s Rizzoli & Isles, and ABC’S hit show “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Castle”, and “Mixology”. I also appeared in CBS’ hit television shows “Criminal Minds”, “How I Met Your Mother”, “Scorpion,” and legendary daytime show “Young & the Restless” as Dr. Rosen. I tend to specialize in roles that require an accent. I like to think it has something to do with my recording artist background mixed with my love of learning. I am most proud of still being in the game. Pivoting out of the entertainment industry is common for actors who move here from other states. I am extremely grateful to have a part-time job with flexibility that allows me to exercise my leadership skills while leaving room for me to audition and write without the stress. I believe in all aspect of my professional career, any job and even in my service, what sets me apart is my ability to truly see people and meet needs with a spirit of excellence and care.
What matters most to you?
I love this question! Thank you for asking. The answer is simple…PEOPLE. I love people. I am fascinated by the mind, the way it works so uniquely for everyone. I am fascinated by the way we relate to one another. I am fascinated by why we do what we do, say what we say, and make the choices that we make. I care about the details. I care about peoples’ hearts, and I care about how people are doing with their trauma. I care about it all lol! Help me hahaha! The reason I care is because being human is one of the most beautiful, challenging, rewarding, yet courageous pursuits in this world.
Pricing:
- $100 | 1hr Activation Orientation (Pre-Requisite)
- $125 | 1hr Activation session
- $175 | 1.5 hrs Any Activation Bundle (2)
- $250 |2 hrs Any Activation Bundle (3)
- $375 | 4 1 hr sessions (within a month)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamamarisdavidson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amaris.davidson
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@affinity05
Image Credits
Mike Quain Photo, Sue Bryce Photography, Atilier Unforgettable
